Challenge

This 1880 Colonial Revival home was occupied by the same family for seventy years before its first renovation, a small kitchen was “modernized” in the 1950’s style.  The lack of insulation around the perimeter kitchen walls coupled with harsh New England winters created issues with freezing water lines over time. Once dish washing machines were prevalent in kitchens this became a more serious problem. The home’s third and current owner had to replace their appliances three times before it had been noted that not only was there no insulation behind the dishwasher, but there was only the exterior wall exposed to the weather, causing the repeated freezing of the water lines.

Solution

More than the addition of insulation, the solution involved a rethinking of the entire family usage of the home. With a free standing garage off the back of the house, access to the kitchen from the driveway and garage was important. An addition was created to allow access from the driveway and garage into a daily used rear entry.  This new vestibule connected the expanded kitchen and eat-in area with a renovated family room. The kitchen is the heart and soul of the home and most meals can be enjoyed either from stools at the island or a bay windowed breakfast table. Cabinets were custom made using Hafele interior components for optimal organization. A breakfast nook breakfront was designed with lighted glass front doors.Here attractive everyday dinnerware is displayed as well as providing storage for everyday place settings.

The island is finished differently from the perimeter cabinets with a wood stain and stone counter combination that matches the pantry connection to the dining room. The pantry serves as a wet bar on one side and a home office on the other.Minimal use of upper cabinets allows multiple windows to fill the space with light. The sink station windows overlook the backyard. The porcelain floor tiles seamlessly work their way down into the rear mudroom and entryway.

The once dreary, enclosed kitchen now has windows to new landscaped features previously unseen.It provides the owners with a new lifestyle while aesthetically holding true to the history of this beloved home.