An eye for detail

Additions to period homes need to be carefully managed, if obvious differences between old and new areas are to be avoided. On this project, a Tudor-style home’s lower level was reworked, with a laundry room transformed into a second kitchen, a bathroom added, and a speakeasy bar and living space updated. Responsible for the new kitchen was Susan Palmquist, from Sawhill Custom Kitchens & Design, who studied the home’s detailing to ensure a smooth transition between spaces. “This kitchen, the home’s second, has access to outdoor living areas which lead to a nearby lake. We’ve created a useful preparation area for the owners, and reduced the amount of traffic through the house when they are entertaining outdoors. The key concern with the design was ensuring the architecture was consistent with the rest of the house,” she says. To achieve this, Palmquist chose materials that allowed her to replicate some of the home’s existing features. Aspects of the Tudor style can be seen in the large oak island, with its overhanging, oiled teak countertop and custom-made concrete sink, and also in the plasterwork and beams, the ironwork and railings, and the cabinetry with its inset hinges. The slate floor and hammered iron rangehood also contribute an antique look. “Oak figured extensively in the home. To ensure everything matched, we did tests on samples, ageing and distressing them to different degrees to achieve an authentic look,” Palmquist says. “The quartersawn white oak cabinetry required several layers of work. We used several tools to create cracks and splits, and then applied stain, glazing and a tan flat-finish.” The cabinetry, which introduces warm wood tones into the space, features a fresh foods area, that includes vegetable baskets. Surrounding the cabinetry are countertops of antique granite, honed but left with a rough texture. Despite being a remodeling project, all work done to the house was completed within the boundaries of existing walls.

Story by: Trendsideas