White kitchens will always be timeless, but artist Kerin Rose Gold (@kerinrosegold), who creates contemporary crystal art pieces and founded accessory design brand a-morir, needed a little more oomph in her Manhattan studio space’s kitchen.
Half of Kerin’s studio is used as a workspace, while the other half serves as the brand’s showroom. The space is full of “color, pattern, and crystals,” she says, and she wanted the kitchen (and bathroom!) to match the aesthetic.
“The kitchen before was classic builder-grade. White walls, cream ‘marble’ countertops, cream tile floor. I don’t like being critical of design choices because they were made by a person who put thought into them, but these design choices were the antithesis of mine,” Kerin explains. “I love color, pattern, and visual spectacle in all aspects of my life. It was truly a blank canvas begging for change.”
She wanted the kitchen and bathroom to be “their own visual worlds,” so Kerin looked to her favorite artists, Lee Krasner and Jackson Pollock, for inspiration.
Kerin took her time, and this makeover was all about trying things out playfully. At first, she bought colorful terrazzo contact paper from Samantha Santana to go on the outside of the fridge, but it didn’t necessarily feel right for the space. When she tested a splattered Wallshoppe’s “Pratt Paint” wallpaper in the bathroom, she realized that it was perfect for the kitchen.
A professional wallpaper installer hung the wallpaper, and every other decision stemmed from there. Kerin decided to go with Samantha Santana black-and-white terrazzo contact paper on the countertops and fridge, which she applied herself. “I didn’t do it 100% perfectly, but the kitchen is also an art space, so I didn’t need to be precious with it,” she says. “It’s not 100% done, either. Eventually, I’ll swap out the knobs and do something to the cabinets, but no need to rush. I’ll be in this space for a very long time.”
Kerin estimates that the total makeover cost around $1,000, although that included the cost of a contractor replacing the studio lights and floors outside of the kitchen. After months of “mental simmering” on the new kitchen design, she loves how the finished product is an homage to her favorite artists.
It wasn’t just the walls and counters that were a nod to Pollock and Krasner; she also included artworks, like a framed flyer from a Cynthia Plaster Caster exhibit, a felt can of beans, and a beer bottle by Lucy Sparrow. And even though it’s full of art, it’s still extremely functional. Kerin and her team use the space to store food, eat lunch, and make matcha, as well as experiment with art projects — like using the oven and stove to melt crayons, bend Lucite, and melt candle wax.
“I love how happy it makes me. Oh, and an underestimated bonus of a small kitchen? It takes me maybe 20 minutes to clean top to bottom,” Kerin laughs. Consider this a job well (almost) done.