Sense of Symmetry The distinctive X motif adorning the bespoke kitchen is just one example of the many custom details lavished on the renovation of an Alexandria home. Designer Chris Cahill orchestrated its kitchen/family room addition to provide the owners with plenty of room for entertaining and “an immense amount of storage.”

A strong sense of symmetry drove Cahill’s kitchen plan. A cook wall centers on a 48-inch Wolf range, flanked by cabinets and an integrated refrigerator and freezer on either end.

On the opposite wall, five doors replicate the design of the refrigerator/freezer panels. Four conceal pantry storage for everything from dishes and appliances to dry goods. Meanwhile, the center door opens to a butler’s pantry where the doors on antiqued-mirror china cabinets repeat the X motif. “Antiqued mirrors,” observes Cahill, “give brightness to space without showing everything that’s in a cabinet.”

In the center of the kitchen, the owners enjoy plenty of workspace on a long island with quartzite countertops. The custom cabinet color, Saturday Putty, was originally conceived by Cahill for the husband’s home office; the owners decided to carry the subtle, earthy shade into the kitchen as well.

A backsplash made of glazed tile installed in a herringbone pattern adds a final grace note. Says Cahill, the tile “lends sparkle and makes the kitchen come alive.”

KITCHEN DESIGN/BUILD & CABINETRY: CHRIS CAHILL, Cahill Design Build, Olney, Maryland. INTERIOR DESIGN: MARIKA MEYER, Marika Meyer Interiors, Bethesda, Maryland.

All the Details
Countertops: R. Bratti. Pendant Lights: Urban Electric. Chandelier: Avrett Lighting. Flooring: Select Floors. Tile: Renaissance Tile. Stools: Woodbridge Furniture. Dining
Chairs: Century Furniture.