Kitchen of the Week: A New Layout and Coastal Charm in New York
Rethinking a family’s beach house kitchen creates a multifunctional space for entertaining and relaxing by the water
When water reached their kitchen door during a large storm, Bobby and April Kaynor decided to take action. They raised their bungalow-style beach house on the south shore of Long Island, New York, to exceed new Federal Emergency Management Agency requirements, demolished their old kitchen and started fresh. The new enlarged kitchen still welcomes in water, but this time it’s from spectacular views of the Atlantic Ocean — not rainwater on their doorstep.
Designer Oscar Giraldo came up with a new layout that moved the mechanical room, opening the kitchen to include an eating area. He raised the ceiling, allowing for large windows on two sides of the kitchen.
With the layout settled, Bobby and April worked with kitchen designer Gianna Santoro to update the room for functional entertaining. A 13-foot island features a two-person counter spot at one end and a custom banquette in easy-to-clean gray vinyl. The banquette faces two custom painted wood tables and two bistro-style woven-rattan chairs per table. “By making the banquette attached to the island, you save space by not having additional walkways,” Santoro says.
The fresh color palette features custom recessed-panel cabinets painted a medium gray (Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore) and timeless off-white walls, tongue-and-groove ceiling and trim (Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore).
An engineered oak floor provides a neutral backdrop that has character and warmth.
Custom cabinets: Deane; banquette: Morgan Harrison Home; tables: Tritter Feefer
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With the layout settled, Bobby and April worked with kitchen designer Gianna Santoro to update the room for functional entertaining. A 13-foot island features a two-person counter spot at one end and a custom banquette in easy-to-clean gray vinyl. The banquette faces two custom painted wood tables and two bistro-style woven-rattan chairs per table. “By making the banquette attached to the island, you save space by not having additional walkways,” Santoro says.
The fresh color palette features custom recessed-panel cabinets painted a medium gray (Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore) and timeless off-white walls, tongue-and-groove ceiling and trim (Wind’s Breath by Benjamin Moore).
An engineered oak floor provides a neutral backdrop that has character and warmth.
Custom cabinets: Deane; banquette: Morgan Harrison Home; tables: Tritter Feefer
Shop for dining chairs on Houzz
This view shows the expansive double-insulated windows that wrap half of the kitchen.
The working side of the island includes three drawers, a double waste bin pullout, the main farmhouse-style sink, a paneled dishwasher and a speed oven with a storage drawer below. The countertops are honed quartzite.
The sliding doors to the right lead to a backyard grill area and a pool.
Quartzite counters: Fordham Marble
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The working side of the island includes three drawers, a double waste bin pullout, the main farmhouse-style sink, a paneled dishwasher and a speed oven with a storage drawer below. The countertops are honed quartzite.
The sliding doors to the right lead to a backyard grill area and a pool.
Quartzite counters: Fordham Marble
Find a kitchen designer near you in the Houzz pro directory
A custom stainless steel range hood hangs over a pro-style four-burner gas range with griddle. “It’s my favorite piece in the whole room,” says April of the hood. “It makes the kitchen look so glamorous.”
A paneled refrigerator-freezer is to the right of the range; a food pantry cabinet with spice racks and drawers is to the left. The backsplash includes ceramic subway tiles and a niche with mosaic herringbone marble for keeping salt and pepper handy.
A pair of four-light square lantern pendants above the island join recessed lights in the raised ceiling to sufficiently light the room. “All those lights in the kitchen are on dimmers, and that’s huge,” April says. “I’m really happy we did that.”
Tile backsplash: Fordham Marble; Studio Collection cabinet pulls in polished nickel: Hickory Hardware
A paneled refrigerator-freezer is to the right of the range; a food pantry cabinet with spice racks and drawers is to the left. The backsplash includes ceramic subway tiles and a niche with mosaic herringbone marble for keeping salt and pepper handy.
A pair of four-light square lantern pendants above the island join recessed lights in the raised ceiling to sufficiently light the room. “All those lights in the kitchen are on dimmers, and that’s huge,” April says. “I’m really happy we did that.”
Tile backsplash: Fordham Marble; Studio Collection cabinet pulls in polished nickel: Hickory Hardware
At the other end of the kitchen is a side-door entrance, a mudroom area beneath the oval window and a bar area.
The mudroom includes a built-in bench with hooks on the wall above. The window offers a view of the driveway. “The mudroom is excellent for parties,” April says. “Now people can come in, put their stuff down, and we can serve them right from the bar.”
The bar area includes a hammered stainless steel sink, a wine refrigerator, an ice maker, a paneled dishwasher and cabinets for glasses and entertaining supplies.
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The bar area includes a hammered stainless steel sink, a wine refrigerator, an ice maker, a paneled dishwasher and cabinets for glasses and entertaining supplies.
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A butler’s pantry to the left of the bar leads to a formal dining room. Two of the tall cabinets in the butler’s pantry include polished nickel mesh door inserts with glass behind them to keep dust off dishes and glasses.
More on Houzz
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More on Houzz
Should You Use Open Shelves in the Kitchen?
Read about other Kitchens of the Week
Find a kitchen designer near you
Shop for kitchen and dining products
Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Bobby Kaynor, a financial analyst, and April Kaynor, a real estate agent, and their three kids
Location: Quogue, New York
Size: 600 square feet (56 square meters), including mudroom area, butler’s pantry and bar area
Designers: Gianna Santoro of Deane (interior design) and Oscar Giraldo (layout)
Before: The house, which was built in 1901, was purchased by Bobby’s family in 1982. It had been remodeled a few times over the years, but the kitchen had never taken full advantage of the amazing water views. It felt closed-off due to its low ceiling and a mechanical room that isolated it from an eating area.