We recently dropped in on New Yorkers Charlie and Kevin Dumais at their country workshop in Bantam, Connecticut, where Charlie, a lighting designer, makes their ceramic lamp line, and Kevin runs his interiors business: see <a href="https://www.remodelista.com/posts/ceramic-table-lamps-handmade-by-dumais-made-connecticut/">Studio Visit with Dumais Made</a>.
We recently dropped in on New Yorkers Charlie and Kevin Dumais at their country workshop in Bantam, Connecticut, where Charlie, a lighting designer, makes their ceramic lamp line, and Kevin runs his interiors business: see <a href="https://www.remodelista.com/posts/ceramic-table-lamps-handmade-by-dumais-made-connecticut/">Studio Visit with Dumais Made</a>.
Photography by Kevin Dumais
The results, if you ask us, are far from cookie cutter.
The results, if you ask us, are far from cookie cutter.
After marrying in 2014, Kevin and Charlie began house hunting and ultimately fell for a newly shored-up 1941 Cape Cod cottage, where they spend half the week (they also have a small apartment in NYC).
After marrying in 2014, Kevin and Charlie began house hunting and ultimately fell for a newly shored-up 1941 Cape Cod cottage, where they spend half the week (they also have a small apartment in NYC).
Photograph by Eric Piasecki.
“For additional spatial continuity, the wall separating the kitchen and the dining room was knocked down [see below] and the appliances were reoriented to create a U-shaped layout with central work table,” explains Kevin.
“For additional spatial continuity, the wall separating the kitchen and the dining room was knocked down [see below] and the appliances were reoriented to create a U-shaped layout with central work table,” explains Kevin.
To help keep our renovation costs at a minimum we used Ikea for the cabinet interiors and added plain front doors drawers and side panels from Semihandmade says Kevin We ordered them unfinished so we could paint them they re in Sag Harbor Gray
To help keep our renovation costs at a minimum we used Ikea for the cabinet interiors and added plain front doors drawers and side panels from Semihandmade says Kevin We ordered them unfinished so we could paint them they re in Sag Harbor Gray
from Benjamin Moore which we also used on the trim and doors Ironically as soon as we finished our project Semihandmade updated their finishes and came out with a color eerily similar to ours
from Benjamin Moore which we also used on the trim and doors Ironically as soon as we finished our project Semihandmade updated their finishes and came out with a color eerily similar to ours
The splurge: to add nuance and texture, the counters are Calacatta Tucci marble from Stone Source and the back and entry wall have whitewashed V-groove pine paneling Charlie installed himself.
The splurge: to add nuance and texture, the counters are Calacatta Tucci marble from Stone Source and the back and entry wall have whitewashed V-groove pine paneling Charlie installed himself.
The most-used drawers: “Just make sure you tell guests about the secret top drawer if they’re using the house while you’re away,” says Kevin.
The open shelves on the back wall are made of reclaimed oak barn boards and painted Ikea Ekby Valter birch brackets, $5 each.
The open shelves on the back wall are made of reclaimed oak barn boards and painted Ikea Ekby Valter birch brackets, $5 each.
The stove is a Bosch with an under-cabinet vent.
The stove is a Bosch with an under-cabinet vent.
Photograph by Allegra Anderson.
Photograph by Allegra Anderson.
When a quote for the kitchen work table came in as unaffordable, Charlie built the island himself: “Luckily our slab of marble for the counter was large enough that we could template a perfect square to use on top,” says Kevin.
The globe light is from Restoration Hardware and the fixture over the sink is a School House Electric design.
The globe light is from Restoration Hardware and the fixture over the sink is a School House Electric design.
Photograph by Allegra Anderson.
Photograph by Allegra Anderson.
The dining area is now open to the kitchen. The walls throughout are Benjamin Moore <a href="https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/OC-57/white-heron?color=OC-57">White Heron</a> and the windows are original.
The dining area is now open to the kitchen. The walls throughout are Benjamin Moore <a href="https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/color-overview/find-your-color/color/OC-57/white-heron?color=OC-57">White Heron</a> and the windows are original.
The console table, another homemade piece, serves as a catchall as the couple come and go from the side door.
The console table, another homemade piece, serves as a catchall as the couple come and go from the side door.
Charlie (L) and Keven (R) in the breezeway that links the kitchen door to the garage that they converted into Charlie’s tool shop.
Charlie (L) and Keven (R) in the breezeway that links the kitchen door to the garage that they converted into Charlie’s tool shop.
Photograph by Eric Piasecki.
