At Arcadia Kitchen and Bath—a family-owned, Scarborough-based design-build and cabinet showroom—teamwork, communication, and joy underscore the success realized in all projects. “Our clients tend to be our favorite part of the experience,” explains Kristen LaValle, in-house designer. Founders Mike and Kim Connell concur, adding, “When a client comes in with a clear vision, it makes the process all the more enjoyable.”
Such was the case when a design-minded European family moved into a dated Maine colonial. “The kitchen was really tired and dark,” Kristen says, reflecting on the space prior to the impressive remodel, “but the homeowners knew exactly what they wanted: sleek, modern, streamlined, Scandi.” The result of bold ideas and a successful execution is a space boasting details like specially built metal window shelves by Nate Deyesso of DSO Creative fabrication in Saco, cubby-like “landing pads” with USB ports for phone charging, and a European-style larder, complete with pull-out slatted cutting boards for bread slicing and subsequent crumb catching. “Nearly everything here was a custom project,” says Mike, noting cabinets by Kountry Kraft—finished in natural rift-cut white oak, Benjamin Moore’s Tricorn Black, and Kountry Kraft Alpine—which seamlessly meld a contemporary black-and-white palette with the warmth of natural wood accents.
Reflecting on the success of this particular kitchen, Kristen says, “I think the key is the incorporation of zones so everyone isn’t congregated around one particular space at all times,” underscoring how the larder—housing a breakfast station, wine bar, and extra storage space—keeps the countertops free and clear for cooking, a pastime enjoyed by the inhabitants of this brightly updated space.
