Boston’s South Shore Top Design and Build Talent
Saving the Best for Last: How Home Renovation Priorities Evolve with the Times
After purchasing the property in 2016 the homeowners spent seven years transforming every square inch of the property, less the kitchen. At the time the client rarely used the kitchen, so it remained low on their list of priorities. During the onset of the pandemic, the clients’ priorities began to shift. While the outside world was shut down, the clients began spending a lot of time preparing meals at home in their kitchen. With this shift came the realization that their current kitchen was dark, inefficient, and didn’t reflect the client’s personal style that they had meticulously incorporated into the rest of the house.
The existing layout had plenty of square footage but lacked any semblance of flow. A gas fireplace was anchored in the corner, dividing the working portion of the kitchen into two detached stations. The island had space for working and eating but was too small for the large space. The adjacent wet bar felt disconnected, creating the sense that it wasn’t meant to be utilized alongside the kitchen. A circular dining area was open to the kitchen and provided impressive views of the nearby North River, but the space could only house a small table and was rarely used. In addition to problems with flow and function, the clients wanted the space to reflect their personal style with attention to detail and light. It was clear that the deep cherry, traditional kitchen no longer fit the functional needs of the homeowners or their preferred aesthetic.
After analyzing the existing space and understanding the homeowners’ goals, the design team made several changes to the layout of the space to improve its flow and function. Most notably, the fireplace was removed from the corner of the kitchen. In its place, a large gas range serves as both a functional piece of kitchen equipment and an eye-catching art moment with its custom glass mosaic of the North River. This change created a singular run of working area in the kitchen that was now balanced with an appropriately scaled island and wood eating bar, creating a casual dining space for the clients that is perfect for eating and entertaining. A modern gas insert fireplace was incorporated as an end cap to the kitchen, and sits adjacent to the new eating bar, creating warmth and a sense of luxury that aligns with the client’s personal style. The expansion of the island helped to bridge the gap between the former wet bar turned coffee station and pantry storage. Collectively, these changes created two zones which flowed together, resulting in a space that allowed the clients to prep, cook, eat, entertain, and clean effortlessly. Adding to the flow of the space, the former dining area was turned into a conversational seating area. The magnificent views of the North River could now be enjoyed by clients in the morning as a light filled space to enjoy their coffee, and by night a beautiful space to watch the sunset and enjoy a night cap.
