Kitchens
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DC Penthouse Kitchen
A new condo being built in downtown DC was chosen as their home in the city. The building was great, but the layout and finish materials proposed by the developer did not meet my clients' standard.
I redesigned a unit with 3 bedrooms, a den and 2 1/2 baths into a 2-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath luxury penthouse and upgraded finish materials and details. Close coordination with the building architect, developer and builder was critical, since the floor and the ceiling were post-tension concrete slabs and the walls my clients and I wanted to relocate contained common plumbing and electrical risers.
The empty space had a long wall and floor to ceiling windows. I separated the cooking area with a 17-foot long island, which contains 2 sinks, 2 dishwashers and a wide prep area. This large island, used from all sides and levels, serves well in large parties. In order not to show obvious seams of the island counter top, I divided it into 3 different materials: granite, stainless steel and reverse-painted glass. Introducing different levels to the island add an interest and define areas. Stainless steel top with integrated sinks and drain boards is the main cooking and cleaning area, while the granite and glass tops serve for more entertaining purposes. Initially, the glass top was designed to have more interesting curves and angles, but unfortunately at the end, the size of the elevator dictated the size.
In order to increase the storage, we have incorporated various cabinets on the back of the island and under the bench along the window, and built a pantry at the end of the bench run to disguise the odd angle. These efforts produced an amazingly well-integrated great room -- the kitchen, dining, family room, bar, and storage are in a single functional space. Walls and doors are not necessary for the semi-public spaces in our modern life.
The kitchen cabinets, varying slightly from front and back, also reflect this design concept. The refrigerator and freezer are integrated and the powered appliance garages hide the small appliances. The cabinet doors are divided to match the drawer fronts to emphasize the horizontal lines of the design. Equally horizontal are the glass back splash with LED under-cabinet lights, and uplights above the wall cabinets.
This is a kitchen that works well for a single cook, a couple of gourmet cooks working together or a large party caterer.
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
Building Developer: Faison Associates; Charlotte, NC
Building Architect: Esocoff & Associates; Washington, DC
Kitchen cabinet installation: Metric Home/Andrea Cassela
Interior Finishes: Beane & Co. / Dennis Beane; Silver Spring, MD
Cabinets: Eggermann
Cabinet hardware and accessories: Eggersmann
Appliances
Refrigerator: Gaggenau (RC462 700)
Freezer: Gaggenau (RF 411 700)
Wind refrigerator: Viking (VUWC 24“)
Cooktop: Gaggenau – Induction (CI492 600)
Wall oven: Gaggenau
Steam oven: Gaggenau
Warming drawer: Dacor (IWO 27S)
Range hood: Faber (Matrix 630003947)
Dishwasher (2): Gaggenau (DF241 760)
Disposer (2): Insinkerator Pro-XL
Air Switch (2): Mountain Plumbing (MT951 BRS)
Faucet 1: Hansgrohe
Faucet 2:
Filtered water hot/cold faucet: Mountain Plumbing (MT1401DIY/SS)
Water filter: Franke (FRXS2)
Soap dispenser (2)
Sinks: Custom by AK Metal Fabricators
Clothes washer: ASKO (W6461T)
Clothes dryer: ASKO (T731T)
Counter tops: Stainless steel by AK Metal Fabricators
Granite from R. Bratti Associates
Reverse-painted glass from Hutchison Glass and Mirror
Back splash: Reverse-painted glass from Hutchison Glass and Mirror
Pantry shelving: ELFA from Container Store
Floor: Porcelain tiles from Best Tile
Lighting fixtures: Halo (Recessed lights)
James Moder (Linear chandelier)
Jesco (Uplight)
Hera (Under-cabinet lights)
Photographer: Dean Evangelista
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Glass Counter Top Kitchen
The owners, expecting their first baby, were looking for something different, modern and unique in this new, but rather typical “Craftsman Style” house in a quaint Northern Virginian neighborhood. They contacted me to redesign the kitchen which was proposed by the builder.
