Behind The Scenes
Chalet Vacation Home Kitchen Remodel
This husband-and-wife duo, Bruce and Anita, who reside in Chevy Chase, Maryland full time, contacted me to redesign and add some flair to their Linden, Virginia mountain chalet home’s kitchen in 2023. When I spoke at length on the phone with the husband prior to my visit, his first emphasis was that his wife “loves tile” and would “be picking out the tile backsplash” for the kitchen. Accordingly, because I am flexible with my clients in general, I read between the lines, and took a backseat in the design process to ensure she felt comfortable—as I suspected there were other design aspects that she would want to direct.
When I walked into their chalet a few weeks later, their existing decor boasted a mid-century modern theme, hands down. With large windows in the great, dining and kitchen room areas, the mountain views were stunning.
We discussed the existing layout first, as I always do on my initial on-site visit. There weren’t many design layout challenges in this kitchen. But there was one area that needed rethinking. Off to the right of the kitchen, hidden behind a cased opening with a narrow hallway leading to another hallway, was a stacked ASKO washer and dryer along with miscellaneous cabinet storage. This was awkward, disorganized, and unsightly. They patently agreed.
I walked toward the other intersecting hallway. In this hallway, there was a small closet under the stairs. “Here is where your ASKO can go!”. Logic appealed to these two thankfully—they agreed.
They also agreed that it made sense to remove the cased opening next to the kitchen and continue the new cabinetry into the hallway—in effect making this a pantry that connected without division to the kitchen.
Ultimately, this kitchen is the most playful one I have ever designed. Note the “before” photo. Quite the transformation!
Other design elements:
1) APPLIANCES
30″ Range: GE Monogram ZGP304NTSS30″ Hood: Zephyr “Vista” DVS-E30ASSX
36″ Refrigerator/Freezer: Subzero DET3650CI/L
24″ Miele Dishwasher: G7566SCVI
24″ Wolf MW Drawer: MD24TE/S
2) CABINETRY
Hickory Creek Cabinetry, Manheim, PAScandinavian door and drawer style
Sherwin Williams “Lemon Verbena” paint in 10 sheen
3) TILE
“The Brio Glass Mosaic Tile in Midland” by Modwalls4) COUNTERTOP
“Aurora” Leathered Quartzite5) CABINET
HARDWARE Schoolhouse “Cove” knobs and pulls
The beautiful couple, Bruce and Anita, contacted us for a kitchen makeover, which included appliances, cabinetry, tile, countertops, and cabinet hardware.
