At the same time, brushed-nickel rod pulls and handles that work with stainless-steel appliances bring contemporary flourishes. The substantial island underscores the look with a deep walnut-finish base that tips its hat to both warm traditional and sleek urban styles, while scrolled bar-counter supports balance the clean-lined quartz countertop. The island also boasts characteristic French accents: Reeded molding bands the top edge, and the sinuous corner corbels are carved with traditional shells and bell flowers. The island’s soft blue paint was sanded, crackled, and glazed with raw umber for an antique patina. Melamine is made from resin, pressed wood, and paper designed to be relatively maintenance-free. To present a sleek wall of color, this kitchen’s cabinet drawers and doors were installed without hardware. The units rest on baseboards made from aluminum from a metal supply shop.
