Photographer: Steve Hershberger
Kristen Mendoza, project designer for Washington, D.C.-based Four Brothers Design + Build, wrestled with resolving two existing conditions in this kitchen remodel: an irregular sloping ceiling and window and door openings on every wall of the room.
Photographer: Steve Hershberger
By moving the cooktop to the island, adding a tall wall oven cabinet, and relocating the sink, the designer was able to give the homeowners a large amount of uninterrupted counter space, which is optimal for food prep.
“I was worried that a vent hood in the center of the kitchen would block any views of the space,” admits Mendoza. “This situation really challenged my perspective, to think of a focal point in the center of the room instead of on the perimeter.” To emphasize the sloping ceiling height, she flanked the hood with two false beams that were stained to match the flooring.
Photographer: Steve Hershberger
Varying the panel sizes throughout the kitchen added some visual interest to the cabinet composition, but did not overwhelm the space.
Photographer: Steve Hershberger
The designer employed a classic color palette of black and white, with Farrow & Ball paint (Downpipe No. 26) for the cabinets. The black and nickel light fixtures and knurled nickel cabinet hardware add a touch of sophistication to the color scheme.“I love how the dark counters and moody cabinet colors pair with the crisp white walls of this kitchen,” said Mendoza. “It’s really a fun way to add darker finishes to the room, but not close in the space.”
Photographer: Steve Hershberger
In addition to the sloping ceiling restricting the use of wall cabinets, the old kitchen was bisected by a way-too-narrow peninsula that fragmented the placement of appliances. The built-in undercounter oven was isolated from the central kitchen space. Jammed into a corner, the refrigerator was awkward to access as it was opposite the cooktop, which was set into the peninsula. Teal wainscotting and butcher-block counters dated the design.