Pro Spotlight: 3 Design Decisions for a Home That’s Unique to You

Kuche+Cucina

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Who: Amir Ilin of Kuche+Cucina
Where: Paramus, New Jersey
In his own words: “We love the challenge of creating something that’s never been done before. Don’t be afraid to embrace new materials, finishes and design concepts.”

Happy homeowners have something in common. Each has a home that’s totally unique to them. Curious about the best way to make sure your home feels one-of-a-kind rather than cookie-cutter? Find a designer who will get to know you and help you push your design thinking. “I love working with other people and feeding off of their ideas,” says Amir Ilin, the owner of the renowned kitchen and bath design firm Kuche+Cucina. “Trust your designer. Let them shine and you’ll love the results.”

Kuche+Cucina

A name that stuck. Ilin, who started his Paramus design studio in 1986, fell into the business by accident, and the business’ name, Kuche+Cucina, has a similar origin story. “Initially, our company name was initials, which didn’t mean much to anyone,” Ilin says. After working on an ad campaign highlighting their German kitchen (kuche) and Italian kitchen (cucina) appliances, prospective clients kept calling to ask for “Kuche+Cucina.” “It was easy to pick up on the fact that people liked the idea,” Ilin says. “After that, the name stuck.”

Kuche+Cucina

Beyond expectations. After more than three decades in the business, Ilin prefers projects that push boundaries. “The projects that excite me most push the envelope design-wise, whether through materials or finishes or location,” he says. At the same time, Ilin never leads his customers down a path they’re not comfortable with. “The most important idea that guides me is that the customer has to live with their home years down the road. It’s not just about if they’re happy on the first day — I’m happy if they’re happy with their choices 10 years later.”

Ready to try something new, uniquely suited to you? Ilin shares some tips below.

Kuche+Cucina

1. Challenge Your Assumptions

To figure out what you want — as opposed to what you think you want — start with what you’re drawn toward. “When clients share photos with me saying, ‘I like this or that,’ I can put words to their initial instincts and get a direction,” Ilin says. From there, keep yourself open to more moments of inspiration.

For this Brooklyn kitchen, the clients thought they knew exactly what they wanted. “They had the idea of a white, Shaker-style kitchen,” Ilin says. “But when they walked into the showroom, they fell in love with a dark, modern, slab-door kitchen.” Ilin was able to create a one-of-a-kind kitchen that blended both styles, combining textured dark oak and matte white lacquer throughout the room.

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Kuche+Cucina

2. Spice Up the Status Quo

Getting creative with your design ideas not only helps create a home tailored to you, it also helps your home stand out in the real estate market. “Many clients come in and describe how every kitchen in every house on the market looks the same,” Ilin says. “They want their home to look different. And we don’t want to do the same thing over and over again.”

In Franklin Lakes, a young couple asked for something new, modern and cutting-edge to stand out from the pack. A left turn from white Shaker style, the black minimalist design is striking while also soothing to the eye. Matte black cabinets, black porcelain countertops, a black backsplash and black appliances create a sense of drama that commands attention.

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Kuche+Cucina

3. Try a Design That’s Totally New

Ilin finds inspiration in collaboration, particularly working with interior designers who have already come a long way to understand exactly what their clients want. “We’re very fortunate to partner with wonderful interior designers who know their client very well,” he says. “They’ve spent time asking the right questions — like ‘How many people will be cooking in the kitchen and how often?’ — to then design something that exactly fits their lifestyle.”

For this boutique condominium in Manhattan, Ilin collaborated with the interior designer, developer and architects to create a luxurious design concept unique to the market. “For this project we created a totally new type of cabinetry door,” he says. “Instead of glass, it’s high-gloss lacquer with woven metal mesh and a metal insert around the frames.” The style perfectly complements the marble slab countertops and adds a refined pattern to the kitchen’s composition.

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More: For more information on Amir Ilin and examples of his work, visit Kuche+Cucina’s Houzz profile.

This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.