Easton, MD

Our clients came to us after having bought a home in a historic neighborhood in Easton, MD. The kitchen was dark and lacked sufficient storage and counter space. One-third of it was under a lowered ceiling, and the upper cabinets ended at the same height under an extended bulkhead. The appliances were outdated and ventilation for the range was poor.
As is typical of older homes, the scale of the rooms is small. By removing a wall and joining the kitchen and dining room we greatly improved the layout, amount of light, and functional workspace. We were careful to preserve the integrity of the older home by maintaining the character of the dining area within the new kitchen.

Even though we expanded the kitchen it was still narrow. The only coat closet off the adjacent hall projects into the space. Since we didn’t want to remove it we designed two islands instead of one large one. These were placed parallel to the wall with the range and sink. This helped keep the proportions within the scale of the home and improved circulation in this narrow kitchen. This configuration left plenty of room on the dining side of the room for the owner’s large round table. A trio of framed glass cabinets with an open wine rack abuts the closet wall and also serves as a coffee station and area for serving trays.

Inset cabinets in a painted finish and soapstone countertops were chosen to complement the historic home. The islands feature wood tops which add warmth and variety to the space. The end of one island houses a drawer microwave, which is conveniently housed near the refrigerator but is hidden from the sight of the dining table. The upper cabinets were brought up to the ceiling and designed to integrate with the ornate existing crown molding. The paneled refrigerator is tucked under the lower ceiling as are two narrow pantry cabinets. These pieces provide valuable storage and are in keeping with the scale of the
room.

Since the range and sink are on the same wall, we felt it important to vary the finishes to define the cooking and cleaning zones. Two cabinets flank the range and hood backed by a beautiful mosaic stone tile wall. The sink is centered on the window surrounded by a painted plankboard wall. Floating wood shelves on either side of the window and period sconce fixtures add uniqueness to this area of the kitchen. This project preserved the integrity of this older home by maintaining the character of the spaces yet giving the owners a bright renovation with plenty of storage, counter space, and modern appliances.

Designed by #JGKB. Photography by John Cole.