The story
Some renovations start with a blank slate. This one started with a kitchen we thought we could live with for a while. When we moved in, we knew we wanted to redo it eventually. But the layout looked functional enough on paper and we thought we might keep it.
Then we actually started living in it. Functionally, it was terrible. A one butt kitchen as we referred to it with the curved counter by the sink flanked by the dishwasher and just badly space-planned. The pantry was ok, but the laundry room was made for a time when appliances were smaller and just didn’t work well.
Cosmetically, the granite was dated, and the cabinetry was way too fussy and traditional for our style. The space didn’t work the way a kitchen needs to work.
Walls came down, the layout was reimagined from scratch, and a full gut renovation began.
From the start I wanted a statement wall. I had similar onyx on the floor in an entryway from my prior townhouse in New Hampshire and I knew it would be perfect here. Floor to ceiling white cabinetry with brushed gold hardware keeps the rest of the space clean and calm, letting the stone do exactly what it does best.
The island was a journey. I wanted natural stone so I could take hot pans directly out of the oven and set it directly on the counter. And I wanted white. That took forever to find but it was worth the wait. The cabinet and counter team tried to talk us out of the size to avoid a seam. We held firm, and they butterflied it beautifully. My neighbor informed us that we didn’t have an island, but a continent and he’s not wrong.
The laundry room moved entirely, tucked cleverly under the stairs in the adjacent dining room, freeing up space for a kitchen that finally matched the way we actually live in it.
My partner thought I was crazy for adding two dishwashers and two microwaves and now he can’t live without them.
My contractor thought I was crazy for moving the laundry under the stairs and the onyx wall. Now he thinks I’m brilliant.
