McLean, Virginia - Contemporary - Kitchen
McLean, Virginia - Contemporary - Kitchen
#JenniferGilmer
http://www.gilmerkitchens.com/
Photography by Bob Narod
The challenges of this original kitchen and eating space were numerous. The ceiling was a myriad of disjointed peaks and valleys, the focal-point window was off-center, the fridge loomed too large, and the layout of circulation was inefficient and awkward. However, the client was not prepared to make any significant architectural changes – so the challenge was laid down – what can you do to make our awkward space, less awkward? How do you make it comfortable to work in, live in, to entertain in– and also beautiful to look at? I felt the solution to these problems was to introduce a sense of balance, and employ a few design tricks to visually unify the spaces.
I saw an opportunity to use floating beams to unify the ceiling –the beams and the parallel track lighting create a sense of unity that bring things together harmoniously. It distracts the eye from noticing the off-center window, and it brings warmth and interest to the upper part of the room. We removed the large, looming fridge/freezer unit and replaced it with smaller twin units, 27 wide, which flank the window symmetrically. They give the window the appearance of being centered on the wall, even though it’s not centered in the room. We removed one side window to allow for an ample, open cooking area, added a central prep zone, and placed an additional coffee station at the far end of the room to house appliance equipment for a household that looooves its caffeine.
The majority of the cabinetry is finished with a soft oatmeal-colored paint. I chose to use a dark cherry stain as an accent color, to highlight special features and to literally balance the light and the dark. This balanced contrast helped me bring in a modern, softly Asian flair that reflects the personality of my client. The hood is a custom stainless design, the backsplash is a sculpted limestone tile. Kitchen countertops are done in Mother of Pearl, with a fossilized brown limestone on the coffee station.
My client tells me that her son loves pointing out all of the prehistoric shells and fossils now living in their kitchen. To me, this project is a true before-and-after transformation because it deals so well with the problems of an awkward space. It proves that however awkward you think a space might be – there are always opportunities to bring in beauty, originality, and balance.
#JenniferGilmer
http://www.gilmerkitchens.com/
Photography by Bob Narod
The challenges of this original kitchen and eating space were numerous. The ceiling was a myriad of disjointed peaks and valleys, the focal-point window was off-center, the fridge loomed too large, and the layout of circulation was inefficient and awkward. However, the client was not prepared to make any significant architectural changes – so the challenge was laid down – what can you do to make our awkward space, less awkward? How do you make it comfortable to work in, live in, to entertain in– and also beautiful to look at? I felt the solution to these problems was to introduce a sense of balance, and employ a few design tricks to visually unify the spaces.
I saw an opportunity to use floating beams to unify the ceiling –the beams and the parallel track lighting create a sense of unity that bring things together harmoniously. It distracts the eye from noticing the off-center window, and it brings warmth and interest to the upper part of the room. We removed the large, looming fridge/freezer unit and replaced it with smaller twin units, 27 wide, which flank the window symmetrically. They give the window the appearance of being centered on the wall, even though it’s not centered in the room. We removed one side window to allow for an ample, open cooking area, added a central prep zone, and placed an additional coffee station at the far end of the room to house appliance equipment for a household that looooves its caffeine.
The majority of the cabinetry is finished with a soft oatmeal-colored paint. I chose to use a dark cherry stain as an accent color, to highlight special features and to literally balance the light and the dark. This balanced contrast helped me bring in a modern, softly Asian flair that reflects the personality of my client. The hood is a custom stainless design, the backsplash is a sculpted limestone tile. Kitchen countertops are done in Mother of Pearl, with a fossilized brown limestone on the coffee station.
My client tells me that her son loves pointing out all of the prehistoric shells and fossils now living in their kitchen. To me, this project is a true before-and-after transformation because it deals so well with the problems of an awkward space. It proves that however awkward you think a space might be – there are always opportunities to bring in beauty, originality, and balance.
Project Year: 2012
Country: United States
