Light and Bright Fan Kitchen Renovation
Row houses in the Fan are desirable, but usually not because they offer open, airy kitchens.
Most historic homes have small kitchens in the back of the house - which is how nearly all kitchens were designed before cooking became a social activity.
One of our greatest challenges in working with the historic Richmond homes we love is to help transform these kitchens for modern homeowners. We’ve done this time and again, but every house has a different challenge and outcome, and in this recent renovation, the homeowners went with a clean, bright palette and super functional cabinetry that brought this 1904 home into the 21st century.
Scope of Work
This renovation was a “within the walls” project, which means we didn’t add on to the house or expand it in any way. Rather we worked within the home’s current footprint - making the space as functional as possible by moving cabinetry and even some windows around to make the rooms flow better. This required rethinking the entire layout of the kitchen, but it also spilled out into the staircase and sitting room to create new walls and windows and in this case even removing a fireplace in order to make the home work better for its new owners.
Cooking Up a New Kitchen
Large, stainless steel appliances, old painted cabinets and too-dark counter tops in addition to a poor flow, made this kitchen seem small and dated. We reconfigured the layout by moving the refrigerator to a different wall and relocating the sink where the old range was. The old window was replaced with a new stained glass window for privacy and filtered light.
The alignment of the new stained glass window needed to be precise so that all of the appliances could fit. We even managed to work in a 6” wide cabinet to the left of the refrigerator for the homeowner to store a ladder.
The clients chose a honeyed maple cabinet, which is warm and bright, making the space feel inviting but also streamlined. By covering the appliances in matching cabinetry, the wall of cabinets is sleek and less imposing than the old stainless steel. Custom cabinets were also installed to hold the microwave and toaster oven so everything is cleanly tucked away, giving the clients optimal counter space.
Relocating the sink to a different wall allowed us to cut in a new window to let in even more light. We gave that side of the kitchen some “breathing room” by installing open, floating shelves next to the window which were made from the old studs from the house.
Designing a New Den
The den and the kitchen were visually connected by an open butler’s staircase. Closing that staircase in and removing the original fireplace actually created a much more functional, light-filled den that now gave more room for seating and artwork.
Where the fireplace had been in the den, double hung windows were installed and a new picture window was installed on the back wall of the rowhouse to flood the room with daylight.
The thresholds to the den and butler’s stairs were balanced with new drywall arches. Between these two arches, we took advantage of the wall space and installed a half-moon cabinet with curved sides to soften any corners in the main pathway between all the rooms. This extra storage space doesn’t feel bulky or in-the-way thanks to its rounded corners.
Sourcing a Sustainable Design
Whenever we are working on historic homes, we take special care to create a look that works with the architectural integrity of the home. In this case, the four “new” windows were found at a local architectural salvage yard and were the same age as the house. The backsplash behind the kitchen range is hearth tile, also from the architectural salvage yard. The open shelving in the kitchen was carefully crafted from the home’s old studs.
In addition to the recycled and upcycled pieces, we also used sustainable materials such as quartz countertops, cork flooring and LED lighting. Thoughtful design, high-quality materials and craftsmanship, and a little bit of creativity made this home a bright, beautiful place to live once again.