Shawna Dillon transforms a problematic Woodley Park kitchen into an airy, open space
A client hailing from California purchased a circa-1920s home in Northwest DC’s Woodley Park—but craved the openness she was used to in her previous abode. Typical of its era, the DC house was choppy and compartmentalized; to make matters worse, an odd addition had appended a second kitchen space onto the existing kitchen, with a wall that obstructed views to the rest of the house.
While Adam McGraw of DC architecture firm StudioMB reimagined the first floor with an airy, modern aesthetic, Snaidero DC Metro collaborated on the kitchen redesign.
“The goal was to be able to see out and be part of the family activities,” explains Snaidero principal Shawna Dillon, who spearheaded the project. She and her team removed the wall separating the two kitchen areas to create a single open kitchen that flows into the dining room at one end and the family room at the other. Cabinetry and appliances line one side and the island houses the sink and cooktop, allowing the owner to face the family room while cooking. Frosted-glass doors enclose a convenient mudroom/closet as well as a pantry tucked behind the appliance wall.
High-gloss, cappuccino-hued cabinets complement durable melamine cabinetry in a warm, textured-wood finish. The soft, off-white countertops and backsplash are Caesarstone. “The kitchen is quiet and complements the architecture,” Dillon notes. “It’s in the middle of the house, so everything just flows together nicely.”
Kitchen Design: Shawna Dillon, ASID, NCIDQ, Snaidero DC Metro, Alexandria, Virginia. Renovation Architecture: Adam McGraw, AIA, StudioMB, Washington, DC. Contractor: GMG Services Corporation, Annandale, Virginia.
THE DETAILS
Cabinetry & Hardware: snaiderodcmetro.com. Sinks: franke.com. Faucets: dornbracht.com. Refrigerator & Dishwasher: subzero-wolf.com, mieleusa.com through snaiderodcmetro.com. Hood & Ovens: bestrangehoods.com; bosch-home.com through ajmadison.com. Countertops & Backsplash: rbratti.com. Frosted-Glass Doors: lualdiporte.com/en.
