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August 1, 2007

Parlor Kitchen #4: Spreading Out in a 22-Footer

Today's parlor floor kitchen is the biggest we've looked at yet (the house is 22 feet wide) and uses the space to build a very large island. Of particular interest to us as an owner of a similar Victorian brownstone is the way the owner/contractor incorporated the stove and the hood into the archway on the side wall. While we might've opted for some different finishes for the cabinets and countertops, this has a great feel overall. Here's what the owner/builder had to say about his creation:

The layout incorporates the traditional work triangle. I have found the layout to be very practical and in fact have built a similar configuration for several clients in various styles from traditional to contemporary. In smaller kitchens I have utilized a similar design by narrowing the island and eliminating the eating area on the other side. The hood is concealed in the horizontal element under the arch. I went with cabinets made in my shop, granite counters, new wood floor (the original floor had to be structurally reinforced for the weight of the stone), low-profile cooktop, and all the woodwork was stripped from paint and then stained. The existing windows were replaced, one changed to a door with transom. The second window also has a transom not visible in the photo (Marvin). All of the renovations, including the door and deck, were filed and approved with DOB and Landmarks without a problem.

What do you think?
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]

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Comments

We have a winner! Bet they had an architect.

Posted by: anonymous at August 1, 2007 11:34 AM

Nice, the cabinets are not my personal taste, but that is a well-designed kitchen.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 11:36 AM

So pretty! I love the chandelier and that the hardwood floor is on a diagonal. Very nice!

Posted by: Emily at August 1, 2007 11:39 AM

so the island is meant for eating? I guess I need to open the cabinets to store my legs....

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 11:40 AM

In a word: wow!

Posted by: Brooklynista at August 1, 2007 11:42 AM

I think the designer made a nice kitchen, but not to cook or prepare a family meal. Most of the kitchens I see, are cold and sterile,and little used by their owners. Marble is warmer than granite. I must say, all your kitchens look more or less the same.
None of them say I was designed by a chef/professional cook. Unless you are eating at the island. Why, tell me why the island has to take up so much room

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 11:44 AM

Can someone explain to me the logistics of sinks in the island (am deciding whether to put a stove top or sink in my kitchen island). Where do you put the drying rack for pots and pans that don't go in the dishwasher? And doesn't water get everywhere when you're cleaning dishes? It seems to me that sinks need to be up against a backsplash because of all the splashing that happens in the dish washing process. Or am I just a sloppy dish-washer?

Posted by: anon at August 1, 2007 11:57 AM

A 22 wide! **swoon**

Here is another solution where storage does not overwhelm the space (note the lack of upper cabinets, and the generous "empty" space under the existing arch). This preserves the visual width of the the brownstone and by doing so helps make this parlor kitchen seem like it belongs. I'm assuming the usual closet to the right of cooktop was converted into a pantry to help with missing storage.

The door out is interesting: I might originally have thought that keeping its natural wood trim while having plaster details elsewhere and cabinets out of another finish would not have worked, but on the whole there is a balance between the finishes. The cabinet doors are too busy for my taste, but I'm sure sympathetic with the rest of the house.

As for the other aesthetic choices: I'm not usually a fan of granite, but this is a nice choice. The low-profile cooktop is a winner, which serves to highlight the slightly odd choice in the drop-in sink -- an undermount is more the usual, cleaner solution but perhaps such seemed to modern for this space. Wonder where the ovens are. I also would have sprung for a refrigerator with a painted panel on the front (sacrificing, e.g., the counters), but of course that's a lot of coin for a limited effect.

Finally, the lighting seems unconsidered. During the day this might not be much of a problem, but this seems a dark kitchen at night. The period chandelier is attractive (and a bit edgy by being so period for a kitchen install), but I might look for a fixture that gets more light on the counter. Even continuing with whimsy by adding a plug in lamp on that ample island might be a good choice.

--an architect in Brooklyn

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 11:57 AM

Really beautiful.

Where is the oven? Is there a seating area at left?

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 12:07 PM

"None of them say I was designed by a chef/professional cook."

whoever decided that that was what a kitchen in a private home had to look like?

you come on every kitchen thread with your "i am a chef" nonsense, you are annoying.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 12:12 PM

I cook every meal for my family and I don't want something that says "I was designed by a chef". Because I'M NOT A CHEF! Similarly, I don't want a living room designed by a movie critic or a bedroom designed by a hooker. Thank you very much.

Sometimes rooms need to be a more multi-functional. Like a giant island would have lots of room for my kid's lunch boxes or even craft items -- and they could get to them with out asking me. Not something a chef requires, but something helpful in my life. Also, it cuts down on a lot of upper cabinets which is a look it like.

This kitchen is a lot like my old place. Love it -- and if there is a seating area offscreen stage left, then it's really like my old place and I really love it.

