After a family of six – and a beloved pooch named Bentley – renovated two of the bathrooms in their home, they were ready to transform the kitchen into a place to spend time together and entertain guests. Designer Samantha Lane of Ann Lane Home in Baltimore, Md., was up for the challenge of updating the space and creating a backdrop for the wife’s art collection, which can be seen throughout the home.
The floor plan was large enough that there was no need for an addition, but it was narrow and long. One goal was to make it feel less like a bowling alley with too much separation and more like a comfortable, intimate space in which to gather. Clever solutions like replacing the black-and-white floor tile with hardwoods and incorporating a warm, walnut island with ample seating were used to fulfill this goal.
Pleasing Palette & Logical Layout
Lane chose hues that would allow brighter artwork to shine. Instead of all white-painted cabinets, which would have felt cold, she chose walnut for the island and a green shade for the adjacent bar area for a fun pop. A coffee bar flanked by two pantries in the breakfast area features glass-fronted upper cabinets in the same walnut as the island.
A simple glazed tile was chosen for the backsplash, and the homeowners fell in love with a Calacatta Danby marble Lane had introduced in the initial planning, which was used for the countertops. All marble will patina over time, so the designer made sure her clients would be comfortable with that down the line.
The bar was intentionally located away from the heavy-traffic areas, so kids and guests can access drinks and snacks there without being in the way. This area was designed to be its own space and to be a bit unexpected without overwhelming the rest of the kitchen.
Ample Appliances & Fitting Fixtures
Most of the appliances, including the refrigeration and the two dishwashers, are integrated into the cabinetry, as stainless steel would have taken the focus away from the surfaces. An oversized, paneled hood adds depth to the space and provides the ventilation needed for the gas range. An appliance garage stores smaller items, including the microwave, and the bar features paneled refrigerator drawers for beverages.
As far as the lighting plan for the large space, Lane incorporated 4-inch recessed cans throughout, as well as three glass pendants over the island and a linear plaster shade over the breakfast table. The plaster material provides a nice contrast to the glass pendants, which were chosen for their transparency. The pendants, cabinet hardware and faucets all feature an aged-brass finish.
Staying on Task & Budget
Lane and her team finished the project down to the last detail in about 12 weeks. The family lived in the house during the renovation and were able to make use of a decent-sized kitchen in the basement. They also planned a few vacations during the project, which minimized some of the stress along the way.
“Because we did not have to alter the floor plan, knock down walls or move plumbing, we were able to spend more on the cabinetry and countertops,” said the designer. “We also got creative with value engineering some of the elements, such as the light fixtures, which the wife can swap out in a few years if she wants something fresh and new.”
Overcoming Challenges & Learning Something New
Lane said designing such a large space in an intentional way that was balanced and not too cabinet heavy was a bit of a project hurdle. She solved this by using a variety of finishes to keep the eye moving around; no one element stands on its own and overpowers. The inset-glass cabinet doors between the two pantries in the breakfast area provide a furniture-like look and break up the rest of the cabinets on that wall.
Lane said this project reaffirmed that details make the difference between a good kitchen design and an exceptional one. She made subtle, thoughtful decisions through hardware selection, lighting layers, trim details and material transitions, which resulted in cohesion and character in the elevated space.
The family in this home went from not using the former kitchen to spending quality time together often in the new one. The husband often opts to work on his laptop at the breakfast table instead of in his office, and the wife is always sending Lane photos when she adds new décor.
“She has undergone renovations before and she knew what would work for her family and what would not,” said the designer. “She was excited about each detail and now has a fully functioning space.”
Sources
Designers: Samantha Lane of Ann Lane Home Photographer: Peak Visuals Backsplash: Ann Sacks Cabinets: Artisan Interiors Countertops: Imagine Surfaces Dishwashers: Bosch & Cove Faucets: Kohler Hardware: Rejuvenation & Water Street Brass Hood Insert & Range: Wolf Island Stools: McGee & Co. Lighting: Urban Electric, Vaughn Lighting & Visual Comfort Refrigeration: JennAir & Sub-Zero
