Modernizing a kitchen in a Victorian house in England is no small accomplishment, even for a designer as celebrated as Robert Couturier. When a longtime client moved from New York to London, Couturier chose the classic black-and-white color scheme using white Smallbone cabinetry with black counters. He also worked in pale-blue walls (popular in Britain) then cranked it all up by injecting some 21st century glitz by way of silver-tone accessories.

Chief among these is the pair of Miss K pendants by Philippe Starck made of a silver- hued thermoplastic Lucite (by Flos, largest size about $800 each at lumens.com). Then there is the pair of equally posh, nickel task lamps with a graduated series of four brackets that afford maximum adjustability (‘Expanding Wall Light,’ about $2100 from charlesedwards.com).

The house contains elaborate plasterwork, evidenced in the niche framing the La Cornue stainless steel range, hood and potfiller. A pair of nickel gooseneck bridge faucets grace the sinks and vintage industrial iron stools provide seating around the island.

It is rare to see ingenious window coverings in even the most finely designed kitchens. Couturier’s roman shades (in striped Scalamandre cotton) are mounted at ceiling height. Steal these immediately! Why? Because they have polish, but are still practical (and don’t look frumpy the way most kitchen curtains do).

Possibly more interesting are the discreet solar roller shades mounted across the double hung windows to afford privacy – a devilishly clever bottom-down, top-up solution for a high-end kitchen with an enviable budget but one that delivers utmost quality with real style.

(Source: House & Garden 9/09)

Tags: black and white kitchen, Charles Edwards sconces, La Cornue range, Philippe Starck pendant lights, Robert Couturier, white Smallbone kitchen cabinets