Kitchen Lighting House Tour: A Timeless New Jersey Kitchen Renovation
House Tour: A Timeless New Jersey Kitchen Renovation
This beautiful New Jersey kitchen renovation is a perfect example of how thoughtful kitchen lighting can shape the entire space. Designed with a classic colonial feel and architectural details throughout, the kitchen blends timeless cabinetry, warm wood floors, and traditional lantern pendant lighting that anchors the room.
The home belongs to designer and real estate agent DeAnna Martino, who undertook an extensive renovation of the property after purchasing it for its charm and potential. The project included a full interior redesign and an addition above the garage, ultimately creating a beautifully reimagined family home with a traditional yet welcoming feel.
The result is a bright and inviting kitchen centered around classic lighting and elegant millwork.
Photography and Interior Design: DeAnna Martino
Homeowner and Designer
Story originally reported by Samantha Grindell Pettjohn for Business Insider
https://www.businessinsider.com/new-jersey-home-renovation-kitchen-remodel-garage-addition-2026-3
Kitchen Island Lighting
The heart of the kitchen is a large island topped with a rich dark countertop that contrasts beautifully with the surrounding cabinetry. Above it hangs a traditional lantern pendant that brings warmth, scale, and architectural presence to the room.
Lantern lighting is one of my favorite choices for kitchen islands because it works so well in both traditional and modern cottage interiors. It provides visual structure in an open space while still feeling timeless and understated.
Lighting Featured
Kensington Lantern Pendant for Kitchen Islands
These lantern pendants add classic character and work especially well in kitchens with traditional cabinetry, millwork, or colonial-style architecture.
A Kitchen Designed Around Light
One of the standout features of the space is the large arched window above the sink. During the renovation, Martino recreated a window style she had admired in another home, bringing in natural light and adding architectural interest to the kitchen.
Flanking the window are traditional wall sconces that add another layer of soft lighting. This type of layered lighting is what makes a kitchen feel warm and inviting rather than overly bright or flat.
Lighting Featured
Wall sconces in kitchens are becoming increasingly popular because they create depth and balance while highlighting architectural elements like windows, cabinetry, and millwork.
A Timeless Traditional Kitchen
What makes this kitchen particularly special is the balance between new construction and classic design. The renovation focused heavily on custom millwork, cabinetry, and architectural detailing, which give the space a sense of character and permanence.
The darker hardwood floors ground the room while the white cabinetry keeps the space bright and fresh. Paired with the lantern lighting and traditional sconces, the kitchen feels elegant yet comfortable for everyday family life.
A Renovation Designed for Real Living
Before the renovation, the home had a formal dining room that the family rarely used. Instead of keeping the space, Martino chose to remove it and create a more open kitchen-centered layout designed for everyday living and entertaining.
The kitchen now connects naturally with the surrounding living spaces, creating a home that feels both grand and welcoming.
If you are choosing lighting for a kitchen renovation, our Kitchen Lighting FAQs can help you determine the right size and style for your space.
Shop the Lighting
Traditional Kitchen Wall Sconce
Final Thoughts
Kitchens like this are a perfect example of why classic lighting never goes out of style. Lantern pendants and traditional wall sconces bring warmth, balance, and architectural presence to a space, especially in homes with timeless details like millwork, arched windows, and custom cabinetry.
If you’re designing a kitchen and want it to feel finished, lighting is one of the most important decisions you’ll make.
More Kitchen Lighting Ideas
Looking for more inspiration for island and pendant lighting? Explore our full Kitchen Island Lighting Ideas guide.
Leave a comment