Martha’s Vineyard designer Paul Lazes of Rock Pond Kitchens defines the coastal New England aesthetic with his fine cabinetry and classic choices. If, like me, you love inset white cabinetry, marble countertops, farm sinks and century old wide planked floors, you will enjoy Paul’s kitchens. Here he shares with us Vineyard mainstays, advice on remodeling a rental and the key elements to designing your summer home’s kitchen.
What is the history of Rock Pond Kitchens? How did you get your start designing kitchens on the Vineyard?
Prior to coming to the Vineyard, I worked as an architect and interior decorator in Manhattan for 17 years. Many of my projects were gut renovations of large apartments and brownstones–all of which included re-designing and renovating the kitchen. Prior to that I had my own cabinetry business so, upon arriving, I thought designing kitchens and other cabinetry throughout peoples’ homes would be a good niche. Occasionally a client asks me to design the renovation of their home, but primarily I’m hired to design and fabricate the cabinetry. The name “Rock Pond” comes from the road my house is on.
You’ve been designing kitchens on the island for 11 years now. What are some of the unique challenges you’ve come up against when doing a kitchen on the island?
The only real challenges is the perception that if cabinets are built on the Island they are “custom” and if built in a shop off-island, they are not. This is simply not the case. My cabinets are entirely custom and the advantage of the type of shop I work with (who has showrooms across the country) is they have state of the art machinery and literally generations of experience – which allows them to have custom abilities which a local shop, naturally, can’t. So, my cabinets are 100% custom and the skill level is very, very high.The other challenge I see is the perception that if it is custom it is necessarily more expensive than “stock” cabinets. If I build to the specifications of “stock” cabinets, we can be entirely competitive. We have the option of keeping the cabinets entirely simple, and keeping the pricing down, or customizing with all sorts of details which comes with a higher price tag.
What aesthetic defines a Martha’s Vineyard kitchen? How are the kitchens you’ve worked on influenced by the atmosphere of the Vineyard?
The aesthetic of the Vineyard is very specific – nearly always simple white, country styled cabinets. In the 11 years I’ve been on the Vineyard, I’ve only built a handful out of cherry or colors other than white. When working within such specific parameters, the trick is to give each kitchen its own personality. I like that challenge and enjoy mixing in either a few cabinets of contrasting materials or including an antique such as a country hutch. Country kitchens were an assembly of odd cabinets, so taking that cue is appropriate for the Vineyard. Overall the aesthetic on the Vineyard is a clean, classical country look that feels in keeping with the summer and being near the beach.
Do tastes run differently depending on what part of the island you’re on ?
Yes. For me the kitchens in Edgartown have all been white. Homes in Oak Bluffs bring in more color and up-island has the strongest interest in natural woods.
Many of the houses on the island are summer homes. How does designing a kitchen for a vacation destination differ from designing a kitchen for year round use?
Being a summer, beach destination, the kitchens have to feel more casual and welcoming. Here, even more than elsewhere, the kitchen is the center of most homes. But, regardless of whether or not a kitchen is for vacation or year round use, there are certain elements which remain constant. Beyond having to function well as a working space, if at all possible, I like any kitchen to be able to include soft seating and open directly to a garden. So, to some extent all kitchens want similar components.
As member of the Island Cohousing community, how does your personal philosophy influence your treatment of communal spaces such as eating and cooking areas?
Cohousing has very few specific common components. One constant is the opportunity for families to be able to eat together on a regular basis. It’s one of the aspects of cohousing that attracted me – the understanding that breaking bread tends to break barriers. I believe that is why kitchens are at the center of most peoples homes, especially with parties. A comfortable and inviting kitchen is a relaxing setting. So, since I am a social person, you could say my thought process and “philosophy” does influence my designs – very much so.
Remodeling a kitchen in an older home can be a challenge, especially when the room has multiple doorways and low windows. How do you handle such obstacles when the homeowner does not want to change the floorplan or touch the exterior?
Doorways determine traffic patterns and you have to abide by those limits. Windows are another matter. I’ve run lower cabinets by windows and simply finished the backs so they are presentable from the exterior. Locating a range directly in front of a window is something which I’m entirely comfortable. Nothing vents better than a window and especially in a country kitchen, it has a feeling of casualness that can work well. And finally, I’m a big fan of open shelving, something much more common in Europe and other foreign countries than in the US. So running shelving for plates, glasses or something pretty to be on view, such as pitchers, makes a kitchen warm and inviting.
I know you design a lot of white painted maple kitchens. It is a very popular, classic look. How can a homeowner make that look their own an avoid a kitchen that looks just like their neighbors’.
Within the world of white kitchens there is a universe of options. Working with a very narrow palette has forced me to focus more intently on the details which enable there to be diversity. I’ve always gravitated toward details (why I like designing cabinetry) so the challenge of how to individualize kitchens that use similar components is something I enjoy. So, if you want it white and you don’t want your kitchen to look like your neighbors, alter the details.
Can you give advice to readers who are remodeling a rental? What are some of the mistakes to avoid when choosing materials for a kitchen in a rental property?
If a kitchen is strictly a rental, or for those who are simply attracted to a farm style, I recommend half overlay cabinets, sometimes called “ship lapped”. Full overlay cabinets have weaker hinges and full insets should be handled gently. Half overlay cabinets use indestructible butt hinges and include an exposed face frame so the cabinets are traditional in nature. (They don’t have that contemporary look which isn’t a typical style for the Vineyard.) A ship lapped door virtually never needs adjusting, so it’s my choice for a rental. Otherwise, if the budget permits, nothing is stronger than granite, but it is several times more costly than laminates. This being said, there is a world of laminates which can be handsome and practical.But, if you only renting part time and also using the space for yourself, I always recommend designing it for yourself. You never know what a renter’s preferences are so your best bet is design for your own use.
print 
i like it! and i like what this guy has to say. it’s tricky to design a rental or a summer house because even if you are not really living in it, you still own it.
I’ve never been to Martha’s Vineyard but I have my fantasies. Seems like a lot of those Massachusetts summer homes either have very early American style kitchens or very expensive modern kitchens. l love the picture of the yellow kitchen. Those floors are amazing! The other stuff is cute but just seems like a typical northern kitchen. Nothing really stands out like it should be in a magazine.