Kitchen for a Vegetarian Chef

Published: January 20, 2025
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The matriarch of the family is vegetarian, and she wanted to have a dedicated space in her Rockville, Md. home where meat-based meals could be prepared for her non-vegetarian husband and grandchildren. To achieve this goal, designer Liz Potarazu of Potomac, Md.-based LP & Co. worked with Ray Ogden of Ogden Construction to design and build a two-story addition to the back of the house that included a secondary kitchen on the first floor.

Since the 90’s when the home was built, the interior had not been updated. The family was ready for a change and was looking to create something with more space for their grandchildren who often spend time with them, but they did not want to leave the home that holds so many cherished memories on its five bucolic acres. Instead, they embarked on an 18-month journey with Potarazu to create new space and enhance the functionality of the existing house.

Very Vegetarian Kitchen

The primary kitchen renovation maximized storage by running the custom cabinets up to the ceiling and including a new walk-in pantry as well as an appliance garage. The island, previously an awkward polygon, was squared off and reoriented to improve the circulation; seating was also incorporated in the piece. An interior wall was removed, opening the view to the family room, where the grandchildren spend much of their time. This also allowed the refrigerator to be relocated, tightening the work triangle.

The secondary kitchen was created as a space to cook meat for non-vegetarians. Its galley configuration holds a small sink and a range, bookended by cabinets. Just steps away, it shares the refrigerator and dishwasher of the main kitchen.

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Color as a Cultural Touchstone

In a nod to the homeowners’ heritage, Potarazu used a palette of jewel tones that are often found in the textiles of India, hence the saturated blue panels lining the kneehole of the kitchen island, the window treatments, and the seating area in the secondary kitchen. The tile shapes of the main kitchen’s backsplash echo some of the more detailed mosaic work found throughout India. Incorporating gold and brass elements in the light fixtures was another cultural tribute. The porcelain countertops look like marble, a material used often in architecture throughout the country.

Sources

Design: Liz Potarazu, LP & Co.; Photography: Angela Newton Roy; Styling: Limonata Creative MAIN KITCHEN Cabinets: Little Cove Furniture; Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs; Cooktop, Microwave: Wolf; Dishwasher: Bosch; Faucets: Brizo; Flooring: Daltile; Lighting: Visual Comfort; Paint: Benjamin Moore; Refrigerator: SubZero; Seating: Gabby Home; Sinks: Kohler; Tile: Tile Shop; Vent Hood: Zephyr; Wall Ovens: Viking SECONDARY KITCHEN Cabinets: Little Cove Furniture; Cabinet Hardware: Top Knobs; Faucets: Brizo; Flooring: Daltile; Lighting: Currey & Co.; Paint: Benjamin Moore; Range: Wolf; Seating: Bassett; Sink: Ruvati; Vent Hood: Wolf/Zephyr

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