March 28, 2022

It’s no surprise that square footage is the coin of the realm in New York City living quarters. While Gregory Hitchcock of Long Island City, N.Y.-based Gregory Hitchcock Design knows that full well, it’s a fact that was driven home in his remodeling of a condo kitchen in a building in Manhattan’s Tribeca neighborhood.

The clients had purchased the residence from the developer before the full-floor loft was completed. Upon moving in, they were faced with a builder-grade kitchen that did not reflect the location or value of the home. Small and U-shaped, it awkwardly occupied a prime part of the floor plan, interrupting the flow of space.

At the outset of the remodel, the homeowners had an ambitious wish list when it came to kitchen appliances. Unfortunately, it was not possible to run sufficient amperage to the unit, and Hitchcock, at the time working for Cesar NY, was forced to pivot, creating an entirely new plan for the condo kitchen.

“Designing an arguably oversized kitchen into a room that normally couldn’t handle it was a challenge,” he said.

Key to the success of the revamped design were the slender column-style refrigerator, freezer and wine cooler. All of these could be paneled, supporting the monochromatic color scheme Hitchcock used to minimize the visual impact of the appliances on the adjacent living area. The long, narrow island – dubbed by the designer as “the landing strip” – features seating at one end that allows two couples to face each other.

“Most people want seating along the backside of the island, which places everyone side by side – which I can’t stand!” said Hitchcock. “It’s not practical or convenient.”

The experience with the electrical system cemented a lesson Hitchcock learned long ago: When renovating in New York City, do not assume anything.

“Everyone involved in this project, from the architect to the contractors, was fairly confident that the power needed to accommodate the new appliances could be brought into the kitchen,” he said.

The designer’s advice? Never place any orders until all fundamental issues are sorted out and resolved through the proper channels.

Editor’s note: This post was updated on August 29, 2022 to include additional information that was not available at the time of original publication.