Wesley Heights, DC - Kitchen Remodel

Brief Explanation of the Scope of Work


These repeat customers had a good sense of what they wanted in a kitchen. Achieving a functional and elegant space that drew from the stylistic sensibility of an Italian country kitchen (they had visited during a trip to Italy) was their primary goal. They also wanted to integrate open space into the adjoining rooms.

Unusual Constraints/Challenges & Creative Solutions

In order to gain crucial space we bumped out the kitchen by two feet (see below on the right). Careful attention was taken with the exterior appearance of the bump out to ensure it not only extended from the original home, but that it actually looked original to the structure.

We matched the rooflines and façade of the home and positioned a new palladium style window to match those existing. Inside the home, we opened up the wall between the kitchen and family room with an arch to match others in the home. The new arched opening increases the flow of light into the kitchen and provides a comfortable breakfast bar area.

We also opened up the entry to the kitchen with a matching arch to improve flow. The wood flooring was chosen to match flooring in the adjacent living room and compliments the distressed cabinets. Except for the range and range hood, all of the appliances received cabinet panels to maximize the rustic appearance of the kitchen. The contrasting granite counters colors in the breakfast bar and kitchen, compliment each other and their respective spaces.

Many of these pricey and delicate finishes required careful installation. The Ambbaka hammered copper range hood was very heavy, very expensive and took a good deal of babying as was true of the other high end appliances. The tumbled marble mosaic tile backsplash with copper insets was a tricky installation.

Overall Results

The actual Italian country kitchen look and feel was achieved through thoughtful choice and coordination of finishes. These include: wood flooring, a dramatic hammered “Best” copper range hood, a Dacor 6 burner duel fuel range with copper trim, an eye catching tumbled marble mosaic tile backsplash with copper insets, Subzero refrigerator and Bosch dishwasher with matching cabinet panels, thoughtfully arranged distressed cabinets including cabinet warehouse, wine glass rack and bookshelves with antique hardware and crown molding, Kashmir Gold granite counters, antique lighting, and dramatic faux finishing with rustic paint colors.

All of these details combined seamlessly to create a space that is at once rustic, luxurious, warm and inviting.