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August 13, 2007
Parlor Floor Kitchen #9: White-and-Black in Bed Stuy
The hot kitchen action continues today from the home of the folks behind House By We, a reminder that architects and designers should feel free to send in their creations.
We were interested in designing a white/black kitchen for this space very early on. We feel it's a simple way to incorporate modern elements into the more traditional brownstone aesthetic. The cabinets and hardware are all IKEA, the countertop is Caesarstone and the tile, Ann Sacks. Rather than spend a bundle on custom cabinetry, we saved a a lot of money on the actual product and budgeted a little more money for labor and craftsmanship to customize the existing space to the cabinets and appliances. So, while it wasn't an easy decision to square the original arch opening at the expense of a couple of beautiful original plaster moldings, the practical advantage of adding more useable space won out in the end. Squaring and expanding the existing arch allowed us to expand the neighboring pantry; it also served as a more appropriate frame for the blending of contemporary, industrial and traditional details--a farmhouse sink with restaurant-style fixtures; DCS stove with country white cabinets; classic counter-to-ceiling subway tile, but in a more contemporary "Dove" hue; a BOSCH dishwasher (in white) and a sleek countertop juxtaposed with rustic, original plank floors. The DCS range and the tile were the splurge items--a couple of higher-end details, particularly the stove, can go a long way towards upgrading the feel of a kitchen that needs to save where it can. The entire kitchen cost about $25,000.
Looks great to us, though we probably would've kept the original arch.
Ideas for the Parlor Floor Kitchen? [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #1: Architect-Designed in The Slope [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #2: Contractor's Own Kitchen [Brownstoner]
Parlor Floor Kitchen #3: Jeffrey's 35-Footer [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #4: Spreading Out in a 22-Footer [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #5: Where the Party's At [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #6: Modern in Prospect Heights [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #7: Doing It On The Cheap [Brownstoner]
Parlor Kitchen #8: Clinton Hill Charmer [Brownstoner]
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Comments
12:15 I disagree and finding it very interesting. You don't have to read it if you find it boring.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 12:22 PM
Most of the featured kitchens appear to have wood flooring. How practical is this? I have children who have perfected the art of spilling.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 12:27 PM
How wide/long is this space?
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 12:34 PM
12:27 - what a moronic comment. Brownstones originally had wood floors and many of these floors are still intact. Should all of these homeowners pull up their floors because of the possibility of a few spills? Sounds like you don't "get" brownstone aesthetics.
Signed, North Sleeper (waiting for registration to kick in)
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 12:39 PM
To me, that big, restaurant style faucet looks a little strange even menacing on that island. Also re wood in kitchen - any kitchen I have ever seen that is a few years old and has wood floors - the floors get very scuffed and look beaten up. Wood really cannot take heavy kitchen use unless you constantly refinish - re poly it I guess.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 12:52 PM
i really like the economy of the design here. even though all of the other designs were really nice as well, this is the first one in which i could imagine doing some real cooking. everything is within easy reach and there seems to be plenty of accessible storage.
aesthetically, i like this relatively modest modern look that blends pretty nicely with the old character of the original room. i also like how the white "country-ish" cabinetry softens the more antiseptic feel of the stainless steel. i even like the little pendant lamp hanging next to the fume hood. very nice job.
homeowner: did you do the design yourself or was there a kitchen designer or architect involved? i'm curious to know how much owner input/design goes into these projects.
brownstoner: nice feature. i hope you plan on doing similar features on say, bathrooms, patios, gardens, etc....
Posted by: benno at August 13, 2007 1:04 PM
I say keep them coming. Thanks you Brownstoner, I think the parlor floor kitchen series has been great!
I'm still looking for a space closer to my place's configuration. My kitchen is in the middle of the parlor floor perpendicular to a bay window that features lots of chunky detailed walnut trim and the island is only a couple of feet from a great fireplace with pier mirror. I'm thinking of going with a look more like furniture for the island (ebonized finish, maybe) and referencing those cabinets you see between rooms in some brownstone upper floors for the back cabinet (finish-wise probably white enamel).
