The gut renovation of photographer Donna Dotan's home in Montclair, New Jersey was well underway when Dotan and her husband discovered five layers of old flooring in the Dutch Colonials kitchen. They knew exactly what to do with that sudden trove of space underneath the room in their house that they planned to use the most.They removed all five layers to make way for a fresh, durable option and took the opportunity to banish cold feet for good. At that point, we decided to add heated flooring since we were going with tile, says Dotan, who specializes in interiors and architecture photography, of the luxurious feature more commonly used in bathrooms. The demolition took a lot longer than expected, but it was worth the wait!Built in 1901, the homes kitchen was outdated and mismatched. Working with interior designer Rob Stuart, they set out to make functional updates and create a cohesive lookall while maintaining the historic feel of the six-bedroom, five-and-a-half-bathroom property. A standout improvement is the two-tone, shaker-style cabinetry. The cabinet colors (warm wood and October Mist by Benjamin Moore) complement the homes natural surroundings, which are framed by wide windows.Donna DotanLight fixture: Visual Comfort. Stools: Serena & Lily. Counters: Rockaway Marble & Granite Inc. Art: Hannah Moon. Glass candle holders: Anthropologie.Meaningful moments are found in the details. Most nights, Dotans family enjoys tea following dinner. That teapot [on the island] was passed down from my Moroccan grandmother, who had a whole collection of them, she says, adding she keeps a few of them together with Moroccan glassware on display on the open shelving. We keep a garden of mint right outside the kitchen and will usually have hot water with mint leaves or add the leaves to our tea.The art on the walls is a commission by their good friend Hannah Moon. Rob found that incredible vintage frame on the streets of New York with a sign on it that said Take me! Dotan explains. Hannah created something that she felt would look perfect in that frame, and she was right.Donna DotanDonna DotanOther upgrades include a farm sink, which doubles as a bath for washing Dotans mini golden doodle, Remy, when he gets muddy from playing outside. Under the open shelving, the bread box was painted sage green to match the cabinets. The vintage-style range from Ilve adds to the room's overall charm. "We purchased an extra brass bar from Ilve to add to the Hoodsly hood above in order to tie it all together," Dotan says.Donna DotanWallpaper: Thibaut. Pendant, sconce, chairs, and throw pillows (square): Serena & Lily. Throw pillow (circle): HomeGoods. Mirror: Pottery Barn. Banquette fabrics: Kravet, upholstered by Oscar Fay & Son Upholstery.On the opposite end of the kitchen, a custom banquette area was built under a window that fills the room with natural light, a bright, cozy spot for breakfast. Follow House Beautiful on Instagram and TikTok.