Tudor makeover

In a grand Tudor-style house built in the 1920s, the design of the kitchen would have been all about practicality, rather than aesthetics, and it would have been the domain of the staff, not the owners.

While re-creating such a kitchen would not be a good fit for modern lifestyles, it is possible to design a kitchen that captures the true character of a Tudor-style house. That is precisely what the owner of this house wanted when he commissioned a full restoration of the house interior.

Laurie Allan, director of marketing for Studio Becker, the company contracted to design the kitchen, says every detail of every fixture was planned to replicate the traditional cabinetry and millwork that would have once adorned the more formal rooms of such houses.

"The bespoke fixtures and fittings include extra-thick walnut cabinetry doors that have a special stain and sheen, and handmade pilasters. The color of the stain was chosen to match the coffered ceiling in the informal dining area."

Because the original kitchen space was quite small, the house was extended. This allowed space for an L-shaped room, with the main work triangle opposite the family dining and living area.

"The kitchen was designed to be a multi-use space," says Allan. "It is casual and user friendly for the family, yet it is also equipped to cater to the needs of a gourmet chef who might be preparing a meal while guests gather around."

With full-height paneled cabinetry lining the perimeter walls, there is ample storage and several workstations. The design team also provided a 12ft-long hidden pantry the door is integrated into the cabinetry between two refrigerators. A separate butler's pantry with display shelving is positioned at the end of the cabinetry, close to the formal dining room.

Other key period features include a handmade limestone hood for the hearth-style cooking center, a traditional range, and black and white marble tiled floor.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Tim Maloney