Kitchen 199 Gallery

Project Scope:
Owners of a 3,500 sq ft circa 1980’s Colonial were seeking sweeping “strategic” upgrades to entire house within a budget. Project needed to include: a) an enlarged master bathroom with many high-end features; b) near-doubling of available kitchen footprint (while staying within envelop of existing home); c) more refined interior design scheme throughout that emphasizes visual unity.
Redesigning the footprints of rooms targeted for remodeling were among the project’s primary challenges. Alternative structural solutions needed to be devised on both floors in order to remove obstructive interior bearing walls. The larger creative consideration was determining how to best reconfigure space plans for the kitchen and the new master bathroom. Deconstructing a problem often lead to an inspired solution. For instance, the owner’s desire to relocate the washer/dryer to the second floor (for convenience) freed up square footage allocated to the existing first floor laundry room which could, in turn, be incorporated into the new kitchen.
Solutions
KITCHEN AND FIRST LEVEL
We introduced an open floor plan that functionally unifies the kitchen, breakfast area and family room while preserving the integrity of primary activity zones. By identifying upstairs accommodations for a washer/dryer, we were able to eliminate the first level laundry room (which included a door linked to the garage). Removing the bearing wall (and shifting loads to new structural supports), we conjoined the area into a larger kitchen footprint. [NOTE: to maximize available wall surface, we also relocated the door leading to the garage].
We removed the room divider between the breakfast area and family room—again, implementing an alternative structural support. To prepare the site for necessary visual unity, we removed the family room wall panels.
To improve inflowing natural light, we installed a 5’ x 8’ picture window in the family room (replacing a smaller version).
Determining that a closet near the family room was unnecessary, we removed it to create space for a butler’s pantry. This provides a vital midroom serving station.
We extracted carpet and vinyl floor coverings throughout the first 1st level, installing oak floors in all rooms including the foyer. We also installed new wood staircase and railings between the first and second floors. A slider from the breakfast room to the exterior deck was replaced with a wider French door.
To create kitchen wall surfaces needed to larger cabinets, we re-routed ceiling-flush plumbing and HVAC, eliminated now-unnecessary bulkheading and installed substantially larger cabinetry
INTERIOR SUMMARY: The radically remade kitchen-centric great room on the rear of the house is visually cohesive, dramatically more functional and substantially upgraded. The augmented kitchen space plan created square footage for a granite-surfaced food preparation island that includes a 2nd prep sink, an oven and built-in bookcases; gas lines have been routed to a professional quality 48” cooking range; ceiling-flush glass-facing cabinets not only provide needed storage but effectively mainstream the area as the new “heart of the house.”
The unified interior design scheme features built-ins on either side of the fireplace with a new marble mantle hearth. Crown molding and trimwork are among finishwork details. Recessed and hanging pendant lights provide accented illumination.
MASTER BATHROOM
Reconfiguring a series of small rooms adjacent to the existing builder master bath created the footprint needed for a highly functional suite that features a spacious luxury bath. In the current plan, a foyer that links to the spa itself conveniently locates a walk-in closet and wash-dryer, respectively, to the left and right. [NOTE: the upstairs laundry can be discretely closed off via pocket doors.]
Space for the master bath was created by relocating a former dressing area and nearly doubling the space of the existing bath.
INTERIOR SUMMARY: The plan called for relocating the toilet, finishing the interior with ceramic tiles. Amenities include a large walk-in frameless glass shower with bench, a 3’ x 6’ Jacuzzi, double vanities and floor-to-ceiling cherry wood cabinetry.
Two skylights provide sources of natural light. Interior detailing includes wall scones, fine trim work, and recessed lights.