MY KITCHEN RENOVATION: A YEAR LATER

It was very important for me to reimagine our home in a way that created space for movement, growth and security because the pandemic had turned our lives inward quite unexpectedly.

It's already September and after taking the entire summer to disconnect and be fully present, I realized that it's actually been a year since we finished the first phase of renovation on my home. Deciding to move forward with a home renovation is stressful on a good day. Deciding to start a renovation in the midst of a global pandemic with supply chain issues and soaring raw material prices added more complexity to the situation. That being said, I've never been accused of doing anything the easy way.

My home's over 120 years old, and has definitely seen wear and tear over the past few years, so, a refresh was much needed. It was very important for me to reimagine our home in a way that created space for movement, growth and security because the pandemic had turned our lives inward quite unexpectedly. I thought about what that "reimagining" would look and feel like and it was pretty clear: undoing some of the short-term cosmetic changes that were made over the years and going back to the soul of the home, it's original footprint, where the architecture was allowed to take center stage and do the heavy lifting.

SPACE PLANNING

I'm a huge fan of open concept layouts, but knocking down walls in a home built in 1899 was not part of my design plan (or budget). However, I created a feeling of openness by emphasizing as many entry points as possible. Modernizing the kitchen while remaining loyal to the original architecture with floor to ceiling windows and intricate plaster-work was equally important to me. What we ended up with was a beautiful, calming space where we happily spend most of our time.

STORAGE

When the time came to select cabinetry for the kitchen, I was completely underwhelmed by what I saw in the market. I'm partial to base drawer cabinets and the offerings did not leave any sort of impression on me. Additionally, with lumber prices having more than doubled at the time because of scarcity, I was not willing to spend more than half of my budget on custom-cabinetry. The happy medium was ordering in-stock base cabinet boxes from a big-box supplier and adding handmade fronts to give them more of a custom look and feel. I went with SemiHandmade SS Quarterline cabinet fronts in Desert Sand and I chose antique brass knobs from Signature Hardware to finish the semi-customized look. In the end, what we created was an elevated balance between cost, beauty and utility.

COUTNERTOPS

Selecting kitchen countertops is not a simple task by any stretch of the imagination. There are so many great products available that you really need to know what's important to you. Are you looking for the durability, stain and heat resistance that a quartz countertop can provide? Or do you want a natural stone look with lots of character that is a bit more precious and costly? My biggest kitchen "must have" was a quintessential marble countertop and backsplash to compliment the two beautiful 19th century marble mantles in the space. All of the mantles in my home are made of white Carrara marble, so, I instinctively knew that a statement making stone with a commanding & palatable personality was what I needed.

My philosophy of home however, is that it's meant to be lived in and enjoyed no matter what you put inside of it and that's exactly what we do around here. Stains and imperfections will add character to our kitchen over time.

My island is 6ft wide, with base cabinet storage on both sides so ensuring that it didn't feel like a monolith in the space was key. Ultimately, I selected two beautiful slabs of Calacatta Carrara marble for my island, counter and backsplash. Most people understandably shy away from natural stone in the kitchen. It has a well earned reputation for being high-maintenance, prone to stains and imperfections and to be honest, a huge financial investment. My philosophy of home however, is that it's meant to be lived in and enjoyed no matter what you put inside of it and that's exactly what we do around here. Stains and imperfections will add character to our kitchen over time.

APPLIANCES Allowing the dramatic architecture to shine meant choosing low-profile appliances. Function and beauty was the criteria and the assortment of brands that we outfitted the kitchen with exceeded expectations.

I opted for a natural wood range hood in a convex shape. We primed and painted it using Farrow & Ball "All White" which allowed for a seamless look with the matching walls. Knowing that I would not be going with overhead cabinets, I wanted a refrigerator that could (visually) stand on it's own and went with a sleek stainless beauty from Fisher Paykel. It's unassuming and doesn't feel intrusive in the everyday space.

I went with a Cafe Series 6 burner range in Matte Black for many of the same reasons. I'd originally considered the same brand as the refrigerator in stainless, but pivoted at the last minute to the matte black finish. The juxtaposition of the strong, dark range with the lighter, more feminine feel of the marble created a harmony that I don't think would have existed had I stuck to my original design direction. The slender and highly functional dishwasher, quietly tucked away in the island is from Bosh and it's so incredibly easy to use that my girls are able to load and start it on their own with no problem. My Kohler sink in matte black and Brizo faucet in champagne brass suited the kitchen's blueprint quite easily as well.

It took quite a few (expensive) purchases and subsequent returns to achieve that objective, but I ultimately selected 3 different light sources because, various levels of light can create distinctive moods in any space.

LIGHTING

The kitchen is on the south part of the house and does not get direct sunlight, so, creating the right mood and amount of light at any given time of the day was crucial. It was also important to use lighting to highlight the space's beautiful architecture. This was the hardest part of the project for me. It took quite a few (expensive) purchases and subsequent returns to achieve that objective, but I ultimately selected 3 different light sources because, various levels of light can create distinctive moods in any space. The ambient lighting (ceiling flush mounts) creates a relaxed, illuminated space in the evening. The task lights (pendants) over the island allow me a bright focused space in which to work any time of day. Finally, the indirect light provided by the two beautiful, custom Italian sconces with brass detailing I scored on 1stDibs flawlessly finish off the space.

In the end, while I still have a ways to go to finish my kitchen - pantry and outdoor patio, as well as finally receive the (right) pot filler which continues to evade me for many, many reasons, I am incredibly happy with how everything aligned to create a cohesive, soulful dream space for my family and friends to enjoy for years to come.