Creating a light and airy space was priority one for Robert Cole and Sophie Prévost when they designed this kitchen with no exterior walls. In addition to making up for the lack of natural light, they wanted to create a kitchen that didn’t take itself too seriously. Cole and Prévost organized the room around a large island table with an herb garden built in at one end that gives the space a friendly feel and a tongue-in-cheek outdoor connection. Dropped panels 7 feet above the wooden table support several types of light fixtures that wash the room in even illumination and discreetly shine grow lights on the plants. That floating ceiling also compresses the space above the table to encourage people to sit down. The table visually divides the room in half with one side serving as a social center featuring a sitting nook and a porch swing. The stainless steel workstation that stretches along the opposite wall contains stove, sink, and refrigerator. Cole and Prévost were able to maintain the room’s lightness by eliminating most upper cabinets, replacing them with a pantry and thoughtfully placed storage like extra-deep drawers along the cooking center. Cole speced 30-inch-deep counters to provide that extra drawer storage and to provide room for a 6-inch drainage tray that runs along the back of the counter, making cleanup a snap.
Builder/Architect: Robert Cole, ColePrévost, Washington, D.C.; Interior designer: Sophie Prévost, ColePrévost; Metalwork: Metal Specialties, Louisa, Va.; Photographer: Lydia Cutter.
Resources: Appliances: JennAir; Cabinets: Wood-Mode, Circle 166; Plumbing fixtures: Dornbracht, Circle 167.
