The kitchen is often referred to as the heart of the home. You see it at every party when people gather there, no matter how many snacks you carefully place in the other living areas. It’s also a central location for families to check in over breakfast or contribute their culinary skills for holiday meals. This Brooklyn family with three children wanted to expand their kitchen for these reasons, and also to make it a more enjoyable space for cooking and eating meals together on a daily basis.
In with the Old and In with the New
We started by gutting the early-1930s-era kitchen, but we didn’t scrap everything. The original cabinets were in great shape and matched the aesthetic that Waterfront Kitchens had designed, so we carefully removed them during demolition, refinished them, and reinstalled them in the newly expanded kitchen.
A new Rohl farmhouse sink provides ample room for two people to work at the same time, while also contributing to the overall rustic-modern feel of the space. Installation required cutting into and contouring the existing cabinetry to get just the right fit. The result is a gentle curve nestled into the otherwise straight lines of the lower cabinets.
The curve motif carries through this kitchen remodel in both the entry and the lighting. A wide arch frames the entry to the room, welcoming the family with just a touch of softness. The pendant lights above the island are encased in elegant, transparent bell jars to provide illumination without interfering with the simplicity of the design. The Lefroy Brooks faucet and pot filler add two more curvy details in addition to providing convenience for the family cooks.
High-end appliances such as the Viking range and hood and Sub-Zero refrigerator bring this updated kitchen into the modern age. Kids can scan the fridge’s contents before opening the door, contributing to better energy efficiency. A six-burner stove with a grill top and two ovens make it easier to prepare large family meals and provide enough space for the little ones to help out.
Let There Be Light
One of the primary goals of this kitchen remodel was to allow in more natural light and make the space feel more airy in general. We achieved this through enlarging the rear and side windows to both enhance the views and bring in more sunshine. Putting in larger windows behind the sink also gave us the opportunity to craft and install a custom-cut stone to cap the windowsill. This little detail helps maintain continuity with the stone backsplash that covers two perpendicular walls, including the one behind the stove.
New Storage and Seating Solutions
One of the greatest benefits of a kitchen remodel is that you get to add more storage. In this case, a new island served dual purposes by also adding more seating for the family. With three drawers and a microwave on one side and an overhanging Caesarstone countertop on the other, the practical island ties the space together in more ways than one. New shelves above the side window and entrance door provide the perfect perch for a houseplant or decorative piece to add character to the new kitchen.
These combinations of rustic and modern, old and new, and lines and curves couldn’t have been accomplished without the vision of the designer and the dedicated craftsmanship of everybody on the team. This is why we are so committed to building strong relationships with our partners. Without everybody working together, we wouldn’t be able to create these stunning spaces for our clients. View the gallery to see more images of this transformation and several of the other kitchen remodel projects we have completed in the New York area.
