This Lyon Park kitchen by Unique Kitchens & Baths exudes tranquility with neutral, natural finishes. (Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg)
Neutral Zone
Erin Johnson and Michael Schmidt's kitchen was relatively small (8.5 feet by 14 feet) and lacked functional storage space in their 3,000-square-foot Lyon Park home, built in 2002. The builder-grade finishes were also showing their age.
Of course, these imperfections had to be corrected, but the kitchen remodeling plan began with the range — specifically, a sleek Lacanche unit handcrafted in Burgundy, France. “It was the first thing we decided on after visiting the showroom in New York City,” says Johnson, a real estate broker. “The other design elements just flowed from there.”
The team tasked with correcting the kitchen's shortcomings and ensuring the remaining space was worthy of that impressive stove included Tanya Smith-Shiflett, owner of Unique Kitchens & Baths in Great Falls, interior designer Alison Giese, whose eponymous company is based in San Antonio, and Carrmichael Construction in Oakton.
The first order of business was to expand the space, which was easy because a seating area next to the kitchen allowed construction crews to lengthen the room. “We had to move windows and add walls,” Smith-Shifflett says. But in the overall scheme of the kitchen remodel, it was a relatively easy fix.
Rustic finishes combine with brass accents to create an elegant look. (Photo: Stacey Zarin Goldberg)
Giese explains that the remodeled cooking space is divided into zones, with the sink, refrigerator and storage on one side, the stove (with a custom range hood) and island in the middle and a coffee and wine bar on the other side.
Aesthetically, the owners wanted a combination of styles and finishes that drew inspiration from their travels. Smith Shifflett specified a combination of paint, stain and white oak cabinetry with a lime mineral finish that brings out the wood's natural character. Vertical planks on one wall and in the ceiling create depth and dimension.
“We favor a neutral, nature-inspired palette,” says Johnson. “The various cabinet finishes are tied together by Calacatta Quartzite countertops with their flowing, organic veining. I love the aged look of unlacquered brass, so I incorporated it into the cabinet knobs, handles and light fixtures. Wood-paneled detailing on the ceiling gives the space a cozy feel.”
Smith Shifflett attributes the project's success to the homeowners' collaborative energy and high level of involvement. “The clients were amazing,” she says.[Erin] She knew what she wanted. Being in real estate, she has seen a lot of kitchens and I think she has an eye for something specific.”
The result is a dramatic yet tranquil space that brings the couple joy. “It's my favorite room in the house,” says Schmidt, who works in finance. “I wouldn't change a thing. It makes me smile every time I walk in.”
Red is the new neutral color in this midmodern kitchen remodel by TriVistaUSA. (Photo by Nova Soul Imagery)
Cool Vermilion
Melanie and David (who declined to reveal their last name to protect their privacy) have made numerous improvements to their Arlington home, a post-war rambler built in the 1950s, in the 15 years since they bought it, but they've left the kitchen largely untouched. “It was functional and had been remodeled in the late '90s,” says Melanie, who works in public relations (David is an entrepreneur). “The layout was cramped and a bit clunky. The style was generic and not exactly our style. It was very beige.”
There was plenty of room for improvement, she added, including dated finishes, little storage, and an oddly angled sink. But the space also had some positives, including a sunny, east-facing room and a great location in the center of the home.
To make the most of these positives, the couple turned to Arlington-based design-build firm TriVistaUSA. “We love the midcentury style, so we wanted our home's renovation to be consistent with the original design,” Melanie says.
The home's tiny kitchen was originally little more than a hallway filled with cabinets. To improve traffic flow and sightlines within the home, TriVistaUSA co-owner Michael Sauri reconfigured various aspects of the layout, including relocating the kitchen pantry and removing wall framing that made the room feel cramped.
This intervention maintains the linear view from the front entrance to the kitchen and opens up the connection on the main floor between the living room, kitchen and bedroom wing.
Aside from the refrigerator wall, the rest of the space has no upper cabinets, so there's no obstruction to the view. (Photo credit: Nova Soul Imagery)
Except for one wall, the kitchen is almost completely devoid of upper cabinetry. “The kitchen opens onto the dining room and a new covered deck that looks out onto the backyard,” Sauri says. “We have a beautiful backyard with views of the trees, and it's a great spot because of the topography.” Blocking that view would have been a crime.
Wynnbrooke's tomato-red cabinetry dominates the design, but not in a bad way: Most of the cabinetry is below eye level, so the color isn't overwhelming.
To make up for the lack of storage space in the upper cabinets, Sauri added a pantry (not pictured) behind the wall of refrigerators. “The space was 10-and-a-half feet,” he explains. “It was a lot larger than the hallway we needed, but it wasn't wide enough or big enough to do anything with. We couldn't turn it into a breakfast area, so we built a pantry.”
The kitchen's other surfaces and materials complement the red, including quartz countertops, stainless steel appliances and metal finishes in champagne bronze and satin brass. Together, they create an aesthetic that's sure to wow.
“We love it,” says Melanie. “The red feels almost neutral; it goes with everything. There's plenty of storage space and room to entertain guests. The design reflects our style and the original design of the house.”
An open floor plan showcases ODE Kitchens' stylish kitchens in all four corners. A surprise addition is a second “back kitchen” hidden behind a wall of glass. (Photo courtesy of ODE Design)
Double Duty
Yuri Sagatov's client When they approached him to design their custom home in Clarendon, they wanted an open plan and industrial feel. “The goal was to design a home that felt like a reimagined old urban space,” says the designer and principal of ODE Kitchens in Falls Church.
To achieve their wishes, Sagatov took material inspiration from the city, using brick, steel and glass to define the home's aesthetic, and similar elements continue this theme in the kitchen.
“The kitchen is a combination of matte black and bleached natural wood, which is actually a premium laminate,” Sagatov says. “The black cabinets are a matte, fingerprint-resistant nano material, and the countertops are quartz Caesarstone. The goal was to create a complex mix of textures in a single color.”
The hidden “back kitchen” features the same sleek cabinetry and neutral finishes as the main kitchen. (Photo courtesy of ODE Design)
As the owners frequently cook and entertain guests, the kitchen needed to function for everyday use as well as catering: “They host big parties and didn't want the kitchen to be overloaded with food and drink. [dirty dishes]” says Sagatov.
The problem is, in an open-concept floor plan, it's not so easy to disappear like that: Because this kitchen is open to the adjacent living space, it needed a way to hide countertop appliances and everyday clutter.
A glass wall separates the two kitchens and allows natural light deep into the center of the home. (Photo: ODE Design)
The answer is a hidden back kitchen that serves as a secondary cooking area, pantry and tidying area.
Tucked away behind the main kitchen, this secondary cooking space can house countertop appliances plus a second oven, sink and dishwasher, keeping the main kitchen open and functional for parties without cluttering up the space.
“The biggest challenge with this space, given its location, was bringing natural light to that side of the house,” Sagatoff says. “The solution was a steel-and-glass wall that separated the back kitchen from the front kitchen, allowing light to permeate the entire home.”
Nigel F. Maynard recently renovated his mother's kitchen in the U.S. Virgin Islands. He's a writer, woodworker, and DIY remodeler based in Hyattsville, Maryland. Follow him on Instagram at @products_hound and @custom_home_hacker..
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