Ample charms

Spending time overseas can have the unexpected consequence of an enduring fondness for the vintage decor found in centuries-old European homes. Creating this gently time-worn look in a newer home, at no cost to modern functionality, requires a careful hand.

Hiding the appliances and providing sufficient storage space that all the family can access easily is just the practical part of the solution. It takes an experienced designer's eye to create a look that evokes the late 1800s period aesthetic, but with a lighter, pared-back interpretation that suits today's more open-plan homes.

In this kitchen, designer Jennifer Gilmer began with a palette of materials that would have been in use 100 years ago. Painted cabinets, unadorned hardware, soapstone and butcher block were popular then for the same reasons they are still used today. They are durable, practical, and offer a timeless, understated appeal.

"The family recently moved back to the area after spending several years abroad," Gilmer says. "They wanted the look of a kitchen typically found in an older English country home something fairly large and with a lot of functionality, but not fussy."

The plan tied in nicely with this house, which is in a historic neighborhood. Local zoning laws limited the scope of changes that could be made, but Gilmer found it easy to work within those parameters.

The placement of existing windows meant that installing upper cabinets wasn't an option.

"Having no upper cabinets actually works well with this type of kitchen," Gilmer says. "And it's something I'm doing more and more frequently. Even in a contemporary-style kitchen, upper cabinets can add a sense of heaviness and separation that doesn't tie in with an open-plan feel."

Without those cabinets, other storage space had to be provided for all the things that a young family with several children uses on a daily basis. A large tall cabinet was designed to store most of the non-perishable food. Fitted with deep, pull-out shelves and double doors, it is easy to fill and to access. And its position just next to the large island means that groceries are easy to put away.

An adjacent freestanding cupboard holds the everyday dishes and glasses, while the multiple doors and drawers incorporated into the island conceal everything from silverware and table linens to a pair of refrigerator drawers.

The classic look of this kitchen ensures that it will not date, and its unobtrusive functionality will endure equally well.

Story by: Kathleen Kinney

Photography by: Robert Narod