Photo by Jill Ockhardt

When Katie Kern opened her own design business, she was thrilled with her first new clients. The home, a new construction, had ample space, gorgeous views, and tall ceilings aplenty. And the clients’ design directive was easy to work with. The wife in particular gravitated toward a lot of neutral tones. “I would say I like color,” says Kern, “but I also tend to lean more neutral when it comes to designing a full home—color is easy to add through paint, accessories, pillows and more. Having a neutral color palette gives you a really nice baseline to work off of, and it creates a cohesive sense of flow.”

In the great room, which combines an entertaining/bar area and a living room, Kern wanted to create a bit of a moodier vibe that can easily transition from day to night. “The clients love to host, so it was very important for them to have a space that everyone wants to be in, whether it was to eat and watch games, or enjoy more intimate conversations in the living room’s seating area,” says Kern. To do so, the designer added a bit more black to act as a foil to the natural oak that defines both the hardwood floors and ceiling. True Residential units—one 30” Beverage Column dedicated solely to beverage and one Dual Zone Wine Column—in a striking matte black and brass, form a focal point along with the adjacent bar’s stunning, antique, mirrored backsplash. “My clients had attended KBIS (Kitchen & Bath Industry Show) and fell in love with the units—they loved all the custom color options. So we worked with our local Fergusons to secure them,” explains Kern. “I often use cabinet paneled fronts when it comes to refrigeration, but True is one of the brands that is an ‘absolutely not’ when it comes to that—the units are already so aesthetically-pleasing that they are like jewelry for the home.”

To complete the inviting, cozy appeal, Kern applied natural stone on the walls, infused the space with texture, highlighted the natural beams, and included brass lighting by RH. Capitol Granite countertops keep to the sophisticated, tone-on-tone allure, while brass hardware from Armac Martin add pops of color.