Traditional Grand Victorian Kitchen in Baltimore, Maryland

Entering this grand 1900s Victorian feels like stepping into the past. 12 foot ceilings, elaborate wood carvings on mantles and staircases, leather panels on walls accentuated with brass button details, and enormous chandeliers grace the formal rooms on the main floor. 

Our challenge was to create a kitchen with modern amenities that felt true to the historical character of the home, in all its original glory. We combined a small dining room with the cramped kitchen to create a bright, lively space. Eliminating a 16” brick wall that was once the back of the house required a huge steel beam that had to be craned into the space from the back yard. 

53″ tall wall cabinets boast inch-thick, inset doors with exposed polished-chrome barrel hinges set the formal tone. We added antiqued mirror inserts to the uppermost cabinet doors for a bit of sparkle and visual interest, under a stacked crown molding worthy of the era. 

For the backsplash, we chanced upon matching antique mirrored subway tile, embellished with a beveled edge, to complement the cabinet inserts. 2-inch thick marble countertops supply a bit of added heft and raise the countertop height for this tall family. The cut-glass, ball chandeliers bedazzle visitors with reflected light and provide bling to this modern yet classic space.

Photography by Bob Narod.