Room of the Week: Open Views and Hidden Storage in a US Kitchen
A team of designers create an open, airy and hardworking family kitchen with concealed storage in New York, USA
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
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Scope of works
In search of more space and a meaningful connection to the outdoors, they hired kitchen designer Sarah Robertson, architect Ned Stoll and interior designer Tami Wassong.
The design team swapped the location of the former kitchen with the family room, raised the roof and extended the layout into the backyard. This allowed the design team to add a large island, more storage and two walls of operable windows that beautifully connect the kitchen to the backyard greenery.
Starting point
Stoll came up with the idea of adding five expansive black-framed casement windows across the back wall behind the stove, with three more casement windows added on the side wall near the sink.
“We wanted it to feel open to nature,” says Robertson. “They have a beautiful backyard with mature trees and privacy and wanted a view of that.”
In search of more space and a meaningful connection to the outdoors, they hired kitchen designer Sarah Robertson, architect Ned Stoll and interior designer Tami Wassong.
The design team swapped the location of the former kitchen with the family room, raised the roof and extended the layout into the backyard. This allowed the design team to add a large island, more storage and two walls of operable windows that beautifully connect the kitchen to the backyard greenery.
Starting point
Stoll came up with the idea of adding five expansive black-framed casement windows across the back wall behind the stove, with three more casement windows added on the side wall near the sink.
“We wanted it to feel open to nature,” says Robertson. “They have a beautiful backyard with mature trees and privacy and wanted a view of that.”
Tell us about the colour palette
The design team chose a warm grey-beige (Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore) for the custom maple cabinets and drawers with Shaker-style inset doors. “We wanted to keep the aesthetic fairly clean,” says Robertson. “The homeowner had seen this colour in my line-up and thought it was a really pretty complement to the green outside, and she knew she didn’t want white.”
Robertson inset the range hood into the ceiling to keep the views of the yard unobstructed.
Custom oak cabinetry with a chevron pattern conceals the refrigerator and pantry storage on the right-side wall. “We knew we wanted both cabinets to be a different finish and a different style,” says Robertson. “[The homeowner] pulled up an inspiration photo from Houzz, and it was a chevron pattern and that was it.”
The homeowners picked out the tubular frosted glass-and-metal industrial-style light fixture over the island. Long and lean striped rugs add a touch of colour and pattern.
Considering a kitchen renovation? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
The design team chose a warm grey-beige (Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore) for the custom maple cabinets and drawers with Shaker-style inset doors. “We wanted to keep the aesthetic fairly clean,” says Robertson. “The homeowner had seen this colour in my line-up and thought it was a really pretty complement to the green outside, and she knew she didn’t want white.”
Robertson inset the range hood into the ceiling to keep the views of the yard unobstructed.
Custom oak cabinetry with a chevron pattern conceals the refrigerator and pantry storage on the right-side wall. “We knew we wanted both cabinets to be a different finish and a different style,” says Robertson. “[The homeowner] pulled up an inspiration photo from Houzz, and it was a chevron pattern and that was it.”
The homeowners picked out the tubular frosted glass-and-metal industrial-style light fixture over the island. Long and lean striped rugs add a touch of colour and pattern.
Considering a kitchen renovation? Find a specialised kitchen designer near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
How did you integrate stylish open and concealed storage?
Here’s a look at the storage wall with a refrigerator door open. “The doors have just an eighth-inch [three-millimetre] reveal around the edge, so you can make it look just like a cabinet,” says Robertson.
Open shelves on top help lighten the visual weight and offer a spot for displaying collectables and cookbooks.
This photo also highlights the inset ceiling. The same oak used for the appliance wall clads the top portion of the ceiling. The kitchen’s warm floor has wide-plank oak that coordinates with these other wood details.
Here’s a look at the storage wall with a refrigerator door open. “The doors have just an eighth-inch [three-millimetre] reveal around the edge, so you can make it look just like a cabinet,” says Robertson.
Open shelves on top help lighten the visual weight and offer a spot for displaying collectables and cookbooks.
This photo also highlights the inset ceiling. The same oak used for the appliance wall clads the top portion of the ceiling. The kitchen’s warm floor has wide-plank oak that coordinates with these other wood details.
The pantry cabinet has three fixed shelves on top that include baskets for storing smaller items. Pull-out shelves below store assorted dry goods.
A white board hangs inside the left pantry door for shopping reminders. The inside of the right door has a broom rack. “Our goal was to give them enough space for all the family’s dry food storage, so it needed to be well-organised and designed,” says Robertson. “It also keeps a broom within easy reach of the kitchen’s main work area.”
A white board hangs inside the left pantry door for shopping reminders. The inside of the right door has a broom rack. “Our goal was to give them enough space for all the family’s dry food storage, so it needed to be well-organised and designed,” says Robertson. “It also keeps a broom within easy reach of the kitchen’s main work area.”
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
Three vintage mid-century metal-and-wood stools designed by American architect and furniture designer, Cleo Baldon, offer seating at the marble-topped island. “I love the black iron and the integration of the oak dowels that pick up the cabinet hardware,” says Robertson.
