Kitchen + Office + Reading Nook
For their 1920 Tudor in Newton, Massachusetts, the homeowners gave Nashville-based designer Stephanie Sabbe a sentimental directive for this 230-square-foot kitchen. “They’re a big Irish family with four kids, and wanted a bench in the kitchen where the children could sit and look out the window while waiting for their dad to come home,” Sabbe says. That simple idea kicked off this workhorse room. How she makes it function seamlessly:
Pro Tip: Sabbe’s approach to the multifunctional space was all about visual cohesion. “Cladding the fridge was important to give cohesiveness to the multifunctional space, so there wasn’t a fridge next to a desk and bench,” she says. To allow the family to use every inch of counter space, the microwave is set into the island, and the fridge is concealed with cabinet panels—smart moves that keep the room’s many roles from competing visually.
SECRET STASH To allow the family to use every inch of counter space, the microwave is set into the island. The fridge is concealed with cabinet panels. “Cladding the fridge was important to give cohesiveness to the multifunctional space, so there wasn’t a fridge next to a desk and bench,” Sabbe says. Stools slide out of the way under the prep/storage/dining island.
This approach to maximizing every surface of an island echoes a technique used in a This Old House Magazine kitchen renovation, where a custom-built cherry divider served multiple functions at once. As contractor Kris Solvang described it: “It’s like a big piece of furniture. Every side is used for something; it’s amazingly compact.” One end housed a microwave oven, the other a half-height refrigerator, while the kitchen side held a cooktop and prep sink—with every remaining inch used for shelves and drawers.
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SIT PRETTY Sabbe designed the reading nook’s window bench—upholstered in wipe-clean vinyl—with two drawers, ideal for keeping a collection of children’s books and toys at the ready. A heater fan in the toekick pushes warm air forward into the room, upping the cozy factor on winter days.
DESK SET The computer desk is tucked between a tall snack pantry and the fridge, under a window that offers air and natural light—and allows this busy mom an occasional moment to gaze outside and muse.
Pro Tip: David Raymond, a designer and builder in Connecticut, emphasizes the importance of a dedicated workspace like this one: “Every family needs a command center to deal with scheduling the day and running the house.” And what better place for that HQ than in the kitchen, where everyone’s always hanging around anyway?
Connie Edwards, design director for Shenandoah Cabinetry in Winchester, Virginia, points out that a kitchen desk area can pull double duty: “You can do homework or pay bills here, but you can also use it as a staging area for a buffet or to roll out a pie crust.” When cooking action threatens to spill over, office supplies can be stowed in the drawer.
Paint (cabinetry): Benjamin Moore’s Platinum Gray
Pendant lights: Restoration Hardware
Wall sconces: Schoolhouse Electric
Pulls: The Home Depot
Stools: Target
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