A Chic, Modern Kitchen in Black, White and Brass
Leathered-granite countertops and hot-rolled-steel shelves are among the highlights of this Washington, D.C., space
Bryan Anthony
May 15, 2018
Photos by Robert Radifera
Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: About 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Designer: Sarah Kahn Turner
A couple in Washington, D.C., who had recently become empty nesters didn’t view downsizing their home as just a way to cut back on space and upkeep, but rather as an opportunity to change their lifestyle. After raising their children in a traditional-style house with a large family kitchen, they were ready for something a little sleeker and more modern and chic. They wanted a signature space that would be ideal for hosting frequent cocktail and dinner parties with friends.
To design the kitchen of their dreams in their newly built contemporary house, the couple reached out to designer Sarah Kahn Turner, who worked with them to select all the materials, features and finishes. With an emphasis on clean lines, hidden appliances and custom details, the kitchen nails the homeowners’ one big request to make sure it looked “like it came straight out of a design magazine.”
While the kitchen features a black-and-white color palette with lots of brass touches, the red midcentury-style office chairs in the breakfast area add a splash of bold color. The flooring is white oak with a light gray wash. To highlight the space’s clean lines, none of the kitchen windows has a curtain or shade. The face-level panes of the windows over the sink are frosted to add privacy from next-door neighbors.
Kitchen at a Glance
Location: Washington, D.C.
Size: About 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Designer: Sarah Kahn Turner
A couple in Washington, D.C., who had recently become empty nesters didn’t view downsizing their home as just a way to cut back on space and upkeep, but rather as an opportunity to change their lifestyle. After raising their children in a traditional-style house with a large family kitchen, they were ready for something a little sleeker and more modern and chic. They wanted a signature space that would be ideal for hosting frequent cocktail and dinner parties with friends.
To design the kitchen of their dreams in their newly built contemporary house, the couple reached out to designer Sarah Kahn Turner, who worked with them to select all the materials, features and finishes. With an emphasis on clean lines, hidden appliances and custom details, the kitchen nails the homeowners’ one big request to make sure it looked “like it came straight out of a design magazine.”
While the kitchen features a black-and-white color palette with lots of brass touches, the red midcentury-style office chairs in the breakfast area add a splash of bold color. The flooring is white oak with a light gray wash. To highlight the space’s clean lines, none of the kitchen windows has a curtain or shade. The face-level panes of the windows over the sink are frosted to add privacy from next-door neighbors.
A pair of sculptural brass chandeliers from Lindsey Adelman over the island not only demands attention but also led to the selection of the striking wallpaper that covers two walls in the kitchen. “I showed the homeowners many samples of wallpaper for the space, but when we they saw this one, the pattern on it was so similar to the chandeliers that they had to have it,” Kahn Turner says.
The island underneath the chandeliers is made of cerused oak in a dark stain. The wood was roughed up with a wire brush to provide a patina. A black leathered-granite countertop surrounds an induction cooktop, adding a subtle pattern and a sophisticated look. A pair of tufted black leather counter stools with brass legs complements the brass chandeliers and hardware.
Browse leather-and-brass counter stools
The island underneath the chandeliers is made of cerused oak in a dark stain. The wood was roughed up with a wire brush to provide a patina. A black leathered-granite countertop surrounds an induction cooktop, adding a subtle pattern and a sophisticated look. A pair of tufted black leather counter stools with brass legs complements the brass chandeliers and hardware.
Browse leather-and-brass counter stools
The homeowners wanted the kitchen to be separated from the formal dining room without being completely closed off from it, so the designer created a half wall that serves as a buffet, wet bar and display case for a collection of glasses.
The wall is covered in planks of wood that have been given a shou-sugi-ban treatment, a Japanese technique for charring wood. The digital frame on the wall allows the homeowners to change up the art with the flick of a remote.
The wall is covered in planks of wood that have been given a shou-sugi-ban treatment, a Japanese technique for charring wood. The digital frame on the wall allows the homeowners to change up the art with the flick of a remote.
The framing of the two metal display cabinets is made of hot-rolled steel. The cabinets hold a collection of glassware, wine bottles and liquor bottles. Kahn Turner hid LED strips along the insides of the metal frames to illuminate the glassware at night. The wet bar has turned into a great spot for dinner guests to walk around the half wall, pour themselves a drink and then casually rejoin the party.
The white quartz countertop and integrated sink were honed to fit smoothly together. The white quartz has a matte finish that allows the brass faucet to get most of the attention.
Browse brass kitchen faucets
Browse brass kitchen faucets
Other than the discreet induction cooktop on top of the island, all of the appliances in the kitchen are hidden behind white laminate cabinets. Kahn Turner says that unlike many cabinets that have only a laminate veneer covering particleboard, these cabinets are 100 percent laminate and will hold up well over the long haul.
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Very dramatic and chic !
Wow, I'm in love! That half wall with display is gorgeous!!
Love everything but the wallpaper-competes with the beautiful and dramatic lighting.