Arlington, Virginia

Kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer created a bright, streamlined space punctuated with color in this Arlington Cape’s modern kitchen/family room addition. She was challenged to bridge the old (existing) and new (addition) styles of the house.

Sleek slab doors in wenge veneer with horizontal grain widen the feel of this kitchen. The owners wanted to include window space to maximize natural light in the kitchen, so the solution was to have the windows extend up from the countertops. Consolidating the pantry and large appliances along one wall allowed for maximum perimeter counterspace. To bring some relief to the visual mass of that wall of cabinetry, open shelves hold cookbooks close at hand.

Gilmer made this island extra large—6 feet 9 inches by 4 feet (2.1 by 1.22 meters)—for everyone to gather around, topped it with 3-inch (7.6 centimeters) thick Caesarstone, and designed open shelves for the family’s colorful dishes so everyone can grab what they need. Gilmer used back painted glass in a soft sage color to create a seamless backsplash to reflect light from the windows beneath the open shelves. The oversized island is a multi-functional space with a tall black toe kick that makes it appear less bulky.

The client requested two sinks with only 24 inches (61 centimeters) in between, almost side by side, because she loves to bake, sometimes with the help of her children. This wide-open kitchen has a dining table beyond the island, and, to the left, an area that was furnished for kids and guests to hang out while Mom cooks and bakes.

Breaking up a wall of cabinetry with an open shelf and stainless steel appliances keeps this kitchen from being too overpowering, yet allows ample concealed storage. Light Caesarstone countertops were chosen because “what’s at eye level is what determines if a room appears dark or light,” says Gilmer. “Dishes naturally stack neatly and they are in use all the time so they don’t gather dust.”

Designed by #JGKB. Photography by Michael Busada.