Most kitchen layouts make sense — galley, U-shape, triangular — but the kitchen of this 1956 home in Silver Spring, Maryland, has a staircase down the middle that blocks most common floorplans. “The homeowners wanted as open a floorplan as possible without a total renovation,” explains designer Erica Jayne Chaudhuri. So what about the kitchen design? Erika Jayne Design-Buildhow do they get it done? They focused on integration.
Boarding up the staircase wasn't an option, since the basement still needed to be easily accessible. So Chaudhuri modified the staircase to fit the kitchen's new aesthetic. Her team replaced two of the three half-walls surrounding the staircase with open, wooden banisters, which opened up the kitchen to what was once a hallway, increasing the usable square footage. They stained the new banisters the same color as the original hardwood floors, seamlessly blending old and new. They left the remaining knee wall in place (they were forced to, because it was a structural necessity) but lined the cabinets along it and covered the area above it in glossy zellige tile, making it as beautiful as it is useful.
Luckily, few structural changes or layout tweaks were needed once the staircase was installed, which allowed them to spend the majority of their budget on fun finishes, like extending handmade zellige tiles across the backsplash. “Though these elements were a splurge, they were a great visual return on investment by becoming a focal point of the kitchen and setting the tone for the entire design,” says Chaudhuri. “The homeowner and I agreed that the handmade tiles were worth the added visual impact and unique character.”
Before the remodel, the kitchen had no storage space, and what little countertop space there was was used for food prep and small appliances. One of the clients' main requests was a hidden microwave; they didn't like their previous appliance being exposed, and Chaudhuri made it happen. “I love how the microwave is cleverly hidden,” she says. “We were able to maximize every inch of space while still maintaining the clean look of the kitchen. In a small kitchen, every inch of counter space is at a premium, and we couldn't afford to have a microwave taking up that precious space.”
cabinet: WW Wood Products. Quartzite Counters: Building stone. Wooden countertops: IKEA. range: Jenn Air. refrigerator: Cafe. Zellige tiles: Zi-a-tile. Slate tiles: Tile shop. Ceiling lighting: Long Maid Co., Ltd. faucet: Ferguson. Cabinet Hardware: Ötzi.
Lower cabinets add storage space along the retiled knee wall. To keep costs down, Chaudhuri installed walnut veneer countertops from IKEA, a cost-effective solution that contrasts beautifully with the more luxurious quartzite counters she used in the rest of the kitchen. Other budget-friendly ideas include lighting and hardware. “The brass fixtures were sourced on Etsy, so it's a win-win!” says Chaudhuri. “You're supporting a small business and adding some style points.” She chose brass because it develops a unique patina that will make the kitchen look even more beautiful as clients move in.
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