HGTV's Jenn Todryk's Best Tips For Mastering The Cape Cod Look In Your Kitchen

On the show "No Demo Reno," Jenn Todryk undertakes clients' tired homes and transforms them with little to no demolition and tight budgets. So when one client asked for a Nancy Meyers-inspired kitchen, Todryk knew she would need to embrace Cape Cod's traditional but cozy aesthetic. Nancy Meyers is a movie director known for her high-end but warm, intimate interior design sets that people often want to emulate in their own homes. According to Todryk, there's a key to this style. It's all about finding the balance between more formal, elegant elements and lived-in comfort and pairing those classic design principles with contemporary decorations.

While discussing plans for the kitchen, Todryk explained that combining those classic details with modern decorating creates an expensive-looking aesthetic. That may sound a little funny at first, but as the quiet luxury aesthetic has become more popular, it's clear that folks want homes that feel more high-end. It's imperative to use more current décor so the style doesn't become too stuffy or kitschy, which is the downfall of many Cape Cod-style homes.

Jenn Todryk nails this careful balance of 90s Cape Cod coziness and fresh modern details. Playing on the more classic side, floor-to-ceiling cabinets offer customized storage and make the room feel incredibly cozy. The style of dining room chairs is also perfectly in line with coastal glam. We also love that the backsplash is a mix of moody beach stone greys and blues.
But there are some smart, sophisticated updates on the classics here. In particular, the open floating shelving feels contemporary, but the tasteful clutter still feels inviting. One of the big issues with open shelving is that it isn't always the most functional. It leaves the shelves and the objects on them exposed to dust and grease, and frankly, who wants to make sure all of the contents of their kitchen look display-ready? That's why it's essential that Todryk provided plenty of closed-cabinet storage, which is more formal and traditional, and only left one section for open shelving. Todryk assembled a great array of objects that maintain balance as well, ranging from a vintage-style copper kettle to a modern cake stand, vases, and potted plants. The result is a display that feels thoughtfully hand-picked and seamlessly blended — a key part of the Nancy Meyers Cape Cod style.

For a long time, when folks asked for a high-end coastal-style kitchen, they were given all-white everything, from the appliances to the countertops. And with some designers saying all-white kitchens are out, we really love how Jenn Todryk used various colors and finishes to keep this particular kitchen from feeling sterile and cold. The matte black countertops provide a much-needed contrast to the space and play off the black hanging light fixture. 

Since she was working with clients on a budget, Todryk also opted to use the appliances already in the kitchen. Using stainless steel can feel risky since it's a more modern finish, but by tying in silver hardware on the cabinets and sink faucet, it actually reads very classic. The newly installed stove hood also balances out the cleaner lines of the appliances. This shows that you can really mix and match to get that coveted high-end but lived-in Nancy Meyers aesthetic.