Washington, DC

This 124-year-old row house had undergone numerous renovations, leaving the existing kitchen with a mix of dated, mismatched materials. The kitchen was poorly insulated and cold. Originally, it was a screened-in porch with a brick wall, which was the back of the dining room fireplace. There was a wall of two-story, floor-to-ceiling windows that allowed for abundant natural light but limited usable wall space.

In our first design meeting, the client had a clear objective: make the outside more accessible, eliminate wasted space, and provide more storage. We achieved this by adding a pair of large French doors, raising a window to allow for more counter space, and removing the heavy window trim. The focal point of the kitchen is undoubtedly the La Cornue range, which we highlighted with a custom-built hood in matching stainless steel and copper. The cabinetry is light, and the existing brick wall was minimized with paint in a complementary color.

For storage, we extended the wall cabinets down to the countertops and equipped them with outlets to hide small appliances. To the left of the sink, a door folds and slides away to reveal a coffeemaker and tea warmer. Reducing the size of a floor-to-ceiling window made room to relocate the sink to a side wall, giving the cook a view of the backyard and freeing up space for a casual eat-in area in the sink's former location.

The wall opposite the sink now contains the pantry with ample storage behind doors, as well as the refrigerator-freezer, flanked by a tall, slim wine refrigerator. To contrast the sparkling range and hood, we selected Magna Gold granite with a rustic, leathered texture.

The new kitchen exudes a touch of elegance that seamlessly connects it to the home's overall décor.

Designed by #JGKB. Photography by Bob Narod.