Three vintage mid-century metal-and-wood stools designed by American architect and furniture designer, Cleo Baldon, offer seating at the marble-topped island. “I love the black iron and the integration of the oak dowels that pick up the cabinet hardware,” says Robertson.
Two appliance ‘garages’ – named for the cabinets’ retractable doors – sit to the left of the fridge in an area used as a baking centre. The left garage stores the family’s benchtop mixer. The other hides a toaster. “It reduces that whole feeling of clutter on the countertops,” says Robertson.
The cabinet hardware is hand-cast brass. “It has a lovely, aged patina,” says Robertson. “We wanted something with a modern profile but also with an [aged] finish.”
The cabinet hardware is hand-cast brass. “It has a lovely, aged patina,” says Robertson. “We wanted something with a modern profile but also with an [aged] finish.”
What other hidden storage is included?
A pull-out cabinet with two shelves for oils and vinegars sits to the right of the stove.
In the corner cabinet pictured here below the bench, a swing-out shelf stores other small appliances and bakeware.
Between the two is a tiered spice drawer, which sits between the oven and corner cabinet.
A pull-out cabinet with two shelves for oils and vinegars sits to the right of the stove.
In the corner cabinet pictured here below the bench, a swing-out shelf stores other small appliances and bakeware.
Between the two is a tiered spice drawer, which sits between the oven and corner cabinet.
To the left of the oven is pull-out utensil storage. Nearby, floating rift-cut oak shelves display bowls, a cake stand and other accessories. “These keep the overall feel of the kitchen lighter and allow for easy reach of small bowls and other items,” says Robertson of the open shelving.
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A cutting board slides into its own slot to the left of the sink. A drying rack tucks away neatly to the right. Both include leather pulls.
“I wanted a cutting board that was super convenient to the sink, and that was a perfect spot for it,” says Robertson. “We’ve had other clients who liked having a drying rack, so we felt you could add a lot of utility there with those three inches [7.5 centimetres].”
“I wanted a cutting board that was super convenient to the sink, and that was a perfect spot for it,” says Robertson. “We’ve had other clients who liked having a drying rack, so we felt you could add a lot of utility there with those three inches [7.5 centimetres].”
What extra features did you work into the floor plan?
A bar area features cabinetry with the same chevron pattern used for the appliance wall. Upper glass-front cabinets offer storage for barware and stemware.
A round black table gives the family a place to enjoy breakfast and the leafy views. The glass door leads to the backyard, outdoor dining area and barbecue.
A desk opposite the bar creates a handy spot for managing family schedules and kids’ schoolwork.
A bar area features cabinetry with the same chevron pattern used for the appliance wall. Upper glass-front cabinets offer storage for barware and stemware.
A round black table gives the family a place to enjoy breakfast and the leafy views. The glass door leads to the backyard, outdoor dining area and barbecue.
A desk opposite the bar creates a handy spot for managing family schedules and kids’ schoolwork.
Key design aspects
Colour palette
Materials palette
Colour palette
- Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore to custom maple cabinets.
- Oak flooring, ceiling accent and chevron-patterned cabinetry.
- Grey-flecked white marble benchtops.
Materials palette
- Custom maple cabinets and drawers in grey-beige with a Shaker-style profile.
- Oak flooring, inset ceiling and chevron-patterned cabinetry.
- Hand-cast brass hardware to cabinetry.
- Marble benchtops.
Why do you think this room works?
These floor plans show the layout of the light and airy new kitchen. The refrigerator wall is on the bottom-right of the plans. The cooktop wall is to the right. The sink wall is at the top.
The improved design gives the busy family the functional and stylish space they wanted, with better connection to the backyard. “We were able to create a kitchen that keeps with the style of the rest of the home and uses traditional materials, but includes a bit of a modern twist,” says Robertson.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautifully designed kitchen? Don’t miss this Room of the Week: Dark Blue and Metallics Make a Striking Kitchen
These floor plans show the layout of the light and airy new kitchen. The refrigerator wall is on the bottom-right of the plans. The cooktop wall is to the right. The sink wall is at the top.
The improved design gives the busy family the functional and stylish space they wanted, with better connection to the backyard. “We were able to create a kitchen that keeps with the style of the rest of the home and uses traditional materials, but includes a bit of a modern twist,” says Robertson.
Your turn
What’s your favourite feature in this kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to see another beautifully designed kitchen? Don’t miss this Room of the Week: Dark Blue and Metallics Make a Striking Kitchen
Who lives here: A couple with three school-aged sons
Location: Westchester County in New York, USA
Room purpose and size: A family kitchen, which measured 14 square metres before works and 28 square metres after
Designers: Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn (kitchen design), Ned Stoll of Stoll & Stoll Architects (architecture), and Tami Wassong of Tami Wassong Interiors (interior design)
Did you use Houzz for this project: Yes
Brief
If you’re blessed with a leafy backyard anywhere – especially near New York City, USA – you’ll want to enjoy it as much as possible. But this family who lived outside the city in Westchester County, USA, was unable to do so: the kitchen inside their 1910 Queen Anne home felt cut off from the greenery of several mature trees in the backyard.