A couple in Chicago referred to their former rowhouse kitchen as a Swiss Army Knife because of its extreme efficiency. When they needed a similar renovation in their new tower condo, they again called on Rebekah Zaveloff, cofounder and director of design at KitchenLab Interiors to undertake the high-rise remodel
“The wife is very particular in what she wants because she cooks a lot, and they entertain often,” said the designer. “She needed someone who could provide a kitchen with equal parts aesthetics and function.”
Heart of the Home Goals in a High-Rise Remodel
The former kitchen had what Zaveloff called a circulation path eyesore. A heavy island encompassed a column that went all the way to the ceiling, creating inefficient angles. The designer’s original kitchen for this couple was the inspiration for the new space, but several iterations were necessary to come up with the perfect layout – a half-open-and-closed plan.
“Space planning is my favorite part of a project because it is at the core of what makes a great design,” said Zaveloff. “I need to know how my clients want to function in their kitchens and put myself in their shoes when I create the drawings. Every inch of this small space was planned to the max with only 186 square feet.”
As the homeowners are often preparing meals in the kitchen, they don’t want a lot of traffic moving in and out. A wing wall at the peninsula only allows for one entrance, eliminates overcrowding and provides more upper cabinets. Borrowing space from a back bedroom closet allowed for a bar/beverage area, and a set of counter-to-ceiling cabinets was incorporated as a dedicated pantry.
Because it is a high-rise, the structural column behind the range had to stay. Zaveloff built it out on one side to accommodate wall cabinets, and on the other she added a marble ledge, which is a sculptural aspect that creates the illusion of the column as a design element.
Kitchen Specifics
The neutral color palette was inspired by the white, cream and gold of Calacatta marble. Zaveloff explained that when layering a primarily white kitchen, there needs to be some contrast, which was achieved with the putty-colored cabinets, and four white oak cabinets that define the butler’s pantry feature antique mesh brass detail. To save on space and because the homeowners did not need a large freezer, Zaveloff included two freezer drawers in this butler’s pantry. Unlacquered brass in the faucets, cabinet hardware and light fixtures provide simple accents.
The stunning refinished limestone floor features cream-colored marble pickets, and the designer specified marble for the countertops, waterfall island and full-height backsplashes. The slabs were on the pricey side, but she was able to limit it to four for all those elements, including a small section in a recessed niche.
For the lighting plan, Zaveloff incorporated a modest number of can lights, sconces on both sides of the window and flush-mount fixtures to add a touch of masculinity and to accommodate the low condo ceilings.
Achieving accurate proportion with the custom stainless-steel hood was a little challenging because of the low ceiling height in the condo. It works because the 48-inch range is wide but not tall.
Another challenge in the kitchen was getting the right symmetry in a layout that turns corners multiple times. Zaveloff said using a custom millworker was key, as the project could not have been completed with stock cabinets.
Primary Bath Objectives
In this black-and-white classic space, it was all about the stone – four different kinds of marble, to be exact – for the countertops, walls, floors and shower. The designer provided six drawings for the options, and the result was four book-matched slabs with seams down the middle instead of one big one, as they had to be cut into pieces to fit in the elevator.
“When choosing this much marble for a project, we always talk to the clients about maintenance,” said Zaveloff. “These homeowners spend a lot of time in Italy, so they know more than the average clients.”
The designer incorporated a toilet niche and replaced the built-in tub with a huge shower complete with polished-nickel plumbing fixtures. The apron-front marble sink adds what she calls a Versace/rock-and-roll vibe. The vanity features pullout drawers with electric outlets, which was a challenge given the depth of the drawers, but the team did the math and pulled it off. The step of the sink was a design element the client had seen and loved, and it also protects the underside from getting wet.
The lighting plan in the primary does not include cans in the concrete ceiling, but the flush-mount ceiling fixture is packed with lumens – 3600 – and offers ample illumination in a space with lower ceiling heights. Sconces were installed on either side of the mirror.
In terms of lessons learned during this project, Zaveloff said she would spend more time on the shower slab conversation, as no one realized the large sizes would have to be cut to fit into the small elevator of the condo building to complete the high-rise remodel.
“The homeowners love their new spaces and are some of my biggest fans,” said the designer. “It can be challenging with clients who are really involved in a project but also rewarding. She really knew what she wanted!”
—By Chelsie Butler, KBB executive editor