My design concept was to totally integrate the Family Room and Breakfast Area into the Kitchen, making a truly multi-purpose Great Room. Today’s busy family requires a central space where most activities happen. This is the Great Room, the heart and hub of the family, a command center. It is a cozy space that allows daily activities to take place separately or simultaneously, individually or together, and not cause interferences or traffic jams. I wanted to create a space where a person cooking a meal could also observe children at play, carry on a conversation, and watch the same TV program as the others.
A truly Great Room can also accommodate family gatherings, children’s parties and even an extensive party. Casual parties usually start in the kitchen and end up in the kitchen. If a host is serving a drink to a guest, this activity should not interfere with the last-minute food preparation being carried out by someone else.
Though the Kitchen area is physically fixed in terms of cabinets and appliances, this Great Room is expected to evolve, accommodating the ever-changing needs of a young and growing family.
LAYOUT SPECIFICS
Two sinks were a must, the large one intended for cooking and cleaning. The dishwasher is placed next to it. The smaller one on the island may serve as a bar sink or as a prep sink for a secondary cook. The wine refrigerator is close by for convenience. The angled island serves as a barrier for the cooks to avoid traffic congestion, as well as keeping the guests a short distance away from the hosts. The cantilevered glass bar counter is over seven feet long, but its transparency gives an illusion of floating and does not conceal the gorgeous exotic granite top.
The primary cooking area along the window wall has the large sink and the cooktop in line for maximum efficiency.
The daily dishes are stored in the tall and shallow cabinet between the dishwasher and the breakfast table, a practical and functional solution for people of all heights.
Completed 2005
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Terry Showman
Cabinets: Woodmode cabinets from Creative Kitchens
Cabinet hardware and accessories: Häfele
Appliances
Refrigerator: Monogram
Cooktop: Miele
Wall oven: Miele
Warming drawer: Miele
Range hood: Miele
Dishwasher: Miele
Microwave Oven: GE
Microwave cabinet: Miele
Disposer: Insinkerator
Air Switch: Franke
Faucet: Grohe
Sinks:
Counter tops: Granite by International Marble and Granite
Back splash: Granite
Stainless steel from AK Metal Fabricators
Floor: Hardwood
Lighting fixtures: Tech lighting (Pendants)
Lightolier (Recessed lights)
Kichler (Under-cabinet lights)
Photographer: Richard Nowitz
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Historical House Kitchen
This historically-designated mansion in Rockville, MD, started in 1864, had two separate kitchens next to each other. The large one used by the professional cooks and servants and the small one for the family. To create a more open space with easier flow, the wall between these kitchens was removed.
This design created a smooth flow of space at the same time, maintaining the feel of 2 kitchens. The main kitchen was completed in stainless steel for the commercial-type serious cooking, while the eat-in area was more relaxed, and finished in warmer tone cabinets, suitable for light cooking. Each area is equipped with a sink, dishwasher and cook-top or range-top. The owners are serious gourmet cooks and they use the stainless kitchen daily, while the small kitchen is used for small breakfasts and tea time.
The stainless steel island cart moves between the two kitchens, carrying dishes, serving foods and unloading shopping bags. It serves as a bar counter during parties. When a large group of guests are present, the small breakfast table is raised to bar height so the hanging chandelier and the guests’ heads are protected from each other, therefore providing the guests another place to “hang out’.
The small peninsula opens up to a glass-enclosed family room, looking out to a large garden. This was added in the 1950’s. We replaced all the windows doors, their treatments and installed new lighting.
