When you’re a design-savvy couple like Christine Vickers and James Benic – she’s an exec at Polo Ralph Lauren, he’s a construction and property developer – Family Central is bound to have a refined, modern look. “We wanted a very airy and functional kitchen with as much natural light as we could capture,” says Vickers. To that end, she and Benic knocked down the walls separating their living room, dining room and kitchen areas and replaced the back wall of their kitchen with glass. Then they installed sleek cabinetry and bought pro-quality appliances to indulge the chef in the house (“That’s definitely James,” says Vickers). An island encourages chef/family together time – Max, 3, and Mila, 1, love to chill here with their parents – and is great for entertaining. “Adults generally congregate in the kitchen, and their toddlers happily run amok through the rest of the house,” says Vickers. Love this look? Read on for tips on making it yours.
3 REASONS TO LOVE MODERN
›› Sleek surfaces clean up easy
›› Big windows and reflective finishes are visually expansive
›› Open plan lets you watch the kids
