Fine Vintage
Quaint is an apt descriptor for the colonial row homes that make up D.C.’s historic Georgetown neighborhood. But it’s also a euphemism for small.
That didn’t stop kitchen designer Jennifer Gilmer from artfully tucking a range, second oven, microwave, refrigerator, ice machine, wine cooler, prep sink, vent hood, eating area, and work desk into this narrow, 248-square-foot envelope. To alleviate the dark corners that often plague rowhomes, she replaced an existing small window with a three-panel casement window above the sink, overlooking the patio and garden.
But she also held fast to certain traditions. The cooking area can be closed off from the dining room during parties via large pocket doors–although classic furniture-style pieces in the heart of the kitchen make it tempting to leave the doors open. Those include a built-in storage “hutch” and corner desk, a Sub-Zero fridge, a skinny pull-out pantry hidden inside what looks like a vintage armoire, and a carved-wood range hood featuring display niches for art. Gilmer cleverly repurposed an antique fireplace cover as a backsplash above the range, and used three different cabinet finishes to give the space an old-fashioned elegance.
