A desire for color was one of many factors that drove the owner of a 1940s DC Colonial to overhaul her kitchen, housed in an existing addition. With dated cabinets and appliances and a convoluted layout, the space was ripe for renewal. 

She called on Nadia Subaran and Kelly Emerson of Aidan Design to create an all new, functional kitchen steeped in eclectic style. “Our client loves crisp whites with pops of color as well as warm accents and art, ” says Emerson. 

By re-trimming the addition’s semi-circular windows and vaulted ceiling, the designers created a streamlined backdrop. They replaced a small island with a larger one boasting a prep sink. And they positioned a new refrigerator near the cooktop, while the less frequently used freezer and double ovens were moved to an opposite wall near a pantry. The existing copper hood remains; new brass hardware plays off its metallic sheen.

The island was painted in a custom spring green, the client’s favorite color. “We kept the other elements very simple,” says Emerson, pointing out white Shaker-style cabinetry that rims the kitchen and breakfast area, “but the backsplash packs a punch.” The handmade tile in a leafy green-and-blue motif—along with bright-red dining chairs—enlivens the reimagined gathering space. 

Project Team

Kitchen Design: Nadia Subaran, principal; Kelly Emerson, senior designer, Aidan Design. Contractor: Impact Construction. Photography: Robert Radifera. 

Kitchen Details

Cabinetry: wood-mode.com through aidandesign.com. Backsplash Tile: clayimports.com. Countertop: caesarstoneus.com through norwoodmarble.com. Cooktop, Microwave & Refrigerator: thermador.com through abwappliances.com. Faucets: calfaucets.com through abwappliances.com. Hardware: waterstreetbrass.com through pushpullhardware.com. Stools: westelm.com.