No Addition Required
As Judy Brocies and Kip Johnson planned for their future, they knew they would have to update the kitchen in their 1934 Colonial Revival in Chevy Chase’s Somerset neighborhood if they ever wanted to sell the house. “But we figured, why not do it now so we can enjoy it for a while,” Brocies says.
When the couple bought the house in 1998 and moved in with their two young sons, it was outdated and in need of renovations. Over the years, they did a lot, including outfitting the kitchen with new cabinets and countertops. They didn’t change the original floor plan, however, which included a peninsula dividing the cooking space from a breakfast room. “We had a small round table in there, and the arrangement worked well for us when the boys were young,” Brocies says.
Their sons are in their late 20s now and don’t live with their parents, so a bigger kitchen wasn’t necessary—or even possible due to the constraints imposed by a front porch and side yard setback restrictions. The couple hired Gilday Renovations in Silver Spring and Sue Burgess of Burgess Interiors in Chevy Chase to create a stylish, comfortable place to cook and entertain. “I always encourage clients to rethink how they use the kitchen, and make changes that will complement their lifestyle,” says Ellen Witts, one of Gilday’s interior designers.
Gilday devised an open floor plan that unifies the two rooms in the front of the house by removing the peninsula and creating a space about 12 feet wide and about 22 feet deep. Relocating the back door to a different spot made way for a new commercial-style range on a side wall, and moving the sink to the front wall and adding triple windows in a 1-foot-deep box bay provided extra light and a better view of the street.
“We wanted a warm space, not a cavernous one,” Brocies says. To that end, Burgess wrapped the entire room in wood paneling, ordered custom cabinetry with matching vertical grooves, and had it all painted in “Natural Linen” from Benjamin Moore. The greige shade picks up the caramel tones of the honed Calacatta marble countertops. “This color makes the room feel warm and clubby,” Burgess says. “It gives it personality.” Recessed ceiling lights, glass pendants and wall sconces set the tone, combining for a soothing atmosphere that glows at night.
Instead of another breakfast table, Burgess suggested a center island inspired by a chef’s table. More than 8 feet long, it is topped with stainless steel, has storage at one end, and plenty of space for four comfortable counter-height chairs. Inevitably, the couple says, it’s the place where everyone gathers during parties and when the kids and their friends are home for the holidays.
