The clients purchased this 19th century row house
with the intention of turning it into their primary residence. The property was
in disrepair, having suffered as a rental property for a number of years.
As a couple that enjoys cooking, the clients wanted to make
the kitchen the centerpiece of the design. The existing kitchen was too small, cramped and dark for
their needs. It also cut off the
living room from the dining room, making each of those rooms feel too separate
and detached to allow for entertaining.
My design was to eliminate the 3 kitchen walls and open it
to the entire floor. Now the kitchen could be connected to the rest of the house.
Eliminating the walls also allowed us to expand the size kitchen.
The clients wanted the kitchen to be functional and open
while entertaining, but didn’t want guests getting in the way while food was
being prepared. The addition of a long island solved this request. Guests could
now walk from the living room to the dining room without entering the working
part of the kitchen. The outer edge of the island has become the impromptu
place for guests to hang out.
The clients also requested the addition of a power room on
this floor. Without the need for a large dining table. I was able to extend the
wall of the stairs into the former dining room to make space for a very small
powder room.