The owner of this house in Great Falls has family in Wyoming,
and he and his wife love the rustic look of Western homes. They spotted an
oversize wooden hood in an interior-design magazine, and it became the
inspiration for their renovated kitchen.
Jennifer Gilmer, the Chevy Chase designer who worked on the
project, chose a custom birch hood with dovetailed corners and set it
against a counter-to-ceiling installation of slate tile. “When you use
stone that’s all the same color, it creates a beautifully natural,
textural element,” says Gilmer.
To open the space to the outdoors, Gilmer added a window above
the sink, bringing in more light but taking up valuable real estate. To
compensate, a slim refrigerator was placed along the perimeter, and
pullout freezer drawers were added under the island—both are hidden behind
cabinets. “The days of huge 48-inch refrigerators are waning,” says
Gilmer. “Separating the two units allows for more countertop and storage
space.”
For the counters, the owners chose a chunky granite with a
green hue and paired it with a soapstone countertop around the sink, which
was bumped out three inches to make it feel like a separate piece of
furniture. Says Gilmer: “In my mind’s eye, it’s reminiscent of a dry sink
from days past out west.”
One thing people didn’t have back then: a dishwasher on either
side of the sink—here hidden from view by cabinet doors. “With three kids
in the house,” says one of the owners, “that was critical.”
Explore More Dream Kitchens ››
This article appears in the October 2012 issue of The Washingtonian.
