Top Decoration

House Beautiful photo

You often see hanging shade pendant lights as in the photos above from House Beautiful and MLS. These lights are from Vaughan Lighting.

Vaughan Lighting

Vaughan Lighting

The top light is called the Menton Hanging Shade the bottom and the Nickel Hanging Shade from Vaughan lighting. Both are only available to the trade.

Shades of Light

The Kensington Pendant is a wonderful copy available from Shades of Light. A bargain at only $279.

MLS Photo

Studio Pedrazzi Architects and Design

MLS Photo

Here are more industrial lights. The top lights are most likely from Circa Lighting, the bottom ones may be vintage.

Circa Lighting

Circa Lighting

These two lights, top, Country Industrial and bottom, Yoke Pendant, are both from Circa Lighting.

Here are some School House Pendants. These are very easy to find from both the higher end lighting manufacturers or the more affordable manufacturers.





The first is from Restoration Hardware, the second from Shades of Light , both very affordable and classic in styling.

Making a subtle change in your own kitchen by adding classically styled pendant lights is just one way you can get a step to closer to one of America's most copied kitchens.

The signature Peacock White Scullery Kitchen. Counters are carrera marble with a white subway backsplash. Notice the pot filler behind the stove and high arc faucets. The pendant lights are usually hung in twos or threes. These lights are from Circa.


Another signature Peacock white kitchen. Cabinetry is inset and counters are soapstone. This kitchen also has High arc faucets and pot filler. Note that the stove hood design is similar. Also notice the notched corners on the island, both are signature Peacock styles. One interesting feature of this particular kitchen is the sink in the center island. I read an article where Peacock mentioned he does not generally prefer to have a sink in this location. He said he liked the center island sleek and unobstructed.




Another carrera marble kitchen. I love the darker wood floors with these cabinets, versus the lighter floors above. Notice the faucets are also high arc and brushed stainless. These particular faucets are KWC Systema style, very pricey. Also notice the ice box style hinges and latches on the doors. This kitchen has inset stainless steel drawers. I am not a fan of these, as a mother of two, I just could not keep them fingerprint free.


Here is a lovely Peacock kitchen in the Hampton's. These floors are not wood, but a lovely slate - very pretty. I love the butcher block and marble island. Notice the glass front subzero refrigerator. I love the color of this kitchen and the multiple surfaces; marble, soapstone, slate and wood.


These two pictures are from a Peacock kitchen that is in a new spec home in Greenwich. The floors are amazing! Notice the marble and soapstone counters; and classic bin pulls and latches on the cabinets. I like how you can see the microwave in the bottom right photo, but when you enter the kitchen it is hidden on the side by the refrigerator. Inset cabinetry, pot filler, subway tile - seeing some trends?



Here is a different style Peacock kitchen. This is from an older home. I think probably a kitchen done by Peacock before his White Scullery Kitchen got so popular. Notice the heavier mouldings on the door and corbels. Notice the apron front sink, classic white school house pendant lights and large wood cabinet knobs. I am not a huge fan of the green hood though.



Here is another one from the Hampton's. I love the warmth of this kitchen. Although a white kitchen, it does not have the starkness of some the others. The backsplash behind the stove is lovely. It is small marble bricks with an inset arch; nice touch. The ceiling and the fixtures lend a more rustic feel.



This kitchen is obviously more formal. I love the X cabinetry. Pendant lights, ice box latches, bin pulls, marble and soapstone complete the look. Another notched corner island with a rectangular sink.

All above photos MLS

Here is the final kitchen from the real estate listings, notice the backsplash behind the stove. Here they use a solid piece of marble - you really get to see the veining in the stone. Also note the center island with sink and wood top. Perhaps clients do not always agree that a center island should be unobstructed.






These two final kitchens are the only images from actual Christopher Peacock ads. The first kitchen is called the Refectory Kitchen. I love the pendant lights, similar to the lights in one of the kitchens above. In the second kitchen I love the backsplash behind the stove. The use of subway tile and then marble surround is beautiful and elegant. I love the way they flip the backsplash design on the side counter and use the marble surrounded by subway tiles. Notched center island again, marble counters, square style hood, bin pulls and latches. Classic and beautiful. No wonder its one of the most copied kitchens in America today.


My next post will highlight where to find some of these elements if you are interested in creating this look yourself in your home.

Who doesn't love the look of a traditional Butler's Pantry? The Butler's Pantry is making a comeback in American and English homes as part of a resurgence of nesting and homekeeping since the late 1990s. It is one of the most requested features in American homes today, despite larger kitchen sizes than ever before. There is a charm and nostalgia to the pantry, as well as a practical, utilitarian purpose.

Recently Traditional Home interviewed James Radin, an interior designer and set designer for the popular movie "Something's Gotta Give". They discussed his idea of "traditional minimalism." Here is what he had to say:

The key is to start with the interior architecture — cabinetry, moldings, the physically immovable part of the whole thing. A lot of great old houses were very rich in wall and ceiling paneling, interesting floors. Even the pantries would have great detailing like beautiful tiles. Get the interior architecture right, and then fill in with comfortable furnishings.


That restricted sort of palette is conscious. The initial impression is that it's plain, but it's a house that slowly reveals itself to you — so it stays interesting when you live there. There are a lot of subtle variations in textures and colors — mostly blues, whites, beiges — and lots of different patterns in the fabrics, the rugs, the spongeware. That's what saves it from blandness and makes it come to life. Often when people decorate with the blue-and-white look it fails, because it's just blue and white. It's like dressing all in black. It works if there's black patent with black silk with black wool...the subtle variations that I mentioned
The main thing was that they wanted comfortable, easy, usable rooms. Nothing formal. In the living room, we have elegant wood paneling, but an eclectic mix of furnishings — all slightly mismatched — to take away any stuffiness. You'll see that the master bedroom has a touch of formality to it. We were after a crisper, dressier effect there. It's a little fancier than anything downstairs because it's more private, so things could be more fragile.

The clients wanted the look of an old-fashioned country kitchen, so we used old-style lights, bead-board on the ceiling, elaborate crown molding. I've done this kind of kitchen 50 times, and one day I asked myself, 'What is it that makes it work?' And I think it's about the underlying quality — the nickel faucets, the Carrara marble, and so forth. Each thing is so carefully considered. And it's also about the simplicity. It's very controlled, not tchotchked-up.
Thanks James Radin -what a lovely home!