Finished not completely my style, but that's cool.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 12:24 PM

Really really nice. And I think it's a great kitchen for the cook or non-cook.

Anon 11:57--I imagine the sink is in the island because they wanted to use the other side for the stove and be able to vent it. A ceiling fan/vent can be hard to do in these houses over an island.

Regarding the splash factor, I've seen islands that are done in two levels--the sink side is a bit lower and has a backsplash made out of the countertop material. There is a higher counter on the other side that can be used as a bar with seating. This is a nice setup as it hides a bit of your kitchen mess if you are having guests and also have a dining table in the back parlor.

Posted by: tinarina at August 1, 2007 12:38 PM

I love it! I am 100% tired of seating at an island. I think island seating is the the 90s version of "avocado green" -- and it's 2007 already!

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 12:48 PM

To 11:40: I think he meant there is an eating area, i.e., a dining table and chairs, on the other side of the island.

More pictures, please! I'd like to see how the seating fits in, and where is the oven? The island looks too wide to my eye, but maybe it wouldn't seem too wide in the context of the whole room. Anyway -- another great kitchen! I'm loving this series of posts!

Posted by: Park Sloper at August 1, 2007 1:08 PM

11:44, aka "I am a chef", you are also a douche. The kitchen is beautiful. Why does it have to be designed for a chef. How about just a nice functional room where we can fix a meal, hang out with family, and eat? It doesn't have to say "I was designed by a chef/ professional cook", it just has to say I was designed by someone with really good taste!

Posted by: GHB at August 1, 2007 1:17 PM

It's great to see how you incorporated a functional kitchen with the existing architectural/original details of the house. Your choice of cabinets and countertop blend well with the style of the house.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 1:25 PM

I have a sink in my island for the same reason that 12:38 guessed, though I have seating on the other side ofthe island.

I must say it is a chore to try to keep clean, but it's better than getting a backsplash grungy. I do have a small dishrack that I don't mind being there for every day use, but I tuck it away for a party to try to be schmancy LOL.

Posted by: LalaKitchen at August 1, 2007 1:45 PM

All you all are salivating over this kitchen. Sometimes things are just nice and this is one of them - go criticize your own kitchen design, leave the good ones alone

Posted by: anon at August 1, 2007 3:55 PM

Face it, if you can't cook in this kitchen, you can't cook.
it is lovely and expensive-looking.
The island is not to eat on, it is a work surface, the table is alongside it. I know someone with a similar arrangement, it is heaven.

Posted by: Anonymous at August 1, 2007 4:16 PM

this series is great.

Posted by: kanoa at August 1, 2007 4:18 PM

Well, shows the collective aesthetic is boring traditional.

Personally I would be scared of cooking there, maybe I'd soil something.

Posted by: anon at August 1, 2007 5:10 PM

i'm about to soil somethin too laughing at some of these comments.

and it's not my kitchen...

Posted by: slopehead at August 1, 2007 5:40 PM

Thank you for your positive comments. To answer some of the questions:
I didn't use a designer or architect (except for the filing drawings).
We are a family of four and cook in the kitchen just about every day. The island size is 4.5'x7.5.' It is very large, but doesn't overwhelm the room - there is 9' on the other side of it and 40-45" on either side of it. It is the main workspace in the kitchen and very useful for cookie baking, setting out a buffet to be enjoyed on the porch, the inevitable kids' stuff as mentioned by one of the commenters, as well as daily food prep.
The sink is an undermount, 11" deep, and there is basically no splashing.
Because the dining room is adjacent to the kitchen, we have just a breakfast table on the other side of the island.
The wall oven is located to the right of the cooktop, with cabinets above and below. An Architect in Brooklyn guessed that we might have kept the original curved door that was in this location for extra storage, and that was our original intention. But keeping the two original doors on either side of what is now the cooktop broke up the work triangle, so I relocated the doors to use for the living room coat closet and parlor floor powder room.
It may not be obvious from the photo, but there are also two low voltage recessed fixtures (MR16) in the ceiling and additional low voltage fixtures under the hood and in the arch.
I agree with the Architect's comment that a paneled refrigerator would be better looking. Our previous refrigerator was paneled and this new one will be soon.
I am also enjoying this series of posts.
Thanks, Brownstoner.
Anyone who is truly interested in seeing more pictures or information can contact me at ambianceny@earthlink.net.

Posted by: Ambiance Improvement at August 1, 2007 8:54 PM

Great job! I especially like the inclusion of the original arch detail from what was originally part of the smaller room to the right. I have seen this rather elaborate detail remaining in several other old brownstones, but always in a much smaller room, and wondered what was the original purpose? I have asked many people, but so far only guesses. Can anyone offer some real information about this charming detail in this particular location?

Posted by: KGNY at August 2, 2007 10:31 PM

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August 1, 2007

Parlor Kitchen #4: Spreading Out in a 22-Footer

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