A Cook’s Kitchen and a Family Pantry
To create a cook’s kitchen in this 1927 English-Country-Tudor-style residence in the greater Boston area, the homeowners contacted a local expert in period-home remodels and restorations, Charlie Allen Renovations. The Cambridge, Mass.-based firm gave them that and more.
The homeowner had two goals: she wanted a kitchen where family and friends could gather comfortably to enjoy meals, but as a serious cook, she also needed space for uninterrupted food preparation. To accommodate these two somewhat-opposed needs, the team from Charlie Allen moved the kitchen-adjacent laundry room to a different location in the house and remodeled that space as a spacious pantry featuring a coffee station, wine bar and refrigerator for beverages and snack items. This way, her husband, whose home office is down the hall, and her adult children and grandchildren when they visit, have everything they need in a handy spot that doesn’t put them underfoot when she is working in the kitchen.
The designers created several distinct spaces for seating within the kitchen where all can gather to enjoy one another’s company once meal prep is done. A new peninsula at one end of the kitchen offers casual bar seating, while an expansive custom table, positioned in a sunny nook at the other end of the room, accommodates traditional dining. In the center of the space, a furniture-like island bridges the kitchen and the family room with additional seating options.
Expanded cabinetry to accommodate specialized storage needs was another objective of the renovation. The homeowner wanted room for her collection of holiday-related items, which had previously been stored in the basement. She also wanted space for cleaning equipment like a stand-up vacuum and brooms, and a place to store step-stools. New floor-to-ceiling cabinetry ensures all of these needed items are within reach and easily accessible.
Sources
Design: Charlie Allen Renovations; Photography: Shelly Harrison Photography; Cabinets: Kochman Reidt & Haigh Cabinetmakers; Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs; Cooktop, Microwave, Range, Steam Oven, Warming Drawer: Wolf; Countertops: Silestone; Dishwashers: Cove (kitchen), Beko (pantry); Faucets: Brizo; Refrigerator, Wine Cooler: Sub-Zero; Sinks: Julien (pantry); Tile: Angela Harris Harbour Vechio; Vent Hood: Fantec (motor), Kochman Reidt & Haigh Cabinetmakers (sheathing)
