Kitchen Turned into Space Perfect for Busy Family

DARIEN, CT —
W hen a 20-year-old galley kitchen lacking natural light wasn’t cutting it any more for an on-the-go husband and wife with two active teenage boys, they sought professional help – design help, that is!

The couple turned to Debra Tan and Ken Pascal of True North Cabinets and SMC Stone, LLC in New Canaan, CT. Pascal is the principal and served as the project manager, and Tan is a senior designer who created the new layout.

“The husband is a high-level executive and the wife is very active in the community and non-profit initiatives. The two boys are avid athletes and always have lots of teammates over for snacks,” says Pascal.

This family desperately needed a space that would lend itself to heavy entertaining, have room for casual dining in addition to the existing formal dining room and keep the living, eating and kitchen areas separate inside of one open space.

To give the family what they needed, the duo collaborated with the wife very closely on what Pascal terms “a major remodel” that called for an addition that measures about 21-1/2'Wx31'L.

It includes an approximately 21-1/2'Wx13'L kitchen and family room with a stone fireplace backing the original structure and patio doors opening to the backyard patio and the pool. Outside, a pool house features another kitchen area set up for casual entertaining.

“The clients wanted to turn a traditional split-level into an updated Nantucket-style house from the outside in. [Working outward, they began with] natural colored small wooden shingles, copper gutters and onion lamps, a natural wooden roof and a mahogany front door, [acheiving] the traditional look of a New England Nantucket Style house,” elaborates Pascal. “The main entry has a wide mahogany door with large side lights.

The entrance complements the color and grain of the lyptus desk that one can see off to the right [upon entry].”

Pascal and Tan worked with SWS Builders in Stamford, CT, which built the space and installed the Kountry Kraft cabinets. “Dave Williams, a partner, and the lead on-site team worked closely with Gene Salvatore, who’s also a partner at SWS Builders,” notes Pascal. Michael Palumbo Designs served as the project’s architectural firm.

“They also wanted an open floorplan, [so we put in] tall ceilings that add to the feeling of openness. The two entrances to the dining room were widened to allow for better traffic flow,” notes Pascal. The traditional look of the exterior was then carried through the entire home.
The finished home will be part of the YWCA of Darien-Norwalk’s Holiday House Tour next month, notes Pascal.

FLIP THIS HOUSE

The primary goal of this kitchen project was to add light and enough space for a center island, computer desk area and a banquette for extra seating and serving. So, Tan and the rest of the team began the project by flipping the working area of the kitchen to face the front of the house to accommodate a much-desired window centered over the new farmhouse sink.

Tan then created an oversized center island with a Rohl Allia Fireclay prep sink and Blanco antique bronze faucet. “Because this is a busy kitchen, and the client wanted more than the typical 4' aisle between the perimeter and the island, we made it 5',” adds Pascal.

The island provided a vast working and seating area, and created a natural barrier transitioning the kitchen area from the family room. The combination of using natural wood floors and large diagonal 16"x16" Golden Sienna granite stones quarried in Mexico also created a look of both separation from and connection to the different living areas. Radiant heating was installed underneath the floors for warmth.

Tan also included a custom lyptus table and bench, plus a separate desk area where the wife can organize the family, pay bills and work on projects for local non-profit organizations.