Clients with a 1920s-era home in McLean tapped Sarah Kahn Turner of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath to transform the kitchen into a mecca for entertaining, with a welcoming, rustic vibe. “They have gatherings of any size three or four times a week,” says Turner.
“They wanted space for everyone to be in the kitchen while they’re cooking.”
The new design features two islands. One, located by the range, provides a handy surface for food prep with a small fridge and freezer, while the other, near the full-size refrigerator, offers space for seating. To accommodate both islands, Turner and her team removed a wall separating the original kitchen and adjacent butler’s pantry. Delineated by a brick archway, a nook that previously held a desk and pantry cupboard became a combination wet bar and pantry.
Teak counters top the furniture-style islands and the surface around the farmhouse sink, while peripheral countertops are made of veined, leathered granite. A chevron-patterned, Carrara marble backsplash complements custom cabinetry in cream and pale blue, while a decorative, ceramic-tile motif is framed between the range and the custom hood trimmed in reclaimed wood.
With its painted ceiling beams and distressed, hardwood floors, the kitchen reflects the home’s overall style. A third window, formerly in the butler’s pantry, admits additional light to the airy, inviting space.
Renovation Architecture: Richard Williams, FAIA, Richard Williams Architects, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Sarah Kahn Turner, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contractor: Alliance Builders, Annapolis, Maryland. Styling: Charlotte Safavi. Text: Julie Sanders. Photography: John Cole.
Resources
Cabinetry: premiercb.com. Countertops: glumber.com; avantimarblegranite.com. Backsplash: architecturalceramics.com. Appliances: subzero-wolf.com through fretz.com. SINK: rohlhome.com. Faucets & Pot-Filler: newportbrass.com through tsomerville.com. Hardware: waterstreetbrass.com. Flooring: wideplankflooring.com. Pendants Over Window Wells: lanternandscroll.com. Island Pendants: uttermost.com. Stools: potterybarn.com. Valance Fabric: estout.com.