The owners of this Cleveland Park center hall Colonial, architect Megan Downey and her journalist husband, found that its best asset—an expansive backyard that looks onto a ravine—was unfortunately blocked by a rear attached garage. “It’s an amazing forested wonderland with a creek, but you wouldn’t have known it from the way the house was laid out,” she explains. Desiring a family-friendly kitchen that felt connected to nature and to the rest of the house so they could keep an eye on their two young daughters, Downey devised a plan to eliminate the wall between the abode and the garage and relocate the kitchen to the former garage on the home’s posterior.

Wanting the cook space to feel modern and uncluttered, she conjured a porcelain-clad monolithic island that would look like a floating marble sculpture and full-height cabinets that would blend into the wall and keep appliances, pantry items and dishes out of sight. Aurora Ferrari of Innately Italy helmed fabrication of the cabinetry and countertops. With an eye on safety and sustainability, Downey opted for minimal-VOC paint and sheep’s wool insulation. Reclaimed historic red oak boards were matched to the existing floors and topped with an all-natural coating partially made from cheese whey, making the space as eco-friendly as it is sleek.

PROJECT TEAM
Architecture & Kitchen Design: Megan Downey, Megan Downey Studio. Interior Contractor: Smith & Daughter. 

KITCHEN DETAILS
Cabinetry: innatelyitaly.com. Appliances: miele.com through ajmadison.com. Windows: loewen.com through thesanderscompany.com. Pendant Lighting: flos.com. Stools: dwr.com.