Completed in 2001
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Great Falls Builders
David Friend
Cabinets: NEFF Kitchens from Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens
Custom Stainless
Cabinet hardware and accessories: Häfele
Appliances
Refrigerator: Monogram
Range Top:
Cooktop: kitchenAid
Wall oven: Thermador
Warming drawer: Thermador
Range hood:Thermador
Dishwasher: Bosch
Microwave Oven: Thermador
Disposer: Insinkerator
Air Switch: Franke
Faucet: Grohe
Filtered water faucet: Franke
Sinks: Custom by Custom Stainless / Elkay
Counter tops: Silestone by Counter Intelligence
Stainless steel by Custom Stainless
Stainless cart: John Boos
Back splash: Stainless steel from Custom Stainless
Silestone tiles
Floor: Silestone tiles
Lighting fixtures: LBL (
George Kovacs (Pendants)
Tech lighting (Chandelier)
Lightolier (Recessed lights)
Hera (Under-cabinet lights)
 "Before Images" 
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Mongolian Scene
The oldest part of this home was a vintage Sears and Roebuck mail order kit house. Before the current owner purchased the house, however, a family room had been added and some alterations had been done. But the kitchen was old, small and did not suit the modern life of this highly-educated and well-traveled academician couple.
Their interest was in the Mongolian folk paintings and in the collection of horse statues. The antique Blue Canton china pieces needed to be displayed. The architect for this addition designed a cathedral ceiling with a skylight, a perfect setting for a display area above the cabinets all around the kitchen. The owners now enjoy their horse collection everyday with lighting that changes as the day progresses.
A local tile artist copied the Mongolian paintings to the backsplash tiles, that cover the entire kitchen and extends along the wall toward the door. She painted the wall tiles, baked them twice and numbered each one so the tile setter would be able to recreate her scenes on site. We planned the intricate backsplash very carefully, so no major picture would be covered up or cut off.
Between the new kitchen and the dining room, we created a Butlers Pantry with a display case for the antique Blue Cantons. Below the counter is a lockable pull-out shelf specially made for their antique silver chest. The tile backsplash here was also painted by the same artist to reflect the Blue Canton china patterns.
Along the window is a planter box trough, where the owners like to grow herbs and keep flowers, even in winter. A drain is provided from the water-proofed and granite-covered trough, a very special feature.
The opposite wall has bi-fold doors made by the cabinet maker that opens to the family room to serve as a bar at a party. Stemware glasses are readily available above, while the beverage refrigerator is under the counter. The deep, tall oven cabinet and appliance garage cabinets separate the bar from the main cooking area.
The Mongolian theme is also found below counter level. The owner had the island brackets carved while in Mongolia. They are typically used in the temples and painted in traditional bright colors. They integrate the island to the perimeter cabinets with the Mongolian theme.
Near the entrance to the kitchen is a dog niche with two bowls easily accessed by the pooch, but away from the guests' kicking range.
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
Architect: Jon Kline, AIA
General contractor: Steve Hayes, Hayes Group
Tile Artist: Pat Bergeron
Cabinets: Cherry Cabinets by C. Hess & Son Cabinets
Cabinet hardware and accessories: Top Knobs
Appliances: From Appliance Distributors Unlimited
Refrigerator: GE Profile
Range: Dacor
Range hood:
Dishwasher 1: Bosch
Dishwasher 2: Existing reinstalled
Microwave Oven: GE
Sink: Elkay
Disposer: Insinkerator
Air Switch: Franke
Faucet: Grohe
Counter tops: Granite by R. Bratti Associates
Back splash: Painted ceramic tile by Pat Bergeron
Floor: Hardwood
Lighting fixtures: Dominion Electric Supply
Pendants: Tech Lighting
Photographer: Dean Evangelista
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The old kitchen space was a combination of odd angles and a circle, and rather small for this up-scale Washington, D.C. neighborhood. Developing an aesthetically pleasing and functional work space was challenging. The number of appliances to be incorporated kept growing, while the space was not. Double wall oven unit was chosen for its hinged doors, to accommodate the space limitations and short stature of the owner.
