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The new owner of an historic Victorian-era row house in Washington, D.C. knew that the home was long overdue for an update. High on his wish list was an open space for entertaining that combined a modern aesthetic with a warm, inviting ambience. This renovation, our award-winner for Kitchen Design was undertaken by custom builder ThinkMakeBuild.
A mix of classic features is retained in this contemporary renovation, designed by Washington, D.C.–based architect Richard Loosle-Ortega of KUBE Architecture, who successfully teamed old and new materials, and indoor and outdoor spaces. The home’s previous kitchen was isolated from the main space by a wall, which was subsequently removed. The first floor was modified to create an open plan that flows toward the new kitchen and onto a wall of windows, leading to an elevated rear deck with a courtyard below. Exposed brick remains while several load-bearing walls were replaced by exposed steel girders above. The rear wall was also replaced with a large sliding glass door system that both physically and visually links the new rear deck with the interior spaces.
The focal point of the kitchen is the 15-foot striated Carrara marble island countertop with waterfall edge that defines the formal and informal gathering and dining spaces. “The island is purposely angled so as not to create a ‘bowling alley’ effect,’” says Loosle-Ortega. The angle also allows for the creation of a cooking zone on one end with an entertainment zone at the other.
Rich colors from the natural raw materials contrast with the custom glossy white cabinets and Caesarstone kitchen countertops. The remaining interior wall remains neutral in color, with door panels that conceal a powder room and coat closet, while simultaneously acting as partial stair rail. Dark-stained bamboo floors and LED ceiling lights create a warm glow that truly makes this kitchen the heart of the home.
“While this project was technically challenging given the constraints of the existing space, the collaboration between owner, architect, and builder resulted in an extraordinary outcome,” says Darren Kornas, founder of ThinkMakeBuild.
KITCHEN DESIGN
ThinkMakeBuild, thinkmakebuild.com
ARCHITECTURE
KUBE Architecture, kube-arch.com
Annapolis Home Magazine
Vol. 8, No. 1 2017