Queen Anne Simplified (part 2)

March 20, 2012

The director of Campobello International Park kindly emailed photos of the Cottage's butler's pantry and kitchen. Elements like brass cupboard latches, bead board doors and soapstone countertops felt just right for our Queen Anne's Victorian kitchen. We also scoured our library of reference books and magazines and took clues from the house, to further inform our direction.

Since the kitchen and dining room are so connected we wanted to unify the rooms yet keep them as distinct spaces. Originally the two together once comprised the 19th century kitchen. The cooking stove was in the dining area and what is now strictly a compact kitchen once served as the pantry with cupboards and sink. We wanted our final design to reflect all that. Our choice of materials and use of paint would help achieve the desired result.

After a few visits to the space to meet with our clients the color scheme took shape. For the plaster walls in the dining room, a sage green; Benjamin Moore Nantucket Grey in a mat finish. For the tin ceiling, bead board and trim an off white; Benjamin Moore's Hepplewhite Ivory in satin. We used the ivory on all of the paintable surfaces of the compact kitchen, to unify the space, make it feel larger and reflect more of the natural light.

These colors were tried and true since they grace several rooms of our own home. In our clients home they would complement the warm tone of the parquet floors and the original stained fir trim and doors. A tour of our own digs to go over details was all the homeowners needed to approve. It turns out green is her favorite color.

To tie the sage color in the dining room to the kitchen - we went with a green, simulated soapstone laminate for the countertops. They were custom fabricated it onsite with square edges, a high backsplash and a thin profile to mimic the appearance of traditional stone.

For the cabinetry we also picked up on another dining room feature - the 36 inch tall wainscoting. We used the same bead board as panels for the lower doors surrounded by the same molding used to create the cap of the dining room's chair rail. By doing this we created a continuous visual line of the bead board all the way around the two rooms. For the upper cabinets we went with plain panels and the same panel molding. This amplified the effect of the bead board, added interest and allowed for the idea that had all this been original they may have been added later.

Antique brass was an easy choice for the hardware and lighting finish since it was already throughout the home and it would look great with the ivory color. The faucet was the hardest to find - antique brass isn't currently the 'flavor of the month.' After much internet searching, a gorgeous Whitehaus faucet appeared on the screen. With its gooseneck single lever mixer and matching side sprayer, it has a modern functionality, with an antique sensibility.

Rejuvenation is always our go to source for period reproduction lighting if we can't find what we're looking for in salvage. A simple school house was our choice for the main light with traditional cloth cord pendant lights to illuminate the sink and stove areas. The uppers are fitted with under cabinet lights as well - giving the space more than ample light and an attractive warm glow.

We found handsome Eastlake patterned bin pulls from a favorite source, Horton Brasses. They go nicely with the home's original hardware and it's more elaborate Queen Anne style. Simple ball tipped hinges and inexpensive stamped cupboard latches give the cabinets that butler's pantry look.

In the end, everything came together as we hoped, giving the space that warmth, simple elegance and sense of history, à la Campobello.

click here for Part 1

click here for more photos of the project

(click photo to view larger image)