“The home is located in a somewhat rural part of our home state of Delaware,” says Jess Weeth, Founder & Principal at Weeth Home. “It’s essentially halfway between Philadelphia, PA, and Annapolis, MD. It’s only about 10 miles from the Delaware Bay, and there’s an interesting balance between early American maritime culture and the surrounding farmland. The pace of life feels slower here.”

Her clients are a young family with four kids and demanding professional lives—so the slower pace of the area is a welcome and grounding essential in their day-to-day lives, beautifully reflected in the home’s interiors. “We had completed a previous renovation for them a few years prior that included a large addition to their home and were touched when they asked us to come back to help tackle these new spaces,” Jess shares, listing the kitchen and primary bath.

“Their pace of life tends to be at full speed most days, with tons of activities for the kids while balancing an active role in their practices,” she continues. “Their kitchen and primary bath felt dated from both a material and a layout perspective, and we wanted both spaces to feel like places where they could slow down and enjoy the moment.”

They took a true ‘clean slate’ approach, gutting everything in order to maximize space while doing their best not to shift major mechanicals or create huge structural demands. “In the process, we effectively reworked the full layout of the kitchen, opening things up to allow for the generous island while shifting appliances to better suit daily flow,” Jess shares. “We wanted this to feel timeless and layered, with a lived-in feeling. It’s polished but still really cozy. Our cabinetry with Unique Kitchens & Baths was the star and feels very elevated; I wanted to balance that with warmth and character, incorporating warm woods and little styling moments for ceramics and art.”

The family was eager to have something other than a plain white kitchen, so a mix of moody blue perimeter cabinetry paired with a deeper-stained island and rich, darker stone countertops (Bardiglio Marble on the perimeter and Black Diamond Quartzite on the island) brought both depth and unexpected materials. “I love how the soft-fold Roman shades bring in a welcome hit of pattern, and the unique DBO pendant lights bring in a sculptural, artistic element,” Jess says. “We also ran the countertops flush into the interior of the window jamb to create this really beautiful extension of marble into the window, which is a perfect spot for the family’s many plants, bringing such life to the kitchen.”

She admits that renovations can be a bit trickier than new construction, as they seek to transform spaces within the confines of what’s already there. “Patience can wear thin during months of hammers swinging, and we were so lucky that these clients stayed so committed to quality cabinetry and finishes, and the steps needed to get them right,” she shares. She adds that they’d brought in a great general contractor. “He worked methodically through each space and was a great partner in figuring out all the details thoughtfully.”

She says it was also rewarding to work closely with Tanya Smith-Shiflett with Unique Kitchens & Baths (UKB), who is known for her high standard of craftsmanship and desire to get the details just right. “As designers, we often hear ‘no’ when it comes to customizing scale, molding profiles, colors, and finishing details that will really tie a space together, and it’s been amazing to be met with ‘yes, we can do that!’ As a result, we have been able to create some really special, but extremely versatile and classic door styles and freestanding pieces that can work well together in a wide breadth of homes.”

Now, homeowners can get this signature look in their own spaces with a Weeth Home collection at UKB. “When Tanya first approached us about creating a collection together, we immediately went to the materials and palette of the East Coast beach towns we call home as a springboard for a dreamy lineup of interesting, but usable colors,” she recalls. “For example, the whites are warm with depth, and the blues are moody and sophisticated. We added some new favorites over the course of the last year, like new colors in Shutter Green and Jetty, as well as a beautiful cutout detail on our Fenwick door style, all of which I can’t wait to share in some upcoming projects.”

Together, the renovation and collection reflect a shared commitment to thoughtful design and enduring craftsmanship.

CREDITS:
Cabinetry: Unique Kitchens & Baths x Weeth Home
Door Style: Stockley
Perimeter Color: UKB Tidewaters
Island & Coffee Bar Color: UKB Storm (Stain)
Hardware: Armac Martin and HRL Brass
Island Pendants: DBO Home
Sink Sconces: Urban Electric
Counter Stools: Palecek
Window Treatment: Inchyra (via Evans & Sheldon)
Appliances: Fisher Paykel (panel ready)