Descend Into Chicness

A garden-level kitchen gets a contemporary makeover that pays homage to its 113-year history

Back when our client’s home, a former embassy building, was built in 1910, an upstairs/downstairs dynamic separated the aristocrats from the service staff (Downton Abbey, anyone?). And while this modern couple definitely did not need working and living quarters for butlers, they had one similarity with the ghosts of embassies past: The kitchen was not to be the focal point of the home. 

Given our clients’ light cooking habits, moving the kitchen to the main level was a prohibitively expensive non-starter. A chef’s kitchen wasn’t necessary, but the space needed to reflect the owners’ contemporary taste and accommodate their modern lifestyle (translation: WFH space was a must). Here’s how we made it work.

THINK INSIDE THE LINES

In keeping with the home’s history, we kept the kitchen’s original footprint but space-planned to better serve the owners’ needs. A custom banquette was crafted to fit the bay window, with delicate fluted details around the base of the built-in dining table, and wiring runs through the base of the table, which houses a retractable outlet for work-from-home convenience. Installing both recessed and secondary lighting allowed the clients to adjust the brightness to fit the situation. Open shelving along one wall and a skylight above the range prevent cave vibes.

embrace the past

We decided to lean into a heritage feel with finishes and keep the palette quiet and neutral. New herringbone floors feel like they could have been original to the home, and the limewash walls feel storied and antiqued.

Still, our clients have super contemporary taste, so we freshened it up with a pop of color in the teal range and modern millwork on the cabinets and built-ins. The juxtaposition of the floors and cabinets ended up being everyone’s favorite design detail. Because the kitchen doesn’t see heavy use, we selected a light stone that adds to the airiness.

MODERN TOUCHES

The island is very functional and seamlessly accommodates all modern amenities. Because the kitchen is used for work and recreation as well as dining, we incorporated a slim TV that lays flat against the wall. Clean-lined hardware pops against the walnut and gray painted cabinetry, and panel-ready appliances maintain the modern profile of the cabinetry. 

SOURCEBOOK

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