Kitchen & Bath
Focus on the Finish
A designer’s small-space kitchen remodel leaves lots of room to consider quality materials.
BY
Kathleen Leighton
PHOTOGRAPHY
by Michael Spillars

The kitchen is often called the heart of the home with good reason. It’s where families gather to eat and drink, talk and argue, raise children and pay bills. It’s where a sumptuous holiday feast is prepared or a simple piece of toast is eaten. It is, quite simply, where most families live their lives.

But what about a kitchen that has served all those purposes, and more, admirably over the past 35 years? How does one go about gently giving the space a facelift without violating the character and integrity of the room? That was the challenge given to Maggie Goss, architectural designer and project manager at Design Build Team.

“This is a home that a couple had lived in all those years; they raised a family there but just wanted a space that made more sense,” Maggie says. “They didn’t want to blow out walls, so we worked within the existing space to update it without creating some grandiose gourmet kitchen, which was not their vision at all.”

“The kitchen was quite dark, and all the windows were tall,” the homeowner comments. “Even though our family had grown up in this area, it was time to lighten it up.”

The first goal was to create an area that was as open as possible. The original kitchen was built for the maid’s staff, with a butler’s pantry and breakfast room in the same area, with high, dark windows that made the space feel closed-in.

“We needed to use the existing space in a way that was more conducive to the character of the home while creating a more contemporary feel,” Maggie explains. “The other thing we really focused on was using materials that are timeless. This house has a certain timeless appeal to it, and we wanted to maintain that. The remodeled kitchen appears to be original even though it’s not.”

Design Build Team did the spatial and hard surface design, while an Arizona firm selected the products. Because the space was fairly tight, Maggie spent a lot of time studying exactly how the space would work. The refrigerator was moved into what had been the butler’s pantry, and a secondary prep sink was added opposite. That allowed the kitchen to be the primary work area, with range, island and sink, with a second prep area a few steps away and the eating area beyond.

The homeowner praises the new design’s flow and doubled storage space. “It’s so much easier to cook in. I’m thrilled. This is a wonderful space to have a conversation. It’s a happy space,” she says.

Timeless materials include a honed Calcutta marble backsplash and countertops, a material that’s been around for years, popular in both the U.S. and Europe. With time, it takes on a life of its own. Unlike the immovable and unchanging granite, Calcutta picks up red wine and grease stains and changes a bit all the time. Its softness allows for slight indentations, giving the material character through the years. Like the home in which it was placed, Calcutta looks lived-in, natural and comfortable.

The island was topped with butcher block, with a natural zinc countertop on the bar. Cabinetry was painted a creamy white so it feels open and natural, with green accents popping out of the mainly neutral palette. A tongue-and-groove ceiling detail helps delineate each space, providing a cozy effect without being overbearing.

“Every kitchen should have a focal point, and I think the focal point here is the ceiling,” Maggie says. “Although the backsplash and the zinc are stars, this is an intimate space and nothing should jump out.”

Because she was working with a smaller space, Maggie was able to fit higher-quality materials into the budget, making this a fun project. One window was closed completely, while another was made lower and wider, allowing for a lovely cross-breeze and creating a lightness that had been missing before.

“While this space looks very elegant for a party, it looks just as good with grandchildren messing around in the kitchen,” Maggie notes. “I’ve dropped by and seen it both ways. It’s very satisfying to design a space that homeowners are happy in.”

Resources:
Architects and Builders: Design Build Team
Appliances: Factory Direct Appliance; Sub-Zero, Miele, Dacor
Cabinets: Towncraft Wood Products
Ceramic Tile Contractor: Mike Brown Contractors
Ceramic Tile Bar Backsplash: International Materials of Design
Country Floors Countertops and Backsplash, Marble: Carthage Marble
Custom Kitchen Islands: Towncraft Wood Products
Drywall Contractor: Ferguson Drywall
Electrician: A-C Electric
Hardwood Flooring: Armstrong Floors
Hardware: Restoration Hardware
Interior Designer: Vallone Design
Light Fixtures: Jonathan Adler
Masonry: F & J Masonry
Painting Contractor: Vannostran Painting
Plumbing Contractor: Vielhauer Plumbing
Plumbing Fixtures: Ferguson Enterprises; Rohl, Newport Brass 
Radiant Flooring: Baxter Mechanical
Trim Carpentry: Design Build Team
Windows: Pella Products of Kansas City

This article originally appeared in the December 2009 issue of Kansas City Homes & Gardens.