Kitchen Design
Kitchen Update Befitting an 1880s Federal-Style House
An interior designer opens up the floor plan and balances old and new in a Pennsylvania home
These West Chester, Pennsylvania, homeowners downsized from a large single-family home to a twin house half its size, and they love how their new in-town location makes it easy to walk to restaurants, shops and galleries. But as charmed as they were by the architecture of the 1880s Federal-style home, they needed to adjust its kitchen to accommodate their busy family’s lifestyle. “There were a lot of beautiful original features we wanted to preserve, but they needed a more modern layout than the small rooms offered,” says their interior designer, Dana Bender. She helped reconfigure the space and adjust the style to suit them while keeping the kitchen’s bones classic and era-appropriate.
After: Bender advised removing the wall between the rooms to open things up. This meant the two spaces needed to complement each other and that there would be a full view though the first floor from front to back.
The dining room maintains the feel of an independent space thanks to the rug, original fireplace and distinct chandelier. Continuity comes from the consistent millwork and white oak flooring and the way the chandelier lines up with the pendants over the island.
The dining room maintains the feel of an independent space thanks to the rug, original fireplace and distinct chandelier. Continuity comes from the consistent millwork and white oak flooring and the way the chandelier lines up with the pendants over the island.
After: Removing the staircase not only expanded the kitchen’s footprint but also eliminated the awkward slant in the ceiling. Now the fridge and pantry cabinets occupy the space where the stairs were. This increase in footprint also created enough room for a 9-foot-long island.
With the view from other rooms in mind, Bender positioned the range, vent hood and the special backsplash strategically. And what a view it is. Her clients opted for the same geometric ceramic tile with contrasting gray grout that they had admired in Fry’s kitchen, plus a matte black range from BlueStar.
They wanted open shelves to keep items easy to grab while cooking and to display some of their favorite collections and cookbooks. Bender sourced reclaimed wood from her firm’s warehouse to add texture and a sense of age to the room.
Shop for a stainless steel range hood
They wanted open shelves to keep items easy to grab while cooking and to display some of their favorite collections and cookbooks. Bender sourced reclaimed wood from her firm’s warehouse to add texture and a sense of age to the room.
Shop for a stainless steel range hood
The countertops are soapstone, which plays off the black of the range nicely and suits the home’s age. The silhouettes of the faucets and hardware also work well with the 1880s architecture, while the geometric tile is an updated touch.
The couple also wanted some open shelves around the sink and lighted countertop cabinets with glass doors to show off favorite items. Bender knew that aesthetically the lighted glass-front cabinets would be a good fit for the windowless interior wall. And the mirror over the sink bounces light around, serving as something of a window substitute.
Browse traditional wood mirrors in the Houzz Shop
Browse traditional wood mirrors in the Houzz Shop
The permanent elements of the kitchen — millwork, flooring, Shaker-style cabinetry and soapstone counters — are an apt fit for the Federal-style house. The trio of contemporary gold pendant lights, matte black refrigerator and contemporary leather counter stools give the room some modernity. This mix of old and new results in a kitchen with classic bones that has transitional style.
The island contains a second sink, a microwave drawer, a very slim wine cooler and deep drawers for pots and pans.
Hire a cabinet pro
Hire a cabinet pro
Now there’s plenty of counter space for prep and baking. (The island also houses a stand mixer lift.)
Kitchen Fix: Where to Stash the Stand Mixer
Kitchen Fix: Where to Stash the Stand Mixer
The rustic wood of the dining table and the reclaimed wood around the range create a pleasing connection from one end of the space to the other.
Here’s how the entire space works within the first floor. The cased opening to the living room and the hallway-like circulation along this side of the kitchen maintain a traditional feel within the open plan.
More on Houzz
Browse traditional and eclectic kitchen photos
Hire a local kitchen remodeler
Shop for your kitchen
More on Houzz
Browse traditional and eclectic kitchen photos
Hire a local kitchen remodeler
Shop for your kitchen
Kitchen at a Glance
Who uses it: A couple and their blended family; two teenagers still live at home
Location: West Chester, Pennsylvania
Size: Approximately 500 square feet (47 square meters), including the dining room area
Designer: Dana Bender of Pine Street Carpenters & The Kitchen Studio
“These homeowners had a lot of great flair and ideas. Redesigning the kitchen was a collaborative effort,” Bender says. They used Houzz for inspiration and also fell hard for the look of the Roswell, Georgia, home kitchen of chef and restaurateur Ford Fry.
Bender helped them mix traditional and updated elements to honor their home’s architecture while freshening things up. And she helped them reconfigure the footprint to create a layout that worked for the family, which includes two teens still at home s well as adult children.
Find a kitchen designer in your area