For a Chicago couple raising three young sons, their Georgian-style home in East Glenview, Illinois, offered an appealing setting but fell short in the kitchen. The room had an awkward layout, dated appliances and limited storage, making it poorly suited to the daily demands of a family of five.
Elizabeth Smolcich, principal interior designer at Glenview-based Mason & Brass, reworked the 450-square-foot space to improve both its functionality and connection to the rest of the house. She widened the opening between the kitchen and living room so homeowner Marie Gould could keep an eye on her children while cooking. Removing a cramped corner booth also allowed her to enlarge and center a new island.
The island is topped with smoky quartzite and provides space for food preparation, baking and casual seating. Schoolhouse-style fluted glass pendants hang above it, while a custom upholstered banquette adds flexibility. Although it appears built into the island, the bench can be moved beside the dining table, which extends from 66 to 96 inches when the family entertains.
Cooking was another priority. The redesigned kitchen includes a double oven and a smart SKS range with rapid preheating, induction cooking and four gas burners. According to the homeowners, the range can boil water for pasta in 60 seconds and supports the family’s preference for seared foods. It also includes sous vide functionality and Smart Knobs with LED displays showing heat levels and remaining cooking time.
Storage was distributed throughout the room rather than concentrated in a single area. Smolcich added concealed storage above the range for oils and seasonings, an appliance garage for the toaster, blenders, mixer and coffee maker, and a pantry wall finished in Benjamin Moore Black Iron. Two SKS dishwashers sit near the island’s Kohler prep sink and the main sink along the perimeter, which includes a custom cutting board.
A beverage bar with a 24-inch second refrigerator provides dedicated space for the children’s juice boxes. The kitchen also incorporates personal touches, including a framed photograph of Gould’s parents baking with her oldest son alongside a handwritten family banana bread recipe.
The result is a kitchen designed to accommodate both everyday family life and large gatherings, with seating, appliances and storage arranged around the way the household cooks, entertains and spends time together.
Sources: Architectural Digest.