Kati and Nick Tinkham completed the renovation of the kitchen in their historic Pembroke home, aiming to preserve the character of the 1775 Cape Cod-style property while creating a functional and inviting space. The couple, who purchased the three-bedroom house in early 2021 after nearly a year of searching, found that while many original features such as floors and fireplaces had been maintained, the kitchen required modern updating.
The previous kitchen, featuring honey-colored maple cabinets, gray Formica countertops, and a beige tiled floor, included a dividing wall with a pass-through window between the cooking and eating areas, which disrupted the flow and atmosphere. Kati Tinkham, who runs Mountain Ave Interiors and specializes in kitchens inspired by English design, led the renovation with the goal of crafting a kitchen that felt historically embedded in the home.
Demolition of the dividing wall opened the space, and the doorway connecting the kitchen to the formal dining room was widened to improve traffic flow. This resulted in an L-shaped layout with two main walls dedicated to cooking functions. The design incorporates warm taupe-gray base cabinets accented by unlacquered brass hardware, while the walls and upper cabinetry are finished in Benjamin Moore’s Swiss Coffee, a creamy white tone matching the rest of the house’s interiors.
Countertops and a sink apron were fashioned from Calacatta Vagli marble, chosen for its subtle veining that complements the kitchen’s neutral palette. The Tinkhams chose a hammered copper sink, favoring its durability and ability to conceal wear marks over traditional stainless steel or porcelain options. The copper sink also aligns with the home’s antique character and has influenced client choices in Kati Tinkham’s design work.
Budget constraints prevented eliminating a step down between the kitchen and the adjacent eat-in area, so the couple embraced the architectural quirk by creating a cozy breakfast nook complete with a vaulted pine ceiling and a dedicated coffee station. The dark-stained pine boards on the vaulted ceiling match the original aged pine floors found elsewhere in the home, while new pine floorboards were left in their natural finish to reflect layers of the home’s history.
Additional historical touches include wallpaper featuring climbing English roses, selected by Kati Tinkham to evoke an antique aesthetic, and a small find during renovation—a Large Cent coin dated 1828, refastened within the wall along with a contemporary 2025 coin, symbolizing the home’s enduring story. Throughout the kitchen, elements from English design traditions and personal collections further reinforce the balance of charm and practicality the couple sought for their renovated space.