While the home’s kitchen and informal dining area was an efficient one — and for years dutifully served the family of four — the space essentially lacked the overall livability, function and aesthetics desired for the couple’s lifestyle. “Kent really got into gourmet cooking a couple of years ago. … We have a number of raised beds in our backyard for growing various herbs, cucumbers, tomatoes and peppers, and so the focus of the renovation became much more about the working kitchen than originally planned. He needed space for pots and pans — and the ease of getting to them. And an oversized island was a must,” Teresa says. “One of my biggest desires was to see everything I owned. I had pretty dishes crammed in the bottom of cabinets, and wondered, ‘Why have beautiful things, just to have them hidden away?’ I wanted space, and a lot of glass cabinetry.” With these initial ideas in mind, the couple collaborated with local architect Tilghman Herring, builder Bryan Humphrey and interior design consultant Susan Covington to help turn years of home of distinction dreams into reality. Today, the kitchen, originally known more for its efficiency than its sufficiency, has been transformed. Expanding the entire width of the home, the new addition blends seamlessly and adds a fresh flavor to the older home. “I love the character, the richness and sustenance of an older home like ours,” Teresa says, “but I wanted this new space to be light and bright. I never had white paint, but I knew this room had to have it. … I really like how now, from the front door, you walk into formal, a little less formal, and then onto our back porch, in essence.” Hill says marrying the old with the new was one of the fun aspects of the process, explaining, “The thing about an old house and taking what’s already there, and working with it, is that you always get something unique in the end.” Hill wishes she could say what she loves best about her new kitchen. From the open storage, to work spaces, to the cooking area, to the eclectic sitting room — she says without hesitation, “I love it all. I have no regrets. Patience can be a good thing.” Clockwise from top: Pots and pans are within reach of the central cooking area. Joe Hammett’s glazed cabinet showcases dishes once stacked behind cupboard doors. The kitchen’s original footprint is now coffee bar, wet bar and honed soapstone buffet. The 6- by 8-foot Carrera marble island is the staging area for everyday events and special celebrations. 73 WBM
2014-4
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