A new extension for the kitchen and breakfast room faithfully echoes the existing large country house

Creating a separate wing for the kitchen and breakfast room can change a home in ways that go beyond efficiency it can even affect the way family and guests connect with the outdoors.

Such was the case with this light-filled annex, designed to blend in with a house in the country by architects Julie Hacker and Stuart Cohen of Cohen & Hacker Architects LLC.

Cohen says the new addition includes a bay window that echoes a similar feature in the dining room. Steep roof forms, stepped eaves, painted brick walls and copper gutters are also repeated, so the extension looks like a miniature version of the existing house. It's all on one level, but on a similar scale to the two-story house. On the interior, this lofty form translates into a sharply angled ceiling rising over the breakfast area.

The annex has strong connections to the outdoors, with sets of French doors opening to the backyard on two sides. Between the high-set windows, double doors and bay window, this room enjoys changes in light through the day.

The kitchen area is demarcated by a low ceiling and by the choice of materials. Glossy white subway tiles cover all surfaces around the perimeter cabinetry and appliances, including both the side walls.

Julie Hacker says the space has a country feel, in keeping with the house, with turned legs on the island, paneled and glass-fronted cabinets and a beadboard ceiling. The owners wanted a solid teak island countertop, and favored green for the cabinets, having admired this color in pictures of Julia Child's own kitchen.

"This fairly traditional look is balanced by the contemporary stainless steel hood that we designed, and by the heavy-duty appliances," says Hacker. "We added a stainless steel panel above the refrigerator and freezer to further this modern accent. Industrial-looking pendants also contribute to a more edgy feel."

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Dave Burke