The House That Blues Built

When Blues music legend and fourth generation builder, Albert Cummings and his interior designer wife, Christina decided to build their forever home in the Berkshire Mountains, they knew they wanted Wood-Mode cabinetry throughout. After specifying Wood-Mode in many of their customers’ homes, the Cummings collaborated with Wood-Mode dealer Vonnie Marcyoniak of Kitchens & Baths by Herzenberg to translate their vision into ideal spaces within their own build. The “House That Blues Built” features spaces inspired by the homeowners’ vision and unique background.

The Cummings put enormous thought into every space of their home, spending years collecting the design ideas they would eventually incorporate. It is Wood-Mode’s craftmanship they were familiar with and wanted the “feel” of their cabinetry – a quality that they know will last a lifetime – and the finishing touches inside each drawer and behind every cabinet.

Starting in the kitchen where Christina gave a lot of thought to how the space would be used, pulling inspiration from a range hood, and incorporating furniture details such as the Vintage Navy Blue island that would become the focal point of the room. Taking advantage of the kitchen’s 10 foot ceilings, upper glass front cabinets were designed to safely store yet publicly showcase heirloom cookie jars. Professional-grade appliances were selected, such as an integrated coffee machine, not only for appearance but because of Christina’s love for cooking and entertaining.

Christina shared that her favorite room in the house is the pantry, which is open and visible to the kitchen. Fitted with floor to ceiling cabinets in the same Vintage Navy Blue as the island, the space includes floating walnut shelves and a farmhouse sink with a mountaintop view.

The Cummings designed a home office with plenty of space for each to have a desk, selecting Maple cabinetry finished in Black. In the master bathroom no detail was spared. Alpine White vanities feature Walnut wood drawer interiors and architectural details such as wainscoting. Tall frameless cabinets provide storage in the laundry room, while the guest bathroom has cabinets finished in Jet Stream, one of the many industry-leading finish options offered by Wood-Mode.

The most innovative space of the home can be found on the lower floor in the guitar bar. Designed for acoustic perfection, the space includes a full-size bar where friends and family can gather to enjoy nights of music. To create the look and feel of a New Orleans Blues Bar, the Cummings’ chose Plain Sawn American Oak, which provides an interesting texture, and then finished it in an Ebony stain.

And every Wood-Mode designed space features the technology of integrated LED lighting, along with hidden power cords and receptacles routed behind cabinetry. Whether opening a drawer in the pantry, to retrieve baking supplies, to opening guitar storage for a prized Fender, to nighttime pathway lighting in a bathroom, integrated LED lighting can be found in Wood-Mode cabinetry throughout the home, within every drawer, and behind, under, and above every cabinet door.