Kitchen of the Week: A Better Design for Modern Living in Rhode Island
On the bottom level of a 2-story addition, a warm and open kitchen shares space with a breakfast room, family room and home office
Jeannie Matteucci
January 22, 2016
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish spaces, smart lighting and a good decaf dry cappuccino.
Houzz Contributor. Home design writer and lifestyle reporter with a love for stylish... More
Craving a more user-friendly kitchen for their busy family, which includes two teenagers, Chris and Pattie Holzwarth built an addition to their 1930s Colonial Tudor that allows space for a warm and serene kitchen with a better connection to surrounding rooms and the outdoors.
Photos by Chip Riegel Photography
Kitchen at a Glance
Location: A small community outside Providence, Rhode Island
Who lives here: Chris and Pattie Holzwarth and their two teenagers
Size: About 225 square feet (about 21 square meters)
The new two-story addition expanded the footprint and replaced a previous single-story addition that was demolished. Working with designer Sophia Shibles of SCS Design and architect Cory Kallfelz of Bridge Hall Design, the Holzwarths put the new kitchen on the bottom level with a new breakfast room, family room and home office; two bedrooms and part of the new master suite sit above. While the previous kitchen was dark, closed-off and in another part of the home, the new kitchen enjoys greater flow with the adjoining spaces.
A white oak floor with a clear polyurethane finish for protection anchors the kitchen and adjoining spaces. Three windows over the sink flood the space with natural light, reflected by a glossy ceramic subway tile backsplash. “It doesn’t have pattern, but it offers texture, and that’s important in a kitchen that feels monochromatic,” Shibles says.
Shibles designed the cabinets, taking the uppers to the ceiling to visually expand the room. The doors to the left of the fridge open to a spacious pantry. The left pantry door can be opened simultaneously with the refrigerator. The other side can be opened as long as the fridge door isn’t open all the way. The location was best to keep the airy feel of the kitchen.
A built-in bar to the left separates the kitchen and family room. “I’ve always wanted a bar space and a small beverage refrigerator so the kids can easily get drinks without occupying the main refrigerator,” Pattie says. “It makes a nice transition from the kitchen to the family room.”
Wall paint: Manchester Tan No. HC-81 (eggshell), Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Creamy No. SW-7012 (satin), Sherwin-Williams; ceiling paint: Waterborne (ultraflat) No. 508, Benjamin Moore; custom cabinet fabrication: Ugol Woodworks; cabinet paint: Cocoon, C2 Paint; backsplash tile: half-inch mesh mount mosaic ceramic in Fleece Crackle, Sonoma Tilemakers; beverage refrigerator: Aga Marvel
Kitchen at a Glance
Location: A small community outside Providence, Rhode Island
Who lives here: Chris and Pattie Holzwarth and their two teenagers
Size: About 225 square feet (about 21 square meters)
The new two-story addition expanded the footprint and replaced a previous single-story addition that was demolished. Working with designer Sophia Shibles of SCS Design and architect Cory Kallfelz of Bridge Hall Design, the Holzwarths put the new kitchen on the bottom level with a new breakfast room, family room and home office; two bedrooms and part of the new master suite sit above. While the previous kitchen was dark, closed-off and in another part of the home, the new kitchen enjoys greater flow with the adjoining spaces.
A white oak floor with a clear polyurethane finish for protection anchors the kitchen and adjoining spaces. Three windows over the sink flood the space with natural light, reflected by a glossy ceramic subway tile backsplash. “It doesn’t have pattern, but it offers texture, and that’s important in a kitchen that feels monochromatic,” Shibles says.
Shibles designed the cabinets, taking the uppers to the ceiling to visually expand the room. The doors to the left of the fridge open to a spacious pantry. The left pantry door can be opened simultaneously with the refrigerator. The other side can be opened as long as the fridge door isn’t open all the way. The location was best to keep the airy feel of the kitchen.
A built-in bar to the left separates the kitchen and family room. “I’ve always wanted a bar space and a small beverage refrigerator so the kids can easily get drinks without occupying the main refrigerator,” Pattie says. “It makes a nice transition from the kitchen to the family room.”
Wall paint: Manchester Tan No. HC-81 (eggshell), Benjamin Moore; trim paint: Creamy No. SW-7012 (satin), Sherwin-Williams; ceiling paint: Waterborne (ultraflat) No. 508, Benjamin Moore; custom cabinet fabrication: Ugol Woodworks; cabinet paint: Cocoon, C2 Paint; backsplash tile: half-inch mesh mount mosaic ceramic in Fleece Crackle, Sonoma Tilemakers; beverage refrigerator: Aga Marvel
The multipurpose island allows good traffic flow on all sides and plenty of surface space for homework, meals, unloading groceries and prepping food.
The midcentury-style stools’ wood tone complements the stained distressed cherry used for the nearby double-sided breakfast sideboard and the built-in bar top. Barely there handblown glass pendant lights hang above the island. “Because the windows are behind them, we didn’t want anything that would block the view,” Shibles says. “I also love the variation you see in the handblown glass.”
The refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, range and range hood are stainless steel. “I have always liked the industrial look of stainless, but did opt for a smaller Italian range that’s more compact and doesn’t overpower the room,” Pattie says.
Pendant lights: Cisco Home; counter stools: John Vogel, West Elm; stainless refrigerator: Sub-Zero and Wolf; range: Bertazzoni; range hood: Zephyr; undermount sink: Home Refinements by Julien; stainless dishwasher: Miele
The midcentury-style stools’ wood tone complements the stained distressed cherry used for the nearby double-sided breakfast sideboard and the built-in bar top. Barely there handblown glass pendant lights hang above the island. “Because the windows are behind them, we didn’t want anything that would block the view,” Shibles says. “I also love the variation you see in the handblown glass.”
The refrigerator, sink, dishwasher, range and range hood are stainless steel. “I have always liked the industrial look of stainless, but did opt for a smaller Italian range that’s more compact and doesn’t overpower the room,” Pattie says.
Pendant lights: Cisco Home; counter stools: John Vogel, West Elm; stainless refrigerator: Sub-Zero and Wolf; range: Bertazzoni; range hood: Zephyr; undermount sink: Home Refinements by Julien; stainless dishwasher: Miele
This view of the island shows the open shelves that hold the family’s cookbooks.
This photo shows the richness of the island’s Calacatta Gold marble top with a polished finish. “It has a pretty dramatic vein that’s very wide that runs through it and reflects the colors used in the space,” Shibles says.
The darker perimeter counters are fossilized pistachio limestone with a honed finish for contrast. This photo also shows the cutouts used to open the island drawers, where the Holzwarths keep dishes, bowls, silverware and a stainless breadbox.
The darker perimeter counters are fossilized pistachio limestone with a honed finish for contrast. This photo also shows the cutouts used to open the island drawers, where the Holzwarths keep dishes, bowls, silverware and a stainless breadbox.
The custom double-sided sideboard divides the new family and breakfast rooms, making each space feel more cozy and inviting. “It came about because of a structural column that had to be kept in place,” Shibles says. “It was a natural evolution, since they needed an attractive divider that could be functional and unify the spaces.”
The sideboard has cabinets with pullouts and drawers for storing napkins, serving utensils, candles and other entertaining essentials. The top of the sideboard also works as a buffet. “When we have guests, I’ll clear the decorative items and serve dessert there,” Pattie says. “It’s always nice to have extra counter space.”
The sideboard has cabinets with pullouts and drawers for storing napkins, serving utensils, candles and other entertaining essentials. The top of the sideboard also works as a buffet. “When we have guests, I’ll clear the decorative items and serve dessert there,” Pattie says. “It’s always nice to have extra counter space.”
The breakfast room enjoys lots of natural light thanks to windows on three sides. Shibles added new gray linen fabric with a touch of yellow to the two head chairs at the table, where the family eats breakfast and plays board games. “I wanted the breakfast room to have good flow with the kitchen and family room, but also wanted to create a place away from the kitchen with separate seating that still feels a part of it,” Shibles says.
The French door at the right leads to a deck.
Dining table and chairs: Restoration Hardware; fabric for head chairs: Kelly Wearstler; pendant light: Spherical Cube, Circa Lighting; window treatments: custom relaxed Roman shades, SCS Design
The French door at the right leads to a deck.
Dining table and chairs: Restoration Hardware; fabric for head chairs: Kelly Wearstler; pendant light: Spherical Cube, Circa Lighting; window treatments: custom relaxed Roman shades, SCS Design
The casual and comfortable family room off the kitchen offers two seating areas. The interior French doors lead to the couple’s home office. The French doors at the left lead to the same deck off the breakfast room. A large flat-screen TV (not pictured) on a far wall gives the family a way to catch a game or their favorite shows while still having an audible and visual connection with the cooks in the kitchen.
“It’s a place we can now gather comfortably, with open space and lots of natural light,” Pattie says. “The open floor plan is wonderful, but it’s nice each space still feels like a separate room.”
Sofa and chairs: custom, The Hickory Chair Furniture Co.; pendant light: Currey & Company; wool and silk hand-knotted area rug: Jaipur; leather club chairs with metal sleigh-style base: Four Hands Home
See more Kitchens of the Week
“It’s a place we can now gather comfortably, with open space and lots of natural light,” Pattie says. “The open floor plan is wonderful, but it’s nice each space still feels like a separate room.”
Sofa and chairs: custom, The Hickory Chair Furniture Co.; pendant light: Currey & Company; wool and silk hand-knotted area rug: Jaipur; leather club chairs with metal sleigh-style base: Four Hands Home
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Could you please reveal what type of wood floor this is. Thanks.
The contrast of the countertop materials looks great
Early in the article the author said it was a white oak floor with clear polyurethane finish.