Kitchen Remodeling
Lean and Clean
This 1950s brick row house in the historic Georgetown section of Washington, D.C., had some problems -- and the kitchen was one of them. To start with, it was small, and the house itself is narrow. Also, it was formerly owned by renowned architect Hugh Newell Jacobsen, and the designers wanted to make sure the remodel reflected his minimalist style.
The original entrance hall and 54-square-foot kitchen were demolished. That provided an open space, which the designers filled by pushing the kitchen out into the adjacent living room.
The new, 159-square-foot kitchen is designed not to look like a kitchen. It has sleek, custom mahogany and maple cabinets and hidden appliances. One judge said the cabinetry both defines and visually connects the space to the living area. The soapstone countertops and backsplash add to the polished look.
The design also provides a much-needed solution for incorporating the home's rear courtyard into the living area. The judges said the design team's solution made great use of space. "It is tailored like a perfect suit," one judge said.
Category: Kitchen remodeling, $50,000 to $100,000
Location: Washington, D.C.
Contractor: Dave Souder, Dave Souder Contractors, Damascus, Md.
Designer: Rill & Decker Architects, Bethesda, Md.
Cabinetmaker: Soren Jensen, Danish Builders, Rockville, Md.
Interior designer: James Griffin, James Griffin Design, New York
