Why do we love our kitchens? Let’s start with their utility and beauty— we asked three DC-area designers to showcase some of their recent successes in the home’s hub.
Designed by Jamie Merida, this kitchen in a waterfront home offers a bright and functional room where the homeowners can dine and entertain—all boosted by a gorgeous live-edge table.
Andrew Zimmern, among countless others, said that everything happens in the kitchen. And by everything, he means the tasks, large and small, beyond cooking. The space has morphed into a central gathering hub, of course, but there’s something more at work here: It’s the room that likely defines who we are. Which explains why many architects and interior designers map out the contours of this space before any other square footage. It’s critical to how a home flows and functions. We asked the minds behind three local firms to submit some of their favorite recent kitchen projects.
This transitional kitchen with floor-to-ceiling custom cabinetry and a wine bar is perfect for entertaining.
DESIGNER
Jamie Merida jamiemerida.com
HIGHLIGHTS
The home doesn’t have a formal dining room, so the kitchen had to include an eating space that was stylish and comfortable for hosting dinner guests. “We chose a custom live-edge table with white resin, which is absolutely gorgeous,” says Merida. “The resin creates a feeling of fluidity, which \is perfect for the home’s waterfront setting. We chose two different styles of chairs from Palecek (palecek.com) that complement each other perfectly.”
This kitchen, complete with modern light fixtures and yellow glass backsplash, features abundant pops of color. The custom island features an eat-in countertop and an additional sink. The kitchen was designed to accommodate plenty of storage space with sleek and textured custom cabinetry.
DESIGNER
Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens jackrosen.com
The team at Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens always aims to create spaces that fit a family’s lifestyle,and this mudroom serves as the central hub for entering or exiting the home.
HIGHLIGHTS
All four kitchens reveal the versatility of the Jack Rosen team, with a mix of contemporary cabinetry, eat-in countertops, transitional spaces and abundant storage. The Rockville, Md.-based company maps out kitchens after listening sessions with clients and figuring out the many uses of each space—and how the room itself will evolve with the family.
The kitchen is an ideal example of very prevalent trends toward transitional kitchens. The beautiful custom cabinetry offers organizational systems to keep everything in its place and maximize storage throughout the space. And we'd like to think it's incredibly dog-friendly.
DESIGNER-BUILDER
Marks-Woods Construction markswoods.com
The kitchen's white walls and flooring complement the room's black island and cabinetry.
HIGHLIGHTS
A first-floor renovation in this Great Falls home includes a new kitchen with a hidden pantry (with a ladder), custom millwork design, modern cabinets, custom doors and floating dining room shelves built on-site.
The design team added a hidden pantry, complete with a ladder.
DESIGNER-BUILDER
Marks-Woods Construction markswoods.com
After knocking down a wall between the kitchen and dining room, this Arlington space now has perfect flow.
HIGHLIGHTS
Braemar (braemarcabinetry.com) cabinetry anchors this incredible Arlington space, which is the result of knocking down a wall between the kitchen and dining room. The coastal-chic vibe is part of a room that includes white oak, brass hardware and lighting mixed with black accents, Visual Comfort (visualcomfort.com) lighting, a four-seat island with a built-in oven and lots of storage.
