The new kitchen is a composition of distinct but interconnected functional zones that are united by a continuous counter that weaves through the spaces.
Renovation and remodel of a 1964 Seward Park house designed by renowned Mid-century Seattle Architect Ibsen Nelson. A fruitful collaboration with an astute client and Kerf Design.
The house featured flowing horizontal living spaces with generous glazing and a restrained material palette of black walnut, bright terrazzo, and travertine marble. The building exterior was in very good condition and the house was large enough to accommodate the owners and their two young children. However, as is often the case, the kitchen and bathrooms were cramped, dark, and functioned poorly and the focus of our work involved targeted alterations to these areas.
Additional kitchen space with a high ceiling and existing band of windows was captured by reworking and compressing the adjacent laundry and pantry. In this way, the functional and spatial objectives were achieved without adding space or modifying the building exterior. Openings were made to visually and functionally connect the kitchen to the living spaces while preserving a traditional formal separation.
The new kitchen is a composition of distinct but interconnected functional zones that are united by a continuous counter that weaves through the spaces. The countertop material varies to suit its function; solid walnut at the eating counter, stainless steel around the cook top and sink, and honed limestone in the baking area. The counter establishes a horizontal datum against which the walnut plywood cabinets, composed and built by Kerf Design, create playful multicolored patterns and textures.
