Starlight

The introduction of a new kitchen into a 1930s apartment building can be considered on two fronts. On the one hand, how should the kitchen reflect the ambiance of the original building, and on the other, how relevant should the design be to the modern world?

This slightly whimsical kitchen by designer Garrow Kedigian forms part of an apartment in a prewar Manhattan building. Kedigian says it reflects and interprets design ideas of the time, but with subtle touches of the contemporary.

"We started from scratch with this project," says Kedigian. "The only original element retained was the butler's pantry. This is painted deep chocolate to stand apart from the creams and ivories of the new, but classic-look cabinet elements."

While the butler's pantry was retained, it was also relocated. Crown moldings running around the ceiling perimeter accommodate this, adding to the impression that all the cabinetry, both new and old, is part of an original kitchen.

Beaded cabinetry, crown moldings, a marble backsplash and custom feature lighting are all part of the decorative sensibilities of a prewar kitchen. The faucets add to this feel, but the appliances and barstools are decidedly modern.

"We wanted to give some elements a modern edge literally, in the case of the backsplash," he says. "Marble is a traditional kitchen surface, but we have introduced it here in block form, with beveled edges. This is a far cry from the way it was used in the thirties."

The kitchen is designed as part of the greater room, rather than as a separate work area. Seen from above, the room forms two overlapping squares one the kitchen, and the other the dining area. Sets of Art Deco-style lights, designed by Kedigian, are centrally located over the respective areas and subtly define them.

"Symmetry is tight in the kitchen generally," says Kedigian. "The butler's pantry, for example, is centered along the axis of the kitchen island."

The owner wanted to include display areas as well as ample storage, and to this end Kedigian introduced several open niches high up in the generous banks of cabinetry. The same cabinetry is continued into the living-dining area, further blurring the line between the two spaces.

"The new pressed tin ceiling is indicative of the overall feel," says Kedigian. "We introduced a classic ceiling with modern spotlights dotted across it to give a quiet impression of starlight."

Story by: Charles Moxham

Photography by: Jeff Gahres