KITCHEN, Brookline, MA (Spring/Summer 2001). Interior design and decoration by Uniquely Lara; renovation by Lancer Contracting. After-photos courtesy of Mike Rizza.

Prior to the current renovation, the kitchen had been refurbished in 1985. That layout had no semblance to the 1913 original which had its range and exhaust vent at the brick chimney and a butler pantry with wash basin and built-in china located between the cooking kitchen and the large and gracious dining room. The 1985 plan was inefficient. The sink, range and storage areas (pantry, refrigerator) were spread across the room. The washer and dryer blocked the window and obstructed the view; the respective plumbing and venting were exposed. All appliances but the dishwasher were obsolete.

The goal of the renovation was not to restore the original plan but to construct a functional, modern kitchen aesthetically integrated with the Beaux-Arts building. This required reorganizing the working space, expanding on the functional space, and replacing appliances, all the while creating a room commensurate with architectural and design elements typical of early twentieth-century homes.

The kitchen was gutted to the original framing, exposing the plaster and lath construction. The walk-in pantry and the cased opening to the service hall were removed. This structural change increased the room's overall dimensions from 14'-8" x 12'-6" to 14'-8" x 16'-6"; it also shifted the visual focus to the center of the room. Old knob and tube wiring was replaced. Insulation was added to both the ceiling and the north wall.

The new design retains the primary working area along the brick facade.

© 2001 Mike Rizza

The proximity of the range to the window allows for natural light while cooking and requires only a short length to run venting for the exhaust system through the exterior wall. A pot rack instead of tall cabinets from range to sink maximizes the flow of light through the room while minimizing the need for base cabinet storage.

The granite countertops are extra-deep to create a uniform, continuous line with appliances on either side of the sink. The focal point along this wall, the butler sink with Edwardian-style plumbing fixture is typical of the early-twentieth century. The ceiling lights are also reminiscent of the period; these are intentionally hung at odd heights and around the perimeter of the sink (vs. centered over the sink) so that work at or adjacent to the sink area is not obstructed by shadows. "Whitewashing" the chimney with layers of paint both brightens the brickwork and ties it in with the true whitewashed brick visible outside the window.

Adjacent to both the sink and dishwasher, a series of tall cabs provides storage for items of daily use. The translucent rain-glass provides a superior reflective surface, enhancing the brightness of the kitchen. Cabinets and drawers along the turn fulfill the requisite pantry space.

The washer and dryer are now located along the north wall which backs up against the service stairs. Here again, the counters are extra deep to accommodate the depth of these appliances and the refrigerator.

© 2001 Mike Rizza

Construction was not without some trouble-shooting. Due to the shallow wallspace, plumbing and ventilation for the washer and dryer protruded up to several inches into the room. Because a minimum of 18" had already been planned between the window and the pull-out base cab adjacent to the range, Uniquely Lara suggested the construction of a window seat running a comfortable 58" between the refrigerator and the east wall.

Two large, parallel beams now accent the ceiling. These reiterate a decorative element of the dining room. The beams subtly demarcate the three zones of the kitchen from above: the working area, the central eating area, and the hallway leading from the service stairs into the kitchen.

The sole "unknown" in the renovation was what lay behind the hollow-sounding wall adjacent to the former pantry, that is, behind the wall of the foyer fireplace. It was hoped one could convert this space into a decorative, double-faced fireplace. Fortunately, as the initial soundings indicated, the space was indeed hollow and sufficiently workable to frame and create an open fireplace in the kitchen. The new surround comprises white-washed red brick like that of the brick facade across the room. Portions of an antique mantel with appliqued wreath were stripped, refinished, and reused; trimwork that had framed the former pantry door now serves as decorative posts, thus maintaining a continuum in the mouldings. The original, cast-iron backplate with torch and wreath adorns the fireplace from above.

Finally, sanding of the original fir flooring lifted years of grime, revealing rich red and gold tones; patches of fir replaced holes where walls had been removed. Colonial-stained oak like that in the other rooms fills the voids in front of and surrounding the new fireplace.

© 2001 Mike Rizza