Open and Airy Modern Kitchen

What was the challenge?

Our clients love to spend time in the kitchen with family and enjoy entertaining guests, but the dark, outdated kitchen in their century home wasn’t up to the task. Like many homes of its over 100-year vintage, theirs had small rooms walled off from others according to function. It lacked natural light and didn’t take full advantage of the home’s spectacular ravine view. These drawbacks persisted even though previous owners had somewhat updated the original kitchen, replacing its wooden floor with ceramic tile and its cabinets with reddish ones still too dark for the small space. Older homes complicate renovation projects, but we were up for the challenge of creating a bright, efficient, open-concept kitchen with all the modern amenities. One that would serve them now and for years to come, while still honoring the past. 

What was delivered?

The wall we removed had a pass-through with a large countertop as breakfast bar, but its chairs were in the dining room. After merging kitchen and dining room, we added an 8’ island. The overhang of its Caesar stone countertop allowed chairs – and knees – to tuck under it comfortably. 

New energy-efficient windows brought in abundant natural light and restful views of outdoor greenery. Except for the new gas cooktop and built-in oven, all other brand-new appliances remained hidden behind both solid and vertically channeled millwork panels of white oak. 

Over the sink on the outside wall was a tiny window with a dreary view of the neighboring house. We removed it and installed an undermount deep single-bowl sink in the island, to complete an efficient work triangle. The stove exhaust had to vent to that outside wall. Cabinetry and other features were built to use the entire wall space and create a commanding focal point.

The homeowners had a very specific vision for their new kitchen, which our designer succeeded in realizing. They wanted a much larger, more functional space that didn’t look like a typical kitchen. Rather, they wanted it to harmonize with the look and feel of the rest of the house, with its modern clean lines, neutral color palette and stunning architectural details. 

Their new appliances had to disappear into the woodwork, if possible. We faced the new pantry with the same exquisite white oak millwork as figured throughout the home and its doors concealed a coffee station as well as shelves for generous food storage. On the main wall, we crafted base and upper cabinets using smooth, not milled, panels of white oak which also concealed the new fridge. The uppers extended up to the ceiling, to maximize storage space. The lowers included deep pot drawers and accommodated the oven, which is conveniently blocked from dining room view by the kitchen island. 

A polished porcelain backsplash in a transitional tan color extended from counter level to the ceiling and cleverly concealed the exhaust hood over the gas cooktop. A single open floating shelf mounted to the backsplash allowed for decorative accents or plants to be displayed. The kitchen island provided additional storage, while hiding the dishwasher and garbage/recycling caddy. 

In addition to the now-abundant natural light and the ceiling pot lights, three globe pendants were hung over the island/breakfast bar. Black accents prevalent throughout the home provided visual contrast in the kitchen too: pantry doorknobs, cord shields on the pendant fixtures, breakfast bar stools and the black matte finish of the new pullout gooseneck sink faucet. The main countertop and the island’s topper, both in fresh-concrete-colored Caesar stone, together provided ample space for efficient food preparation and serving.