The current cabinets are an 80's white laminate and I find them gross. I'll deefinitely need something to generate a bit more shadow and relief but I plan to keep the look of the back cabinets fairly simple.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 1:13 PM
I like this kitchen very much. the white counters are nice with the dark granite counter and the wooden floors. Clean, workable. Very nice.
The white porcelain sink works well too.
Mildred Pierce
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 1:24 PM
oopsie, I meant white cabinets, not white counter, in my last post. I had a little Dubonet with lunch today
Mildred
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 1:29 PM
I love this kitchen & this series. I have a new parlor-floor kitchen as well, but I'm not brave enough to withstand the peanut gallery.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 1:33 PM
The kitchen looks amazing, but I did have a few questions:
1. There's a serious lack of upper cabinet space. Where do you keep all the dishes? Is that a problem for you? I find it's nice not to bend down if you want a glass or plate. And I would have a hard time accessing the one upper cabinet over the fridge.
2. Where do you keep the microwave and toaster, or do you just do without?
And, one comment to guest 12:27 -- we have 2 kids who spill alot and also wood floors -- it hasn't been a problem at all, and I like the consistent wood look on the parlor floor.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 1:50 PM
Nice work -- I think this is one of the better ones.
I'll disagree with Brownstoner about the old arch -- keeping it would have meant either a custom hood and centered stove layout or no hood. Sacrificing the arch allowed for this carefully balanced (but not symmetrical) layout.
I also like the little seat at the end of the island, the whimsical pendant placement to the right of the hood, and the glazed tile, which is a welcome relief from the usual suspects.
Posted by: an architect in Brooklyn at August 13, 2007 2:03 PM
This kitchen is great!
And, thanks Mr. B for starting the series. Lots of us who frequent this site are currently in the midst of, contemplating, or have just completed, our own kitchen renos. I'm betting this stuff is of great interest to many. Keep it coming.
Posted by: Brooklynista at August 13, 2007 2:18 PM
This is a great series. This is the kind of topic that a majority of the readers can relate to in some way, unlike endless tales of new condo buildings, craptacular construction, Scarano, and pointless arguments about people's choices of this neighborhood over that neighborhood.
Since many of us live in brownstones, what better than features that show how we live in them, and how people juggle historic detail with modern living. I'd be interested in kitchens in the original kitchen space on the ground floor, as well as bathrooms, living rooms, bedrooms, and seeing how people cope with issues of storage space, where to put the tv, lighting, library/book spaces,etc.
Brower Park
(still working on log in problems, but liking the new format)
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 2:33 PM
wood for kitchen floors suck, but it's hard to do tile in these types of configurations. Now if there is a series on "rear garden level kitchens", you'll probably start seeing some different flooring options.
And I have a rear parlor kitchen with a wood floor.
Posted by: oe at August 13, 2007 2:40 PM
we resisted upper cabinets in the alcove to enhance the feeling of openness we were aiming for, choosing instead to maximize the ample storage provided by cabinets installed in the rear of the island for dishes, etc. this is also where we store the toaster, which can be conveniently removed/restored and plugged in to one of two island outlets.
the one appliance we do use regularly if not daily, the juicer, rests permanently on the alcove counter top to the right of the stove. we don't use a microwave, so that was less of a consideration.
benno: we designed every element of the project ourselves, procured the materials and hired the contractor. owner involvement can vary...we are both career artists and renovation has become something of a passion for us...as well as our chosen profession.
Posted by: housebywe at August 13, 2007 3:03 PM
what capacity is your rangehood? Does it vent outside and if so, what size vent is used? Thx
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 3:26 PM
I LOVE this feature.. keep em coming.. I am still searching for my perfect kitchen. One option last week came close. So thanks...
Posted by: CrownGardener at August 13, 2007 3:49 PM
i like this kitchen and i really like this ongoing feature. to the naysayers: if you don't like it, don't read it!
Posted by: z at August 13, 2007 5:57 PM
I love this series! I'm waiting for the garden level kitchen series to come next! This is the stuff that makes this blog golden. Don't listen to the people with short attention spans above.
