When designer Sary Em of (Re)work Architecture & Design took on overhauling this kitchen in the Mount Airy neighborhood of Philadelphia, infusing it with character was priority number one. “This is an old stone house from the late 1800s and it has a lot of character, but the kitchen felt really sterile,” she says. Previous owners had stripped the space of almost all the original details. They’d also lived with limited storage and counter space—two additional items for Em’s to-do list.
Installing a soapstone-topped kitchen island was a big step in addressing the storage and countertop issues. As for adding character, Em leaned into the surroundings—both within the house and outdoors. She chose an earthy color palette to reflect the home’s leafy neighborhood, using Benjamin Moore’s Silver Satin for the walls and ceiling, Balboa Mist for the trim, and Smokey Ash for the cabinets. She then incorporated thoughtful details that would match the home’s history, but still be functional. She says, “We wanted it to flow with the rest of the house, but still have modern conveniences.” Here’s how she made it happen.
Be strategic about storage
Is there anything more modern and convenient than having good storage? Here, Em made the most of the space by including accessible storage on both sides of the island, as well as running the wall cabinets to the ceiling. To keep the floor-to-ceiling cabinetry from looking too “heavy,” she reserved a small stretch for open shelving. “The open shelving adds a little lightness to that wall and gives the homeowners a space to display things they really love, which I think is important,” she says. Additionally, a corner banquet covered in a poppy paisley fabric by GP & J Baker includes drawers below it—the perfect place to stash serving platters and linens.
Add character with lighting
In addition to picking black-and-white penny tile flooring (sourced from Stone Center Online), Em created vintage vibes through the kitchen’s lighting. The two scalloped pendants above the island look antique, but they’re actually new from deVOL. In the corner with the banquet, Em added a sconce with a built-in walnut tabletop from Lostine, creating a cozy nook for reading the paper with a cup of coffee. And above the open shelving, she installed a traditional picture light by Visual Comfort. “This was also a moment to add another touch of brass, which you’ll see in the brackets below the open shelves as well as in the switchplates and cabinet hardware,” she says. “We made a point to select all unlacquered brass because it patinas over time and looks better and better as the years go by.”
But don’t rule out natural light
If privacy allows, Em says it might be worth skipping window treatments in favor of more expansive views and additional light. “Not only is the house very private, but also every season looks beautiful here” she says. “All the light that streams in is great, too.” Maximizing the room’s natural light is another reason Em chose double doors with glass panels to separate the kitchen from the adjoining mudroom. “Our woodworker built those double doors to mimic the look of the cabinetry, right down to the reeded glass panels,” she says.
Rely on reeded glass
The room’s reeded, or ribbed, glass is not only an aesthetic choice, it serves a practical purpose, too. “Reeded glass makes organization a little easier on the homeowners,” Em says. “If it were clear glass, they might feel pressure to only keep beautiful things behind there or maintain a perfect display at all times. Since you can’t see everything clearly, they can just store their regular dishes there.”
Create a coffee closet
Speaking of picture-perfect displays, coffee drinkers will understand the dilemma of deciding between uncluttered countertops and keeping your machine accessible. Em found the perfect compromise by adding a coffee closet to the left of the banquet. “Because we knew there was potential for this cabinet to be open a lot, we lined it in walnut and used leftover pieces from the calacatta black marble backsplash as a countertop so it coordinates with other elements in the room,” she says. And once everyone is sufficiently caffeinated, the station is stashed away behind closed doors—maintaining the kitchen’s character-filled, traditional aesthetic.
