This Westchester farmhouse was built in the 18th century and has been lovingly restored, with a redesigned kitchen to complete the picture.
The Project: This farmhouse was built in the 18th century and was purchased by the current owners in the late ’90s. It has since been lovingly restored by modernizing the spaces. “The homeowners wanted a space that has modern conveniences but in keeping with the traditional vernacular of the home’s storied past,” says designer Kyle O’Donnell.
Inspiration: Traditional, simple, and something that would blend well with the rest of the country home.
Materials: The kitchen was redesigned in warm oak cabinetry, with gray slabs of stone for the counter. Appliances are paneled to blend into the cabinets, and the hardware and Waterworks plumbing fixture are aged pewter. The oversized farmhouse sink overlooks a bright, enclosed porch and pool beyond. The exhaust hood is wrapped in zinc, to render a patina with age.
Favorite Part: “The wood edge of the island,” says O’Donnell. “I originally had a simple square edge but changed last minute to an oversized bolection-inspired edge. The weight and hand-carved quality are nods to the original mill.”
What Every Kitchen Needs: “Storage and access to storage,” says O’Donnell. “There are so many great internal cabinet storage products that are tools to make your life easier, like mixer-lifts, hydraulic doors, corner cabinets, and sliding trays. There is no longer a need to stand on the edge of the counter while trying to fish out a bowl from the back of the cabinet. A well-designed kitchen can completely change the way you cook.”
Common Mistakes: “I personally do not love synthetic and imitation materials, like engineered stone,” says O’Donnell. “A kitchen is meant to get used, and the patina from the wear and tear over time should be appreciated.”
The Team: Designer: Kyle O’Donnell Gramercy Design; Cabinetry: Michael Bednark, Bednark Studios
