Kitchen of the Week: Blue and White With a Stained Glass Window
A 19th-century Brooklyn townhome gets a colorful new kitchen with original crown molding and salvaged stained glass
Ready to give their circa 1880s townhouse a face-lift but eager to preserve its original details, this couple sought the expertise of New York architect Ben Herzog and his team, who specialize in townhouse and apartment renovations and additions in Brooklyn and Manhattan. The four-story brick home in Brooklyn’s Prospect Heights neighborhood boasts intricate plaster crown moldings, arched doorways and even a speaking tube — a kind of old-school intercom system. But it hadn’t been updated in decades and had an awkward layout, with the kitchen sequestered on the second floor. The homeowners and pros agreed: In addition to other structural and cosmetic changes to the home, the kitchen belonged on the first floor, and a room overlooking the rear garden was the perfect spot.
While Federal style was the kitchen’s aesthetic starting point, the finished product reflects a variety of influences. “They’re connected with the arts world,” project manager and designer Ilva Skaraine says of the homeowners. “So they have kind of a quirky and adventurous taste, and they also like an old-world feel.” Perhaps the most striking element of the new kitchen is its colorful stained glass transom window, which the team found at a local architectural salvage yard. But everywhere you look in the room, there’s something to please the eye.
While Federal style was the kitchen’s aesthetic starting point, the finished product reflects a variety of influences. “They’re connected with the arts world,” project manager and designer Ilva Skaraine says of the homeowners. “So they have kind of a quirky and adventurous taste, and they also like an old-world feel.” Perhaps the most striking element of the new kitchen is its colorful stained glass transom window, which the team found at a local architectural salvage yard. But everywhere you look in the room, there’s something to please the eye.
After: Accessed via the front entry hall or living-dining room, the new kitchen features custom cabinetry in an L shape around a large island. The room’s intricate crown molding remains, though some of the original plaster was crumbling, so the general contractor called in a specialist to repair it. A 36-inch Wolf range replaced the former sitting room’s fireplace.
“We moved the mantel to the basement level, but the chimney remained because we did not want to ruin the 3D moldings,” Skaraine says. “We just used that space for ducts and plumbing and electrical. That’s the whole reason the cabinets didn’t go all the way up to the ceiling too — so that we could preserve the original detail up there.”
Paint: Midnight Navy (cabinets), Baby Fawn (walls and ceiling) and Pearl (crown molding), all Benjamin Moore
“We moved the mantel to the basement level, but the chimney remained because we did not want to ruin the 3D moldings,” Skaraine says. “We just used that space for ducts and plumbing and electrical. That’s the whole reason the cabinets didn’t go all the way up to the ceiling too — so that we could preserve the original detail up there.”
Paint: Midnight Navy (cabinets), Baby Fawn (walls and ceiling) and Pearl (crown molding), all Benjamin Moore
Installing a reclaimed stained glass window was the homeowners’ idea. The design team found the perfect one at an architectural salvage yard called Demolition Depot, then built the arch to fit it. The window was repurposed from a demolished church, which is evident when you look closely at its iconography.
Beneath that window, doors open to a metal deck that steps down to the rear yard. Those doors and the windows over the sink, both by Marvin, replaced two original windows and have casings that match stylistically with the existing plaster casings.
Beneath that window, doors open to a metal deck that steps down to the rear yard. Those doors and the windows over the sink, both by Marvin, replaced two original windows and have casings that match stylistically with the existing plaster casings.
White Macaubas quartzite counters provide crisp contrast to the navy cabinets, and a Sub-Zero refrigerator is hidden behind matching navy panels.
The upper cabinets are topped in unstained white oak with a custom brass rail. Matching open corner shelving and glass-front cabinets offer display space.
The homeowners like a rustic look, Skaraine says, and selected the chandelier hanging over the island themselves.
The upper cabinets are topped in unstained white oak with a custom brass rail. Matching open corner shelving and glass-front cabinets offer display space.
The homeowners like a rustic look, Skaraine says, and selected the chandelier hanging over the island themselves.