Posted by: dt at August 13, 2007 5:58 PM
I like looking at all the nice kitchens. My wifw and I agree that parlor floor kitchen and dining make for a 'grand' look. We left the kitchen on the garden level for our own practical reasons, including acces to the garden grill, herb garden, and patio. It would be interesting to see how others have made their garden level kitchen work for them.
Hal (Crown Heights)
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 7:18 PM
I love this feature, please keep them coming.
I'd also love to see a similar series on living rooms, bathrooms and master bedrooms in brownstones. Each room has its own challenges in these old homes.
Posted by: Mrs. Limestone at August 13, 2007 7:32 PM
Please tell us about that dining room table (designer and where you purchased, if you don't mind)! It's lovely lovely lovely!
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 8:08 PM
I love the feature. As someone who will be doing a kitchen in the near future I find it very helpful. Would also love to see others featured: bathrooms, etc. As stated above, if you don't like it don't read it. There are lots of things I just pass, doesn't mean others aren't interested.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 9:42 PM
I'm wondering if it is the same person who keeps writing about being tired of this series. I just skip things that don't interest me (and there are many), I definitely wouldn't even read through a bunch of comments, which it sounds like this person did. He keeps referring to Mr. B., too.
Anyway, anyone who has tried to cope with renovating a brownstone with its limited parameters can appreciate this series, and the more the better. At least in this case, 8 is not yet enough.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 9:52 PM
I'd like to weigh in on the pro-kitchen-feature side. It's my favorite part of the site, and I've been looking forward to it every day. Many people here may be looking for a place, but you're only going to buy once (for a while) -- but you'll be renovating and decorating for years. And the challenges of a brownstone aren't covered by many books or magazines; I may be biased because I'm currently trying to design my own parlor-level kitchen, but I think features like this are very interesting and useful. And who doesn't like to see pictures of other people's houses? I too would love to see more series like this -- maybe where to put bookcases in narrow houses without making them feel like bowling alleys, where to put TVs, where to locate bathrooms, etc.
Posted by: guest at August 13, 2007 9:54 PM
Please, Mr. B., keep the kitchens coming!
Of course *you* know it's useful and popular. There's clearly one loser posting against the idea.
I agree with the poster above that it would be great to see garden level kitchens as well, for those of us who are re-doing the cucina in its original location. We have quickly figured out that it is really hard--two windows and a doorway in back, two doorways in front, and only 20 feet of width to work with--that is not an easy kitchen to design. When we get there, maybe we'll share it with ya.
But if you could solicit some now, while we're in the design phase, we'd love it!
Also agree with previous posters that features on bathrooms would be great! Cheers!
Posted by: Rehab at August 14, 2007 12:24 AM
I love the idea of showing these interiors, and have enjoyed seeing how people handle the quirks of modern living in a century-old home. Maybe, it's a bit long - some other blogs seem to continue a thread forever, and it gets boring or hard to follow.
It would be great to see another section, like the forum, where you could show series of rooms. Like others suggested above, different areas would be nice - garden floor kitchens, floor-through apartments, master bedrooms. Maybe two new "rooms" every week - changing the type of room every month. . .
Posted by: Heatherie at August 14, 2007 10:03 AM
Many of the sad sacks complaining above would no doubt prefer to read the endlessly tedious threads about which way the RE market is going and how appropriately priced various properties are. How teeth-grittingly dull. I'd much rather get my jollies off looking at pretty pictures of brownstone kitchens and finding design inspiration!
Posted by: NeoGrec at August 14, 2007 11:27 AM
8:08: we found the table on craigslist--hand crafted by a couple in vermont. email: ntodres@yahoo.com. they come to nyc every so often to make deliveries.
Posted by: housebywe at August 14, 2007 7:03 PM
The store called Trailer Park in Park Slope on Sterling near 6th Ave, has custom order Amish-made farm tables similar to this one (if you get the Shaker leg). I got an 8-footer with big turned legs and we love it. It was the best priced farm table in the area I could find too. Right now Trailer Park doesn't offer a choice of stains or colors, only clear varnish so the antique barn wood variations shows up nicely. So if you want a darker stain like we did, you have to order it unfinished and stain it yourself. Even with the dark stain the variations in the wood show, and are beautiful.
Posted by: traditionalmod at August 14, 2007 8:22 PM
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