Built in 1891, this historic Crescent Hill home was brought to us for renovation by the new homeowners shortly after they purchased it. Our project goals were to maximize the existing first floor living space with a reworked interior footprint for the updated kitchen, dining room, and powder bath; and to add a laundry and mudroom with a first floor addition. Aesthetically, we chose to incorporate the client’s eclectic and industrial tastes, while keeping the architectural elements true to period style.
To rework the interior footprint, we studied the use patterns of the homeowner and the confines of the existing conditions. Previous owners had at some point enclosed a rear porch with a shed roof and incorporated it into the interior. Unfortunately, the back of the home was completely closed off visually with few windows and compartmentalized spaces. Because the back of the home offered a chance at natural light, while trees and the existing garage ensured privacy, we opened this view with floor to ceiling windows and a sliding door and created a dining space with easy access to outdoor entertaining. This allowed natural light to flood into the dining room as well as the kitchen in the newly opened floor plan. Our addition nestled into the space between the new dining room and kitchen, allowing a mudroom entrance and laundry at the back of the home, with convenient access to the rest of the first floor.
The relocated kitchen was created in the center of the home, between the dining room, the addition, and the existing living room. This opened the circulation pattern for both daily use and entertaining. We chose timeless shaker front cabinets, custom quartz countertops, satin brass hardware and fixtures, and a contrasting color scheme with creamy white perimeter cabinets and an earthy black island. A custom plaster range hood, exposed walnut beams and millwork accents, and a brick backsplash mirrored by a faux chimney stack near the stairs allowed the client’s style to shine through.
