Classic Kitchen Renovation in Washington, DC
Project Overview
Our client bought the house in 2012 from the original owner and had previously renovated other parts of the house. In 2020, she wanted to update the kitchen since she was home much more often (like a lot of us). The house has a solid mid-century design, and there are a lot of 45-degree angles throughout the existing architecture. There were parts of the kitchen that needed repair as well as being updated. The client’s goal for this space was to elongate the kitchen within the existing footprint while creating a more inviting space from the adjacent living room. We wanted to add as much storage cabinetry as possible, seat 4 people comfortably at an island, and not sacrifice circulation.
Design + Layout
When planning this renovation, we needed to pay homage to the original structure, as we didn’t have the option of extending the footprint. The 45-degree angles at the rear of the kitchen actually served to our advantage: We placed the kitchen island nestled in the punch-out in the original structure, which helped maximize not only cabinet storage, but also seating space and walkable clearance around the island. Clustering all the tall appliances on one wall left us with the range and dishwasher, which we slotted elegantly into the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. We opted for a solid surface backsplash, against which a stainless steel chimney style range hood acted as an industrial highlight.
Style + Finishes
The house’s mid-century structure needed an interior style to match: We landed on a boldly veined quartz for the centerpiece countertop and solid backsplash, with flat panels and angular hardware on the fridge and pantry cabinets. Around the perimeter, we opted for floating shelves in the same veined marble, and classic understated bar lights. A particular point of interest, the simple asymmetrical chandelier in the center of the room brings together the black light fixtures and brass hardware, with non-standard angled arms, echoing the angular construction of the house itself.