We had the opportunity to restore and remodel a 1920’s traditional Winnetka home. The existing kitchen was very small and isolated from the rest of the house. The kitchen was originally designed for staff use, and was outdated. It had a traditional butlers pantry, a small annexed dining room, and maid’s quarters. We removed the walls between the kitchen, dining room, butler’s pantry, as well as the maid’s quarters. Capturing all of these spaces allowed us to create an open, welcoming and gracious kitchen with an attached family room. We opened the space where an existing window had been and installed custom French doors gaining access to the beautiful blue stone patio just outside the kitchen and an open vista. A mudroom was added as well with built in cabinetry and a lift up chest for storage.
This owner had very specific requests for the materials used. Desiring a traditional look with one of a kind details including
- Thassos tile with mother of pearl inlay for the backsplash
- 1 ¼”honed white princess quartzite around the perimeter for durability
- Polished white princess quartzite for the new island with a mitered edge to create a thicker 2 ½” countertop offering a functional, yet elegant work space and also boasts seating for five.
- A large farm sink with a polished nickel Perrin and Rowe bridge faucet is beautifully centered underneath the original large steel casement window that we restored.
- A custom Elkay sink with a polished nickel Kohler faucet serves as a second sink in the kitchen
- A Sub-Zero refrigerator, a 48 in Wolf range, 30” Wolf double ovens, and a Wolf microwave drawer.
- A custom hood over the range to compliment the cabinetry.
- Crystal knobs and polished nickel hardware highlight the beautiful cabinetry.
The house has very high ceilings and the top cabinets are all glass with lighting allowing the owner to showcase her beautiful collections. A custom hutch with glass upper cabinets and interior lighting, and a rich mahogany countertop offer both function and beauty and act as an added serving station for both the breakfast room and the dining room. No detail was overlooked in this remodel.
This project was a delight to undertake, and the results have left the homeowner thrilled with the space. A traditional kitchen was updated to merge with the family room and to also have access to the patio, resulting in a casually elegant space.