The existing kitchen was functional but poorly planned and several schematic designs were explored to improve the layout within the existing building envelope. However, the schematic design that squared off a corner of the building and added just 45 square feet resulted in the ability to create an island kitchen. Although the addition kicked off all kinds of building department requirements including documentation of the entire house for Title 24 Energy calculations, it allowed a complete and exciting transformation of the entire kitchen.

Responding to the unique architecture of this home was a delightful design challenge. Centered between a round dining room and an octagonal shaped breakfast room, each with strong architectural ceiling statements, this kitchen is an elegant and simple contrast both spatially and materially, with rift cut oak cabinets and neutral Caesarstone counters. A bar with glass shelves and decorative glass tiles is integrated into the kitchen on the dining room side. Special attention is given to complementing the existing custom glass pendant lighting in the adjacent rooms by using close-to-ceiling island lights and trimless downlights that disappear. A dramatic Bocci pendant light complements the multicolored tilework at the stairwell. One of only a few residences designed by architect Scott Johnson in the 1990’s, this new modern kitchen is a successful tribute to the value of the existing architecture.