Client Profile
The clients are a young family in Harrison, NY. They wanted to combine the kitchen and dining room in a home built in 1954.
Client Goals
After our initial consultation, we were able to create a set priorities and goals with the clients. Functionally, the primary goal was to improve the workflows in the space, by creating a dedicated prep area. They love entertaining, so we needed to create a barrier between the guest area and prep space. Second, they intended to convert an adjacent living room into a dining area with the intent to enjoy family meals together each evening. To supplement that, they requested at least two seats in the kitchen for quick meals and to spend time with their young children while preparing meals.
The Problem
There was a partition wall between the existing kitchen and dining room. Those are relatively easy to remove as they are not load-bearing. Once the wall was removed we were left with a very narrow rectangular space with three openings into the room, along with a low hanging window.
East Hill created a unique design to use the space most efficiently. First, we moved the refrigerator outside of the main work area. This provided room on the east elevation for a range and wall oven. This also allows guests and children to visit the refrigerator without interrupting the cooking area.
The most significant layout element was the location of the peninsula. Most peninsulas are attached to the kitchen to create a “U” shape. This leaves a lot of open and unused space in the work area. This invites guests to congregate inside the work area and creates long walks to each work station. This peninsula is separate from the “L” shaped kitchen, creating a large dedicated prep space and a natural area for guests to congregate.
Before & After
Use the image slider below to see this incredible transformation.
