ENGLISH REVIVAL

A Project with STERLING DEVELOPMENT

Located at the end of a prestigious dead-end street, next to Albert Kahn’s iconic iron gates, this stunning 1914 English Revival was full of original inspiration. After walking up the original limestone steps, the moment we stepped inside the home we were greeted with impressive barrel vaulting, an original checkerboard floor, and stained wainscot panels enveloping the entire foyer, featuring hidden doors with original, custom brass latches.

We proceeded to walk through the home with the homeowner and found ourselves marveling at the intricate woodwork, stunning French doors aplenty, and soaring 12 foot ceilings. It wasn’t until we entered the original service area that we understood why the homeowner had called us.

Situated at the rear of the home, near the original service entrance, narrow hallways wound around small spaces including storage areas and laundry, ultimately leading to a dated kitchen renovation. After walking through the rest of the grand estate, it was sad to see what had become of the kitchen, and entire back area. It became clear to us that we would need to change the floor plan in order to bring this stately home back to its former glory and meet the homeowner’s functional requests.

Unlike in 1914, the homeowners fully intended to use their kitchen and really live in it. That said, they still love to throw large parties and need to accommodate caterers and numerous guests throughout this area of the main floor. The circulation in the space became paramount and we set to work by first reworking the floorplan, and then adding in layers of details that would tie the newly renovated space in with the rest of the home.

In the kitchen we removed a botched dropped ceiling and faux skylight so the kitchen would feature the same glorious 12 foot ceilings present throughout the rest of first floor. In between the original formal dining and the French doors to the back patio sat a dated, unnecessary laundry room. We removed this room to open up the front of the home and visually connect it with the backyard and patio, where the homeowners love entertaining. Additional small storage areas, rooms and doors were removed to enable better circulation and clean up the otherwise fragmented floorplan.

In connecting the formal front of the home with the newly renovated “back of the house”, we chose to bring in some of the home’s original design elements and character to make the new space feel as if it had always been there. The same wainscotting from the foyer was brought into the space, but painted white to keep a light, fresh feel. Advances in hardware in the past 110 years enabled us to do install a large, fully hidden door in the new wainscotting that conceals a China cabinet, or additional serving area off the dining room and steps from the newly updated kitchen.

In the kitchen we opted for traditional finishes and styling so it also might feel as if it had always been there. Embracing the 12 foot ceilings and large scale crown molding really allowed the space to shine and feel grand in its own right. Since we were limited to existing kitchen footprint we found other ways to improve the functionality and circulation flow by moving doorways and essentially creating two zones within the kitchen that had been quite fragmented before. With a long, narrow footprint it was not possible to introduce seating at the island, but since that wouldn’t have been consistent with the original home we chose to introduce a corner banquette to bring a living space into the kitchen. We moved and added windows around the banquette to define the area, bring in light, and also make that part of the front elevation of the home more consistent with the rest.

Moving down either wainscoted hallway, you find your way to the bar, just before entering the den. For the bar, the homeowners wanted to create an accessible space that would be easy for guests to duck in and and make themselves a quick drink before heading back to the main entertaining areas. In this respect the bar really functions much more like a butler’s pantry in that there’s room to work, but not enough space to comfortably hang around and socialize. The bar sits at the base of the two wainscoted hallways, just on the other side of the den fireplace. Stepping into the den you immediately see two tall, handsome built-ins framing a sofa alcove with art above, to create a more informal, cozy space while still tying in with the original home’s aesthetic and proportions.

Moving through the wainscoted hallway you’ll find a small powder tucked away, yet conveniently close to the patio French doors. This space serves as an accessible, secondary powder room where as the main, original powder room is located off the front foyer, and down a few steps. It was important to these hospitable homeowners that they have another powder room on the main level, and it would need to be more accessible than the original.

Heading back towards the kitchen, opposite the original elevator, are service stairs down to the lower level. With access to the lower level so close to the kitchen and patio doors it provided us the perfect opportunity to create a caterer’s space, convenient laundry, dog den, and additional full bath all right at the foot of the basement stairs. The laundry room functions as a fully laundry room, in addition to caterer’s kitchen with a full size refrigerator/freezer, double ovens and ice machine. The original elevator door is located within the same space for easily transporting large dishes and server upstairs while entertaining. Just off the laundry room is a full caterer’s closet with chaffing dishes, glassware galore, many different types of candles, flatware, etc. When we were designing this space we constantly referenced Downton Abbey and nothing feels more like the Crawley’s service area than this lower level service space, well until you find the dog den under the stairs. We created this little nook to house the couple’s two large bulldogs in a space that will stay cool and fairly quiet.

Of the many factors that drove the design and execution for this project, functionality and authenticity were the two main driving forces. Our goal was to make the space function better for these social entertainers, while staying true to the character of the home. We’re happy to say the home is now ready for entertaining, and looks like it always was.

MORE BEFORE & AFTERS

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