Set in a 1960s ranch house, this remodeled kitchen, now filled with colorful collectibles and art, bears little resemblance to the original space. When designer elizaBeth Marcocci, CMKBD of Mechanicsburg, Penn.-based Mother Hubbard’s Custom Cabinetry first saw the room, some problematic features jumped out at her that would shape the ultimate solution.
“The existing cabinet conditions were poor. The refrigerator was too large for the space and protruded into the room, making it difficult to use the door leading out to the deck,” she said, noting that the homeowners’ wish list included increasing storage and adding a larger range – without expanding the footprint of the L-shape kitchen.
The Art of Space Planning
To enhance the functionality of the kitchen, Marcocci proposed that the bulky, existing 36-inch wide by 36-inch deep side-by-side fridge be relocated from the sink wall and replaced by floor-to-ceiling pantry cupboards. Not only would this open up the sight lines into the dining room, it would also add a significant amount of storage to the kitchen.
As an alternative appliance, the designer introduced a more modestly-sized 30-inch wide by 24-inch deep Miele top & bottom refrigerator that would be installed on the range wall. While the owners would lose some cooler space and the through-door water and ice dispenser, they would gain a great deal of dry storage capacity while visually eliminating the behemoth fridge that previously dominated the kitchen. The comparatively compact refrigerator also made it possible to co-locate the larger range and fridge on the same wall, making it much more efficient to move between the appliances while preparing and cooking meals.
Personal Style Meets Sustainability
Throwing out existing cabinetry and kitchen furniture to bring in new items is common practice in remodels. It can be a much greater challenge to incorporate existing inspiration pieces, simultaneously working to elevate them while instilling a new design identity for the space.
In this project, the homeowners wanted to re-use an antique oak sideboard and the existing kitchen island in their reworked room. Marcocci agreed that the center island was perfect as it was. The weathered finish and veined, brown quartz countertop would be a centerpiece for the new kitchen. Similarly, the antique oak cupboard would do very well on the wall it had occupied for years.
To pull the look of the room together without diluting the highly personal style favored by the clients, the designer specified white marble-look quartz counters for the perimeter and the peninsula of the kitchen. White built-in cabinets complement that surfacing and act as a visual foil for the animated art collection in the space.
“It was a wonderful experience working with these lovely clients,” said the designer. “I believe we helped each other express this vision.”
—By Leslie Clagett, KBB managing editor