To minimize wasted space and to use standard size cabinets to the extent possible, I placed a narrow tall broom closet to adjust the wall angle, so the rectangular cabinets and the cook top can fit nicely. To accommodate the non-standard angle, an open shelf unit was built on site by the capable installer.
Everything finally fit well when I separated the dishwasher from the sink and placed it on the opposite wall. A peninsula was introduced as an element to separate the circular breakfast area from the angular cooking area. It provides the physical separation by the tall faucet and the pendant lights, while visually well connected.
Wall cabinets tend to make the space feel narrower. My intention was not to hang many wall cabinets. Storage space was not compromised due to the tall, easy-access cabinets.
During the construction an unforeseen steel beam was discovered at the location where the ventilation hood’s exhaust duct was planned. We designed an angled bulkhead as an on-site modification, to conceal the re-routed duct.
I have included many varieties of light fixtures as well as light quality: fluorescent up-lights over the wall and tall cabinets, recessed down lights on the ceiling, built-in low-voltage hockey puck lights for under cabinets, and pendants over the peninsula with sink, and the table. These fixtures, many are hidden, give the owners various combinations of lights, depending on their needs, moods and availability of natural light.
When I visited the local stone supplier with the owners to choose the “Azur Bahia” stone for the counter tops and full-height back splash, I noticed the bright blue spot on the slab. Due to the location of this spot on the slab, much of it would have been lost if the slab were cut straight. I modified the design of the back splash to show off this blue . I believe such on-site revisions are necessary to bring out the best possible use of material and space.
Completed 2000
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Marty Geelhaar
Cabinets: NEFF Cabinets from Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens
Cabinet hardware: NEFF
Appliances
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
Cooktop: Gaggenau
Wall oven: Gaggenau
Warming drawer: Gaggenau
Range hood: Gaggenau
Dishwasher: Bosch
Microwave Oven: GE
Ice machine: Scotsman
Disposer: Insinkerator
Air Switch: Franke
Faucet: Grohe
Sink: Elkay
Counter tops: Granite by R. Bratti Associates
Back splash: Granite by R. Bratti Associates
Stainless steel from NEFF
Floor: Lime Stone from Best Tile
Lighting fixtures: Maurice Electric Supply
Pendants: Kovacs
Photographer: Yoko Barsky
"Before Images" 
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Little Gem
The house looked tilted even from the outside. It was an old Sears and Roebuck kit house built in the 1920’s. The contractor had to reinstall windows and doors, rebuild walls plumb and straighten the trims. The kitchen was barely large enough for a single person.
The appliances had to be small to fit into the 7-foot 3-inch wide room. A 24-inch range and an 18” dishwasher needed to be set in an odd angle. Due to the space requirements of each unit, we rearranged the cabinet locations on site. The pantry under the window is 13 inches deep, and the 9-inch deep wall cabinet proved to be very functional. We could not have achieved this efficiency with any stock or “standard” cabinets.
The counter tops, narrow they may be, tripled the usable work area they needed, and the owners are very happy with the easy-maintenance quartz surface.
A new pass-through was opened between the kitchen and dining room, and a storage cabinet was added in the dining room side. The raised counter top on this cabinet serves as a bar, and the faucet is reachable from here as well.
We designed to run the up-lighted shelf around the perimeter of the kitchen for display, and to give the small space an up-lifting feel. It features the wood trims to match the existing door casing.
The owners told us that after the renovation, 6 people could mingle here comfortably without getting in each other’s way. This was a big achievement indeed.
