Completing the removal of the overbearing fireplace in the middle of the space was first on the agenda. It had been removed in phases over many years from the basement to the roof, rendering it completely inoperable. The main floor was the last section to go, along with the walls separating the kitchen from the formal dining room to give them an inclusive entertaining space. Because they already had a family room on the other side of the kitchen, they were fine with losing a formal living space.
The changes to the floor plan allowed the new kitchen to accommodate a long island with a hammered nickel prep sink on one end and seating for four on the other. Access to the back porch was rerouted from the kitchen to the casual seating area to keep traffic jams at a minimum, while increasing functional storage space.
Professional appliances were another non-negotiable for this family. An integrated Thermador refrigerator and wine column rest along the interior wall along the stairs. Here, they’re easily accessible from the front door to make unloading groceries easier, while remaining somewhat hidden from the rest of the great room. A designated wine column was a great solution for ensuring their collection stays fresh and that bottles are always chilled at the correct temperature for guests.
The old kitchen was lacking functional pantry space, so a secondary coat closet was removed in favor of 48” of floor to ceiling pantry cabinets. Complete with a decorative valance and roll out shelves, the small footprint accommodates all of their pantry storage needs.