The Little Kitchen that Could…

By -


Situated on a gently winding section of the Black Hall River Marsh in Old Lyme, the original part of this hybrid home was built in 1840 with several additions over time. The latest addition brings new life to Kevin and Nancy Murphy’s petite kitchen which opens to a cathedral ceiling living room with dazzling views of the sunset where marshland meets farmland on the river bend. A spectacular view is like having seasonally changing artwork and the design of the space was to showcase the view.



The kitchen ceiling is not quite 7 feet which made designing the pieces to the appropriate scale imperative to the overall look and balance of the space. Even the size of the pendant lighting became crucial to the overall design due to the low ceiling.




“Although small, this kitchen has all the perks of a larger space, the trick for us was how to fit it all into the plan without overpowering the design,” Gerard Ciccarello, owner of Covenant Kitchens & Baths, explains. Proper dimensions being critical, a 27” refrigerator was the best fit here in this home for two. The design challenge of this space was that the area adjacent to the refrigerator was partially blocked by an electrical panel that could not be moved. The solution was the design of 27” pantry to balance the neighboring refrigerator and to hide the electrical box, making the most of the available space while keeping the proportions ideal. “Keeping the colors subdued was also a key in this small space. Lighter and brighter, the kitchen becomes a backdrop for whatever table top accessories and family heirloom collections are featured at the time” added Ciccarello.
Ivory cabinetry with simple detailed flat panel inset doors gives the room a neat manicured look which is helpful in streamlining the look of a smaller space. Leathered Colonial Gold granite counter tops on the perimeter and island provide a softness that seems to glow in any light. A lighted glass front cabinet houses the homeowner’s antique glassware collection. Crackle subway field tile with focal points of framed soft white and off white glass tiles add understated elegance.
A sleek microwave oven drawer, wall oven, paneled refrigerator and dishwasher, white cast iron sink and pull out spray faucet round out the list of amenities.

Project Highlights

Objectives:
• Create a functional small space with high end appliances; wall oven was a must have
• Lighten and brighten this interior room kitchen
• Take advantage of water views through the newly added adjoining living room
• Space for casual entertaining
Design Challenges:
• Being a 170 year old home, ceilings in the kitchen were low and out of level
• Space is small but did not want to sacrifice amenities
• Electrical panel cut in to the prime cabinet real estate in the kitchen

Design Solutions:
• Scale the size of all materials used in the space to fit the smaller proportions including appropriate sized appliances
• Sacrifice some ceiling height in order to get the ceiling level
• Island with wine cooler and seating for three answers casual entertaining needs
• Pantry cabinet built around chimney chase hides it and creates more usable storage space

Design Features:
• Under counter wine cooler in the island
• Beautiful glimmer of glass tile featured in the back splash both over the stove and over the sink
• Light switch for pendant lights tucked out of sight under the stool opening in the island
• Beautiful nickel pendants with fabric shades are just the right size for the space

Comments

  1. AnonymousMarch 9, 2011 at 12:38 AM

    the kitchen is so wonderful. knowing that the kitchen is the heart of a home, it is important to make it beautiful.Store Self Storage

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Best of the Best: Old World meets New World…

By -
Image
Dream Kitchen & Baths magazine’s cover on the 2011 spring issue is a Covenant Kitchen!! Showcased as one of the thirty timeless looks, this kitchen was one of the winners of the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) design competition in 2009. European travel influence newlyweds’ style sense. These newlyweds were combining two households and were searching for one voice for their collective style. Before they were married, life was simple - design-wise that is. Each leaned toward clean lines. But it was their love of travel that inspired them to collect antiques from around the world. The objects they purchased were more “old world” than contemporary. Enter Covenant Kitchens & Baths in Westbrook. The designers there helped create a kitchen that would utilize the couple’s one-of-a-kind treasures. First there were some logistics involved. Moving the kitchen from the dark north side of the house to the spot where the dining room had been, next ...
Read more

Covenant Wins First Place: Traditional Design 2010 Clarke Sub-Zero Wolf Design Competition

By -
Image
April 8, 2011 More than 300 New England architects and designers recently filled the Clarke showroom in Milford, MA for Clarke’s Fourth Annual Designer Appreciation Night. Clarke awarded trophies to six top designers around New England for their innovative use of Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances in kitchens and other rooms in the home. Clarke’s top three specifiers were also distinguished for their leadership in integration of these high-performance ranges, cooktops, wall ovens, refrigerators, wine storage and more into their vision of what a kitchen could be. Gerard Ciccarello of Covennant Kitchens & Baths, Westbrook, CT receiving his top honors in The Clarke Design Awards from Clarke Director of Marketing Jim Raftus. Gerard Ciccarello, CMKBD, owner of Covenant Kitchens & Baths, Inc. won first place in the New England Clarke Sub-Zero Wolf Design Competition. Only awarding six trophies was a tough call when judges were faced with over 60 entries. Clarke is New England...
Read more

Robin's Egg Blue...This Kitchen Heralds Spring...

By -
Image
Color, color, color…Driven by a love for color this homeowner knew she wanted this bird’s egg blue cabinetry for her kitchen the moment she saw it in the designer’s showroom. “It was the first color I chose for the house, and I used it for all the color choices I made for walls furniture and fixtures.” Designed to the period of the home, this kitchen was created to keep as much of the 1932 Cape Cod feel of the home as possible while giving it a completely functional update. The designer kept all the smallest details in mind including door styles, pulls, “icebox” latches and bracketed molding. All the details harken back to the earlier era. In keeping with the old house feel, fir floors stained in cherry provide some orange tones which are a nice foil to the blue-gray tones of the cabinetry. The choice of a galley kitchen versus a great room style kitchen was made again to keep with the look and feel of times gone by. In addition to keeping the kitchen as a committed food prepar...
Read more