Cottage kitchen conversion

Southern Living, Sep 2002 by Martin, Robert

A Lexington couple took advantage of every square inch in their well-planned renovation.

Homeowners who live in cottages (often called bungalows) built in the 1920s and 1930s prize them for their compact size and attention to detail. Brad and Hydee Hawkins are no exception. But as their family grew to incorporate a child, they found that their diminutive 1929 kitchen no longer suited their needs.

So the couple faced the challenge of creating a more spacious and modem kitchen without adding on to their Lexington, Kentucky, home. "Prior to the renovation," Brad explains, "the kitchen was isolated from the other living areas of the house. Also, our budget left little room for error." To ensure a smooth project, they turned to architect Graham Pohl for help.

An Opening Statement

First a graceful elliptical entryway was created in the wall separating the kitchen and breakfast room. By simply opening up these two spaces, Graham's plan created one larger livein kitchen area, which encourages better traffic flow. Fortunately, the wall wasn't load-bearing; this allowed for a generous opening.

Kitchen Amenities

One of Brad and Hydee's chief goals was to have a larger area for cooking and storage. The new kitchen configuration resulted in two L-shaped sections of custom cabinetry. To separate the kitchen and breakfast room while providing more cooking space, Graham cleverly angled the bar and adjoining countertop.

An initial obstacle encountered by the homeowners was the location of the new range exhaust. Because the ceiling joists weren't deep enough to conceal the vent, it had to be dropped below the ceiling surface. To avoid an eyesore that would detract from the arched entryway, Graham suggested surrounding the vent with a shiny copper casing, which is an interesting sculptural element within the kitchen.

The Hawkinses chose stainless steel appliances to complement their marble countertops and to establish a clean, sleek look.

Mudroom Makeover

To further expand the area, an existing back-door laundry room became a mudroom. A built-in bench and wall pegs for coats and aprons add functionality to this updated, but still quaint, cottage kitchen. Brad sums it up by saying, "Our commitment with Graham to work within our budget while respecting the history of the house made the design process fun, which resulted in a fantastic outcome."

ROBERT MARTIN

THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

* Before tearing into a wall, verify that it isn't load-bearing. You can confirm this by looking for foundation supports in the crawlspace or for roof framing members tied into the wall location. When in doubt, consult a professional.

* Older homes often have features that you don't know about until they're exposed by demolition. Be prepared for these situations by having some emergency funds and creatively solving these obstacles (such as how Brad and Hydee dealt with their exhaust vent). A design liability can suddenly become an asset.