Understated Elegance
A structural beam clad in wood salvaged from the house’s original framing defines the formal kitchen and complements the warm white oak flooring and cabinetry. Flanking the sink, refrigerator and freezer columns hide behind door panels that extend above the units to line up with the top of the windows and the underside of the soffit for a clean architectural line.
CABINETS: New England Cabinet Company
FLOORING: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods
FLOOR FINISH: Bona
APPLIANCES: Clarke: Official Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove Showroom
Impressive Island
The 4-inch-thick mitered island top is an engineered quartz that looks like marble but is stain resistant. Touch latches on the drawers of the kitchen island mean there’s no need for obtrusive hardware that would detract from their smooth character-oak faces.
That 4-inch-thick appearance is actually a clever illusion. As Keith explained on a recent This Old House project, slabs typically come in three centimeters—about an inch and a quarter thick. The trick: “We build up the ends in a miter, gives it the look of three inches,” Keith said. The result is a substantial, modern edge profile without the cost or weight of a true thick slab—and as Kevin observed, “You cannot tell that’s mitered at all.”
COUNTERTOPS: Everest Marble, fabricated by Dushi Marble & Granite
CABINETS: New England Cabinet Company
LIGHTING: Circa Lighting
WINDOWS: Sierra Pacific Windows
Aluminum Accents
In the open kitchen, thin bands of aluminum elevate the design of the oak-clad refrigerator door and the range hood.
CABINETS: New England Cabinet Company
APPLIANCES: Clarke: Official Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove Showroom
FLOORING: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods
FLOOR FINISH: Bona
Sleek Sink Design
In keeping with the kitchen’s minimalist design, the sink faces a bright wall of windows (instead of upper cabinets). A retro three-leg bridge faucet graces an otherwise contemporary kitchen.
Pro Tip: Designer Steve, featured in This Old House Magazine, recommends starting your kitchen layout with the sink: “Place the sink first, and lay out the rest of the work triangle from there.” Positioning the main sink under the windows—as in this idea house kitchen—is a time-tested move that brings natural light to one of the hardest-working zones in the room.
COUNTERTOPS: Everest Marble, fabricated by Dushi Marble & Granite
FAUCET: ROHL
WINDOWS: Sierra Pacific Windows
GLASS VESSELS: Vetro Vero
Bright Breakfast Nook
The breakfast nook’s casement windows look out onto the side entry porch, allowing for a good-bye wave to kids heading off to school. USB-equipped outlets built into the banquette keep phones powered up. The casement windows marry a wood interior with a vinyl frame and aluminum-clad exterior for beauty and durability.
STYLING: Iconic Modern Home
BANQUETTE: New England Cabinet Co.
LIGHTING: Circa Lighting
WINDOWS: Sierra Pacific Windows
ARTWORK: Emily Klima
Built-in Coffee Bar
A sleek coffee station built into the passageway between the open kitchen and the working kitchen has cup and bean storage above and below, as well as a convenient pull-out shelf.
COFFEE STATION: Clarke: Official Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove Showroom
CABINETRY: New England Cabinet Company
Hardworking Appliances
A microwave and steam oven are tucked alongside one of the two tall pantry pullouts in the working kitchen. Eco-conscious families will love the built-in dispenser that serves up chilled, filtered water—and its digital readout that tallies how many plastic bottles they’ve kept from the landfill.
One oven, a whole meal: Steam ovens shine when you’re cooking for a crowd. As one chef demonstrated on This Old House, “The steam oven will cook three different items at one time or separately. We can put rice, we can put shrimp, and we can put a vegetable in”—all without flavors crossing over.
MICROWAVE & STEAM OVEN: Clarke: Official Sub-Zero/Wolf/Cove Showroom
CABINETRY: New England Cabinet Company
FILTERED WATER DISPENSER: Elkay ezH20-LIV
Well-Planned Workspace
A shiplap ceiling painted in a muted gray adds architectural interest and sets an informal tone in the working kitchen.
CABINETRY: New England Cabinet Company
TOE KICK & UNDERCABINET LIGHTING: Häfele
COUNTERTOP & BACKSPLASH: Everest Marble, fabricated by Dushi Marble & Granite
FLOORING & POCKET DOORS: Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods
FLOOR FINISH: Bona
SCULPTURES: Dick Shanley
Hidden Features
A pull-out stool is concealed behind a slim panel to the left of the sink, and a dishwasher—behind a false front with a drawer and two doors—to the right. Only an interruption in the toe kick lighting hints at the hidden appliance.
CABINETRY: New England Cabinet Company
TOE KICK & UNDERCABINET LIGHTING: Häfele
COUNTERTOP: Everest Marble, fabricated by Dushi Marble & Granite
BACKSPLASH: Merola Tile
FAUCET: ROHL
GLASS VESSELS: Vetro Vero
STYLING: Iconic Modern Home
Hideaway Step Stool
The handy step stool in front of the sink folds up into a slim vertical pullout that slides into a sliver of cabinet space.
STEP STOOL: Hideaway Solutions
TOE KICK LIGHTING: Häfele
Maximum Kitchen Storage
A blind-corner shelf swings out to maximize storage in hard-to-reach corner cabinets.
PULL-OUT ORGANIZER, TOE KICK & UNDER-SHELF LIGHTING: Häfele
CABINETRY: New England Cabinet Company
BACKSPLASH: Merola Tile
ART: David Morico
Dreamy Drawer Lighting
Toe kick, under-shelf, and interior-drawer lighting brightens every nook and cranny (no more fumbling for that fry pan).
DRAWER ORGANIZATION & LIGHTING: Häfele
CABINETRY: New England Cabinet Company
FLATWARE: Juliska
