Peter Salerno Client Interview: Julie Connors and Her National Award-Winning Kitchen!

Peter Salerno Client Interview: Julie Connors and Her National Award-Winning Kitchen!

At the 2015 KBIS convention, Peter Salerno Inc. won a national design award for Best Large Kitchen from the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA). It was the 10th national kitchen and bath design award for Peter Salerno Inc. in the last 4 years, and an honor indeed.

But Peter Salerno wouldn’t have had the opportunity to create this kitchen without his outstanding clients, Julie and Tom Connors! The Connors are proud owners of this award-winning kitchen, and much of the design inspiration came from Julie Connors herself.

When Julie explained her vision to Peter Salerno and his team, it sprang to life and quickly became the nationally renowned kitchen you see in this article’s photos.

The official Peter Salerno Inc. blog recently had the pleasure of speaking at length to Julie Connors about her new, award-winning design, her design influences, her experience working with Peter Salerno Inc. – and most importantly, how she likes her kitchen!

Interview: Julie Connors

Peter Salerno Blog: What were you looking for in your new kitchen?

Julie Connors: It was important for me to make it larger and open it up to the rest of the house. Before having a French colonial, every room was off a hallway so there wasn’t any flow. So the idea was to open it all up, create a better space for guests.

PSB: Were there specific design elements you had in mind?

JC: I knew exactly what I wanted, but we needed a designer who could fulfill my ideas. We definitely wanted to play and tweak my ideas – ultimately I knew I wanted something special that hadn’t been done before. I wanted a French old-world feel with a modern touch, and I feel like we did something new and unique. When I do something, I like to do it 150%, and I’m happy with how it came out!

PSB: Why did you decide on working with Peter Salerno Inc.?

JC: I knew that Peter was known for unique work. It takes a certain kind of personality to do something unique and not try to stick to the “old mold” that works for everybody. I’ve seen some of Peter’s work and know he can do that, and I knew he was willing to take on that challenge.

There are very unique elements like the tin refrigerator cover, and he had the confidence in his ability to get the job done right and get it delivered. There were never any questions as to what I was going to get. He was very clear to me, there was no guessing involved.

PSB: Your kitchen is the first in the US with a TopBrewer installed. How is that?

JC: It’s lived up to its expectations. It’s a daily use item; it’s become a family beverage station. The kids use it to put seltzer in things, you can get milk, or tea. It’s great. Nobody’s ever installed it before, and we ended up having people from California here installing it, it was crazy. It was definitely worth it.

PSB: What are your favorite parts of your new kitchen?

JC: The island is great, for sure. That’s always the gathering spot. I can’t tell you how much everyone’s always gathering at the island, it’s a big plus. The TopBrewer is a huge hit, and my husband is now its biggest fan. He’s always bragging about his wonderful coffee maker.

I also love the CornuFe 110, it’s one of the first few installed in the county in its color (French Blue). I love the way it looks and functions.

PSB: How does it feel to have an award-winning kitchen in your home?

JC: It feels great! I love to use it every day. At the end of all this, it’s an amazing kitchen. I love every part of it, it’s “all me”. When I do have a chance to be home, it’s nice to be in the kitchen, and to want to be in the kitchen. It’s definitely made for entertaining as well.

I got exactly what I wanted as far as a unique, open space. It’s more comfortable to gather in the kitchen, and it flows well into the great room.