Project Detail
Design Challenge: Opening a Load-Bearing Wall
The original kitchen was separated from the family room by a full load-bearing wall. Removing it required a structural engineer, a steel beam, and new column footings through the basement slab. We coordinated the structural work as phase one of the project, bearing the weight temporarily while steel was installed. The result is a 24-foot open kitchen-to-living-room connection with unobstructed sight lines to the rear garden.
Cabinetry: Woodmode Brookhaven with Custom Island
The perimeter cabinetry is Woodmode Brookhaven in Dove White — a full-access face-frame program with soft-close concealed hinges and dovetail drawer boxes. The island is a custom piece in a contrasting Pewter finish, with a thick 4-inch Calacatta Gold waterfall edge on all four sides. Two flanking columns of cabinetry rise to the 11-foot ceiling, providing closed storage that balances the visual weight of the island. Every cabinet runs to the ceiling with crown molding integrated into the box — no dust-collecting gap.
The Scullery: A Working Second Kitchen
Beyond a pocket door to the right of the range wall, a scullery provides a full second sink, dedicated dishwasher, built-in refrigerator drawers for entertaining prep, and open shelving for catering equipment and oversize servingware. During a dinner party, the primary kitchen stays pristine while all prep, plating, and cleanup happens in the scullery. The scullery uses the same cabinet line in a darker finish — Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue — creating visual differentiation while maintaining coherence.
Countertops and Surfaces
Calacatta Gold marble was selected for the perimeter countertops and the island waterfall edge — four full slabs, book-matched at the range wall and island ends. The backsplash is a 3x8 unlacquered Zellige tile in warm white, hand-set in a traditional running bond. The scullery countertop is honed Arabescato quartzite — lower-maintenance in a working surface context while maintaining material quality throughout.
Appliance Suite
The appliance suite is anchored by a 48-inch Wolf dual-fuel range with six burners, a french top, and dual ovens. Above: a custom stainless hood built into the cabinetry surround with integrated lighting. Two 30-inch Sub-Zero column refrigerators flank the scullery entry. Two Miele dishwashers — one in the primary kitchen, one in the scullery. A dedicated Miele steam oven is integrated into the tall cabinet column flanking the range.