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Mosaic tiles add shimmer to the contrasting light and dark tones in this urban kitchen

Located in a prewar New York apartment, this countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, white, black — Located in a prewar New York apartment, this kitchen is designed with dark and light colors, balanced with a variety of textures.

The white crystallized glass countertop was chosen for countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, table, white, gray

The shape of the glassware cabinet reflects the countertop, home appliance, interior design, interior designer, kitchen, product design, gray, white

The shape of the glassware cabinet reflects the display case, furniture, glass, interior design, shelf, shelving, window, gray, black

New York City is famous for its color and texture, both visually and culturally. The city's apartment buildings provide residents with a level of urban lifestyle that has worldwide appeal.

St Charles of New York has been designing New York kitchens for three generations. When undertaking the remodel of this kitchen in an Upper East Side apartment, principal Robert Schwartz focused on creating a sleek, yet detailed space that reflects the history and character of New York, while encompassing the needs of a modern lifestyle.

The original space consisted of three small rooms, which were combined to create one large open-plan space. This encompasses a kitchen, laundry room and a small planning station. With the removal of a dividing wall, Schwartz was left with a structural column. This was camouflaged in a mosaic of small white crystalline tiles.

"The same tiles were used throughout the kitchen, covering the walls and providing a backdrop to the illuminated glassware cabinet located between the windows. The tiles have the aesthetic benefit of providing a sense of sparkle against the dark espresso tone of the quartersawn oak cabinets around the periphery," says the designer.

Mosaic tiles are also used on the floor in a repeating medallion pattern. This brings together the pale and dark tones used in the rest of the kitchen space. The ocher brown in this flooring is seen in the bar stools and also the banquette located next to the glassware cabinet. Similarly, the dark speckles reflect the color of the cabinets.

The triangular shape of the island was designed to accommodate the structural column, and also to allow space for seating, and clearance to move around the room comfortably, says Schwartz.

"The stainless steel island lends an element of neutrality to the dark cabinets and light sparkle of the tiles and crystallized glass countertops. The recessed undermount grips in the oak cabinets are repeated in the island cabinets, despite the difference in materials," he says.