Completed 2010
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Denny and Gardner Contracting
Cabinets: Natural Cherry cabinets from C. Hess & Son Cabinets Cabinet hardware: Häfele
Appliances
Refrigerator: Liebherr 30”
Range: Bertazzoni 24“
Range hood: Bertazzoni 24”
Dishwasher: Miele 18”
Microwave Oven:
Disposer: Insinkerator
Faucet: Grohe
Sink: Elkay
Counter tops: Caesar Stone by Fashion Marble and Granite
Back splash: Jerusalem Gold lime stone and Honey Onyx from Best Tile
Floor: Oak planks
Lighting fixtures: Maurice Electric Supply
Photographer: Dean Evangelista
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AQUARIUM and STREAM
The home owners had the design criteria set:
1. To build an addition to make a truly great room.
2. A large salt-water aquarium is to be incorporated.
3. High-quality appliances for their son attending a culinary school.
4. A kitchen that allows multiple cooks to work simultaneously, yet still remains comfortable for a single cook.
The addition to this already decent-size kitchen gave me nice sunny table space and room to introduce a walk-through pantry behind the main cooking area. This space proved extremely useful by hiding necessary ducts, wiring, recessed appliance garages, pot racks and open shelving. This walk- through pantry also provided a direct passage between the outside deck and the storage area which included a refrigerator. It serves as a temporarily convenient “hiding place” for bulk goods for parties.
Two island options were presented for better traffic flow. The island with mid-height cabinets blocks the direct view of the work areas from the foyer. The other, equipped with a sink and dishwasher serves as a bar with seating before dinner and as a clean-up sink afterwards. The islands act as separations of the working areas from guests without sacrificing visual and verbal communication.
The cabinets surrounding the aquarium allow access to the flowing water and its equipment. The home owners are very fond of water features and the house is full of aquariums, fountains and ponds. They were excited about my proposal of a stream on the counter top.
I consulted with several granite fabricators and specialists to finalize this feature. We tested the granite for water absorbency and water-tightness of the joints. After the granite was set, a pump was installed with a UV light to circulate the distilled water. It is not only a conversation piece but also serves as a humidifier in the room.
Completed 2003
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: RAM contracting
Cabinets: NEFF Cabinets from Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens Cabinet hardware and accessories: Häfele
Appliances – from Appliance Distributors Unlimited
Refrigerator: Northland
Freezer: Northland
Cooktop: Gaggenau
Grille: Geggenau
Wall oven: Geggenau
Steam oven: Geggenau
Warming drawer: Dacor
Range hood: Neff
Dishwasher: Miele
Microwave Oven:
Disposer: Insinkerator
Air Switch: Franke
Faucet: Grohe
Filtered faucet: Franke
Sinks: Elkay
Counter tops with stream: Granite by Washington Marble and Granite
Stream installation: Skip
Aquarium: Congressional Aquarium
Photographer: Richard Nowitz
 "Before Images" 
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The young couple who just purchased this vintage row house had no plan of unpacking any boxes until their tiny kitchen was renovated. Having no room to expand beyond the existing exterior walls, we decided to go with an open plan solution.
There were many challenges to be tackled. The staircase limited the ceiling height, and the access hutch to the crawl space needed to remain intact. Once the old wall boards and plaster were removed, the messy and unstable structure became apparent. This was caused by 1970’s sloppy renovation work. We were forced to introduce many structural reinforcements and modifications that were not originally planned.
The success of this kitchen design stems from the open plan and the clever use of angles. The layout creates free-flowing space around the island. A pantry fits neatly tucked under the staircase, using the door removed from a former closet.
All the appliances are relatively small, but to scale in this tight space. They are of course energy-efficient: a 30” induction cooktop and a single drawer dishwasher are featured. The open cabinet above the island is lit by LED puck lights, serving as a see-through divider. Placed between the kitchen and the dining room, the angled tall china cabinet subtly indicates the division of the two spaces.
With added glass shelving, the wide window in the hall became integrated into the kitchen, which expanded to the entire width of the house (12.5 feet), and truly became the active heart of the home.
