A family relocating to DC settled into a Tenleytown home and decided to upgrade the kitchen immediately. Though they loved its generous proportions, “It had run-of-the-mill finishes and insufficient storage,” says designer Zoe Feldman, hired along with Thomson & Cooke Architects to envision a makeover. “They wanted to elevate it to reflect their personality.” Removing upper cabinets on the house’s rear window wall and above the existing range established an open, airy feel. New, full-height cabinets conceal refrigeration and small appliances while open shelves keep essentials within reach.
“This created a really nice symmetry and allowed light to flood in,” the designer notes. The clean-lined maple cabinets are part of Feldman’s new signature collection designed in conjunction with kitchen designer Tanya Smith-Shiflett of Unique Kitchens & Baths, who also collaborated on this project. “The clients wanted a white kitchen,” Smith-Shiflett recalls. “Zoe and I said, ‘Trust us—with a natural blush, you’ll get the airiness you want.’”
The clients agreed. Now, a black-painted island and honed Via Lactea marble countertops offset the pale, muted cabinetry. Livelier pops of color come from green tile in the adjacent scullery and stained-glass windows the owners found at Community Forklift. Salvaged from a decommissioned church, they now enclose the pantry of this stunning, one-of-a-kind space.
Project Team
Kitchen Design: Tanya Smith-Shiflett, Unique Kitchens & Baths. Interior Design: Zoe Feldman, Zoe Feldman Design. Renovation Contractor: Scott Hundley, Custom Home Productions LLC. Photography: Max Burkhalter.
Kitchen Details
Cabinets: uniquekitchensandbaths.net. Cabinet Paint: farrow-ball.com. Countertops: marblesystems.com. White Backsplash Tile: ziatile.com. Green Backsplash Tile: heathceramics.com. Sconces: hvlgroup.com. Custom Hood: customhomeproductions.com. Range: fisherpaykel.com. Refrigerator: thermador.com. Hardware: rejuvenation.com. Faucets: newportbrass.com. Stools: ballarddesigns.com. Roman Shade: theshadestore.com.