During the renovation of a 19th-century row house on Capitol Hill, one of the owners stopped into Snaidero DC Metro to see a La Cornue range on display. He purchased the celebrated French oven in matte black and, despite his home’s classic style, also fell in love with sleek Snaidero cabinetry. “The owner liked the dichotomy between classic architecture and modern elements, which you see all over Europe,” reflects showroom principal and designer Shawna Dillon. As the project progressed, Dillon joined architect Christian Zapatka in designing the kitchen, bridging past and present while taking inspiration from all things French.

Located off a gallery connecting the entry to a rear salon and garden, the kitchen features a U-shaped configuration of cabinetry and appliances. On one wall, high-gloss lacquered cabinets—containing refrigeration and bar storage—play off base cabinets in a wood finish and glass-fronted cabinets on the other two elevations. These walls house more storage, along with the sink, dishwasher and range and a custom hood in cold-rolled steel. Caesarstone countertops in Linen and a creamy, glazed-tile backsplash lighten the moody palette. New herringbone floors evoke the home’s original vintage, as does a custom table that interior designer Romain Baty fashioned from the bronze base of a circa-1900 bank counter.

“As soon as you enter the home,” says Dillon, “you feel like you’re in Paris.”

Architect: Christian Zapatka, AIA, Christian Zapatka Architect, PLLC, Washington, DC. Kitchen Design: Shawna Dillon, ASID, NCIDQ, Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Contractor: LR Mailloux Construction, Inc., Washington, DC.

Resources
Countertops: caesarstoneus.com through rbratti.com. Backsplash: waterworks.com. Cabinets & Hardware: snaiderodcmetro.com. Sink & Faucet: franke.com. Range: lacornueusa.com. Refrigerator & Wine Cooler: thermador.com. Hood Design: Shawna Dillon. Hood Fabrication:  akmetalfab.com. Windows:  westernwindowsystems.com.