Completed 2009
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Fredy Miranda, M Home Services
Cabinets: Cherry cabinets from C. Hess & Son
Cabinets
Cabinet hardware: Häfele
Appliances
Refrigerator: Liebherr 30
Cooktop: Miele Induction
Wall Oven: GE Monogram
Speed oven/vent: GE
Dishwasher: Fisher-Paykel Single drawer
Disposer: Insinkerator
Faucet: Grohe
Sink: Elkay
Counter tops: Caesar Stone by Fernando’s Marble Shop
Back splash: Crackled tiles from Best Tile
Floor: Hardwood
Lighting fixtures: Dominion Electric Supply
LED puck lights: Hera
Pendants over table: Tech Lighting
Photographer: Dean Evangelista
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Log House Kitchen with a "Continent"
A heavily wooded lot in West Virginia, overlooking the upper Potomac River and farms of Maryland beyond was the site for this new modern-day log house. The large open space needed to be divided cleverly by function and aesthetics without sacrificing the openness.
The home owners were closely involved in the design and acting as general contractors during the construction. My job as the designer was to guide them through design process which included selecting finishes and materials.
As a visitor entering this home, the expanse of living space is immediately apparent. On one side between the seating and dining areas, there stands the massive soap stone fireplace. Then the impressive 8-foot stainless steel hood hangs over the huge island, better referred to as a “continent”, in that it separates the cooking side of the kitchen.
The owner is a gourmet cook, who purchased a commercial electric range before anything else in the kitchen, and was shortened in height to meet her needs. The working side of the kitchen is all stainless steel – cabinets, counter tops, back splash and appliances.
The other cabinets, visible from the seating area are in cherry. This created a harmonious link with various kinds of wood, which were so apparent everywhere in the house. Special design went into the back splash of limestone tiles with custom, fused glass tiles as accent.
Special attention went into details such as the knife slots on the counter top, anelevated dishwasher, stacked granite counter tops at the stool area to avoid seams, and a niche to store a stool, for the cook who often sits down to chop.
Completed 2003
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Owners
Cabinets: Wayneco Cabinets from Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens
Stainless cabinets by AK Metal Fabricators
Cabinet hardware and accessories: Häfele
Knife slots: custom by Mizell Woodworking and Millwork
Appliances
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
Range: Vulcan Commercial
Wall oven: DCS
Warming drawer: DCS
Range hood: Custom
Dishwasher: Miele
Microwave Oven: GE
Disposer: Insinkerator
Air Switch: Franke
Faucet: Grohe
Sink w/ counter top: Custom by AK Metal Fabricators
Counter tops: Granite by Washington Marble and Granite
Back splash: Lime stone tiles from Best Tile with fused glass by Varda Avnisan;
Stainless steel from AK Metal Fabricators
Floor: Porcelain tiles from Best Tile; Hardwood
Lighting fixtures: Dominion Electric Supply
Photographer: Sasha Barsky
 "Before Images" 
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CURVY ISLAND
This kitchen shows that even a small space can have an island. This island is rather narrow on one end, but widens with a curve to allow seating. The tall but shallow dish storage cabinet is conveniently located close to the dishwasher and the table. The owner’s painting fits in the back splash area.
Completed in 2001
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
General contractor: Hamilton Construction
Cabinets: Neff from Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens
Cabinet Hardware: Häfele
Appliances
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
Cooktop: Thermador
Wall oven: Thermador
Dishwasher: Bosch
Disposer : KitchenAid
Faucet: Grohe
Counter tops: Granite from R.Bratti Associates
Back splash: Formica, Painting
Pantry shelving: ELFA from Container Store
Floor: Laminate tiles
Lighting fixtures: Tech Lighting
Neff Kitchens
Photographer: Gordon Beall
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Shanandoah Retreat Kitchen
This week-end house was designed by an architect with "GREEN" in mind. The house is all open to the great room with the concrete floor and the counter tops.
Completed in 2001
MATERIALS AND SUPPLIERS
Architect: Jim Burton, Carter+Burton Architecture;
General contractor:
Cabinets: NEFF Kitchens from Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens
Cabinet hardware and accessories: Häfele
Photographer: Sasha Barsky
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Secondary Kitchen