Classic Colonial Kitchen Remodel
Classic Colonial
This project was a full-service design for a kitchen, and laundry remodel project in Elkins Park, PA, a historic suburb of Philadelphia. The 1920’s colonial home has beautiful architecture and character, but also had a characteristically small kitchen typical of the period.
The family enjoys cooking together but the original kitchen was small and compartmentalized and lacked functionality and flow, and didn't allow for more than one person in the kitchen at a time. The kitchen renovation included expanding the space by removing a wall between the original kitchen and adjacent dining space to allow for a large and beautiful new open kitchen. We simplified the floor plan by removing oddly placed closets and added functional and thoughtful storage throughout.
The kitchen mixes warm painted cabinetry along the perimeter paired with a custom green island and a mix of soapstone countertops and butcherblock. The alcove-style hood is punctuated with a handpainted terra cotta tile with touches of turmeric yellow. Brass lighting and hardware feel classic and old-world, and a mix of open shelves and closed cabinetry create maximum storage and accessibility.
The original hallway lead to what used to be, a second smaller kitchen that was badly in need of an update. We repurposed the second kitchen into a new laundry room which also functions as an additional prep room with a beverage refrigerator and extra countertop space. It has a soft green wall color paired with warm terra cotta tiles, reminiscent of the original roof tiles, to create a fresh and unique space in the project. Our design focus for the hallway was to create a beautiful transition from the kitchen to a new laundry room, and out to the yard. We pulled all the greens, yellows, and terra cotta tones of the space through the hallway with a beautiful lemon wallpaper. Custom millwork accented in a tone of greens brings bold contrast and amplifies the height of the ceilings.
With the classic architecture of the home as our main inspiration, we brought classic English cabinetry details and elevated additions to create this beautiful and functional working kitchen and laundry space. The final result is a modern but classic refined space perfect for the 1920s colonial style home but also feels new, fresh and modern with the function and amenities of a working kitchen fit for multiple cooks.