Harmonious Kitchen
Sarah Kahn Turner, designer, and Ann Decker, architect, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath,
Chevy Chase, MD
A dramatic contrast of black and white is taken up a notch in this kitchen, designed by Architect Ann Decker and Kitchen Designer Sarah Kahn Turner of Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen and Bath in Chevy Chase, MD. The clients were starting from scratch with Decker and builder Jim Gibson, and had a strong grasp of the interior space planning when they turned to Kahn Turner to pull the kitchen together. Working within the 485-sq.-ft. kitchen, her focus was on facilitating entertaining and the healthy lifestyle the clients enjoyed.
A black and white kitchen was requested, one that would fit well with the feel of the home, whose exterior is clad in Japanese Shou Sugi Ban wood. This wood was brought onto the wall separating the kitchen from the dining room and added a layer of texture to the sleek, high lacquered cabinets. Retractable doors were added to a smoothie station located near the Sub-Zero 30″ refrigerator and Sub-Zero 30″ freezer drawers. A steam oven is hidden in a cabinet above the oven to preserve the column look of the refrigerator flanking the wall. A 24″ GE microwave in white is also included in the space.
The use of different materials continued throughout the kitchen. The black metal windows installed throughout the house offers a theme that is carried into the kitchen. Kahn Turner custom designed hot rolled steel bookcases to showcase the clients’ stemware at the bar and take the place of conventional wall cabinets for plate and glass storage. This provided some transparency against the black and white EcoDomo leather cabinets from Artcraft Cabinetry and QCCI Cabinetry’s windswept black walnut island cabinets. Unlacquered brass hardware and the East Linear Faucet in brass from Newport Brass, as well as complementary touches of brass in the island stools and drinkware enhance the contemporary vibe.
Angular brass shapes are also showcased in the Agnes Chandeliers from Lindsey Adelman Studio, which reflect the patterns on the wallpaper surrounding the window.