Working the Angles in a Kitchen and Bath
The beautiful center-hall stone Colonial in Chestnut Hill, Pa., needed some love. Loaded with history and charm, the house nevertheless required top-to-bottom attention after its former owners, who rented it out, fell behind on regular maintenance and improvements.
Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture and Interiors of Philadelphia had designed the new owners’ previous home in the same neighborhood and was charged with bringing this house back to life so the family (with two teenage sons and two dogs) could move in. A new lighting plan was installed, the floors were refinished, and new furnishings and fittings were put into place. Wherever possible, original doors, hardware and other features were cleaned up and retained.
“We really wanted the old features to shine through within a pretty, updated space,” says Mindy O’Connor, principal.
The kitchen and bathrooms needed the most work, O’Connor added, requiring all-new plumbing and reconfiguration to become more functional. An awkwardly shaped kitchen with an eat-in space was one challenge, while an outdated and too-small primary bath presented another.
Around the Corner
The primary bath had formerly been a tiny Jack-and-Jill space between the primary bedroom and a very small office/bedroom. It was drab and insufficient for the new couple’s needs, and they agreed to get rid of it, allowing O’Connor to expand their bath and add a second-floor laundry room.
“That bedroom had been a bit of nothing before,” said O’Connor, “but it was really good space with a window and nice light from the front [of the house].” The primary bath is now only accessible from the primary bedroom, while the new laundry room opens directly to the second-floor hallway.
To accommodate the improved flow and access, the primary bath employs an unexpected L-shaped layout, with the door at the angle’s vertex. Looking to the left from the door is an area with two facing vanities (allowing each half of the couple to stand back-to-back). Beyond the vanities, a former closet was converted into a toilet room. The other end of the L connects the entrance to a generous stand-up shower via a mini hallway, which is flanked by the former bedroom window on the right and storage/decorative shelving and wall hooks on the left.
“It’s unusual, but I think it really works beautifully,” said O’Connor. “That little hall to the shower is flooded with light, and the owners now each have their own sink. They went from a tired old bathroom to something more serene and luxurious.”
The finishes and materials were chosen to complement the home’s original 1920s character, with natural stone and white dolomite tilework. A herringbone pattern lines the path to the shower and repeats in smaller form in the niche of the shower’s subway-tiled walls. Between the two vanities, an elegant mosaic tile “rug” adds circular elements among all the angles. Custom cabinetry is painted with a soft blue-gray hue and accented with polished-nickel fixtures and hardware to complete the look.
“It’s a mix of traditional materials that last forever and have a kind of timeless character,” O’Connor said. “But it still feels very new, clean and airy. It’s updated but classic.”
Embracing the L
The primary bath’s unusual floor plan turned out to be a novel solution for increasing its footprint while also incorporating a laundry room on the second floor. But downstairs, the existing L shape of the kitchen and eat-in dining space weren’t ideal.
“Originally, we looked at blowing out the kitchen because it was kind of awkward,” said O’Connor. “It went in one direction, and the seating area met it to form the L. It would be easier if it were just a larger box with an island.”
In the end, they decided to work with the space they had, with one important alteration.
“The kitchen connects to the exterior patio, which is really well-used space. We converted an enormous window in the seating area to glass-paned doors, so now the inside-to-outside flow has been dramatically improved,” said O’Connor. “It creates a circle, and the patio becomes part of the kitchen space.”
Within the kitchen itself, the focus was on maximizing efficiency. There’s a place for everything and everything in its place, thanks to ceiling-high cabinets and an abundance of storage, including a new built-in that also conceals the refrigerator/freezer and replaces a freestanding sideboard. The clean, bright aesthetic that defines the primary bath and other areas of the home reigns in here as well, with pale-painted custom cabinetry, warm woods and white subway tiles.
One of O’Connor’s favorite touches is a small bar tucked in an alcove at one end of the kitchen between the back stairs and basement door. Replacing a stand of basic cabinets, the niche offers open wine storage on the bottom, glass-fronted cabinets for stemware above and a special backsplash unique to the home.
“It’s a better, prettier focal point,” said O’Connor. “It’s still quiet and neutral, but when the clients are entertaining, it’s a nice little spot where people can be off to the side but still in the heart of things.”
The entire house now benefits from a cohesive design language that respects the original character of the home while imbuing it with fresh, simple and casual vibes.
“We found a way to use what they had, letting the original bones shine through by making a few thoughtful changes,” said O’Connor. “Sometimes the things that are the most challenging or awkward can turn out the be the nicest spaces.”
SOURCES:
Designer: Mindy O’Connor, Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture and Interiors; Photographer: Erin Kelly Photography.
Kitchen:
Appliances: Thermador; Cabinetry: Village Handcrafted Cabinetry; Countertop: Valiant Surfaces; Faucet: Rohl; Hardware: Emtek; Sink: Shaws; Tile: Ann Sacks
Primary Bath:
Countertops: Valiant Surfaces; Faucets & Shower Fixtures: Kallista; Hardware: Top Knobs; Sconces: Waterworks; Sinks: DXV; Tile: Artistic Tile; Vanities: Village Handcrafted Cabinetry
