About This Project

As our clients considered a renovation of their home in Lexington, MA, the kitchen stood out as their primary motivation. Its outdated design, lack of functionality, and closed-off layout limited its usability. The original floor plan included a formal dining room and living room that were rarely used, while they had a great volume of square footage, they knew it could be put to better use.

When embarking on a project like this, consideration of dining preferences in different scenarios can help determine whether a dining room or a variation of an eat-in kitchen makes more sense. In typical fashion for homes built in the 1980s and ‘90s, this house contained a formal dining room and traditional living room that were rarely used. Once we understood what they were looking to gain – a large kitchen with inclusive dining areas for daily meals and entertaining – we could better design the core layout of the home to make the best use of the existing square footage.

Incidentally, ‘stealing’ space from the existing living room, and reworking access points to the kitchen and dining room made all the difference. It can be daunting to consider making an existing space smaller, but as this new layout proved, with a thoughtful re-allocation of space the gains far exceed any perceived ‘losses’

One of our clients’ wish list items was to incorporate a large center island for casual meals and to serve as a gathering place for guests mingling in the kitchen. The island became the focus of this kitchen redesign, as we incorporated a Galley Workstation for preparing, serving, entertaining, and cleaning while keeping up the conversation with family and friends. This culinary system was built into the Viscount White granite countertop with a leathered finish chosen for its natural look, durability, and easy maintenance. Greenfield Cabinetry’s Cyberspace color, a deep blue, anchors this central element in the kitchen, and mullioned glass doors allow for the display of cherished items. 

In the redesigned kitchen, a sleek Wolf induction cooktop is now well-positioned for an easy workflow from refrigerator to sink, sink to cooktop, and cooktop to table. Elevating a focal point in the room, the custom wood range hood, designed to match the classic white Greenfield Cabinetry, is complemented by a mosaic marble accent tile backsplash.

Along the perimeter of the kitchen, white subway tile along the entire backsplash complements the timeless look of the white cabinetry throughout, contrasted by leathered Black Mist granite countertops and black hardware. An integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator paneled to match the cabinetry, alongside a Wolf wall oven and warming tray, make the cooking experience effortless and fun, whether for a simple weeknight meal or a holiday dinner for a crowd. 

A transitional pantry and bar area were built into the wall separating the new kitchen from the family room. Anchored by cherry cabinetry with a Saddleback stain, this area serves multiple purposes – additional storage, a beverage station complete with Sub-Zero under-counter refrigeration, and a great gathering spot for guests outside of the main cooking zone. While the darker wood cabinetry sets this station apart from the rest of the kitchen, the countertop and mosaic marble tile are an extension of the materials in the main kitchen space, and cohesively pull it all together.