Photo from Ben Herzog Architect
The kitchen backsplash is hand-glazed white, blue and yellow Moroccan terra-cotta tile, which adds a trendy counterpoint to the traditional millwork.
“We provided many different variations of how to put these styles together,” Skaraine says. “We ended up matching the [cabinet] paint color with the color of the tile and tried to tie in that stained glass transom as well in the scheme.”
Cabinet pulls: Jasper, Industrial Modern series, Emtek; faucet: Kohler Artifacts; tile: Dazzle, Mosaic House
The kitchen backsplash is hand-glazed white, blue and yellow Moroccan terra-cotta tile, which adds a trendy counterpoint to the traditional millwork.
“We provided many different variations of how to put these styles together,” Skaraine says. “We ended up matching the [cabinet] paint color with the color of the tile and tried to tie in that stained glass transom as well in the scheme.”
Cabinet pulls: Jasper, Industrial Modern series, Emtek; faucet: Kohler Artifacts; tile: Dazzle, Mosaic House
Photo from Ben Herzog Architect
The island is raised on feet, which keeps it from looking too bulky.
“It was a little tricky because we have appliances in there, and they need electrical connections,” Skaraine says. “We made sure the design hides whatever is going into the floor underneath the island.”
The island appliances include a built-in microwave and warming drawer. Other features include this nifty drop-in, flush-mount compost bin from Blanco Solon. Designed to be odor-free, it’s easy to pop out and empty.
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The island is raised on feet, which keeps it from looking too bulky.
“It was a little tricky because we have appliances in there, and they need electrical connections,” Skaraine says. “We made sure the design hides whatever is going into the floor underneath the island.”
The island appliances include a built-in microwave and warming drawer. Other features include this nifty drop-in, flush-mount compost bin from Blanco Solon. Designed to be odor-free, it’s easy to pop out and empty.
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The alcove and the pantry doors and trim flanking it are original to the room. The design team removed a poorly fitted bookshelf from the alcove, exposed and cleaned the brick, then built in banquette seating with storage beneath the seat. A small marble-topped, tulip-shaped table adds a midcentury modern touch.
Above the pantries, you can see the grates from a new air conditioning system. There are also new low-profile lights recessed in the plaster ceiling, under the cabinets and under the dining nook arch.
Above the pantries, you can see the grates from a new air conditioning system. There are also new low-profile lights recessed in the plaster ceiling, under the cabinets and under the dining nook arch.
Photo from Ben Herzog Architect
This snapshot shows the arched entryway to the kitchen from the adjacent living room and offers a better view of the detailed plaster ceilings. The general contractor replaced the hardware for the sliding doors to ensure they recess smoothly into the walls.
The team refinished the living room’s original pine subfloors, which transition to new stained white oak in the kitchen.
Wall paint: Serenata, Benjamin Moore
This snapshot shows the arched entryway to the kitchen from the adjacent living room and offers a better view of the detailed plaster ceilings. The general contractor replaced the hardware for the sliding doors to ensure they recess smoothly into the walls.
The team refinished the living room’s original pine subfloors, which transition to new stained white oak in the kitchen.
Wall paint: Serenata, Benjamin Moore
Another arch sits between the entrance hallway and the kitchen. It perfectly frames the newly installed salvaged stained glass window, making it a focal point for all who enter the home.
Wall paint: Schooner, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Schooner, Benjamin Moore
A plan of the newly renovated townhome’s first floor
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple, their young daughter and the family dog
Location: Prospect Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York
Size: 300 square feet (28 square meters)
Designers: Architect Ben Herzog and project manager-designer Ilva Skaraine of Ben Herzog Architect
Contractor: Ryszard & Son Construction
Before: Likely a sitting room originally, the first-floor space that’s now the kitchen overlooks the backyard. Previously, it was used by the wife as a home office, as pictured here, Skaraine says.
Note the room’s intricate crown molding, fireplace and tall windows.
The home’s original kitchen probably was on the garden (basement) level, as was typical in that era, Herzog says, but at some point it was relocated to the second floor. Following the two-year renovation that included this kitchen project, that second-floor space is now the primary suite and walk-in closet.
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