Avid home chefs Tara Trimarchi and David Munson yearned for a larger kitchen in their 1912 English-style Wynnewood cottage. A 36-inch gas range, a second oven and an appliance garage were at the top of their wish list. In the end, the couple got everything they wanted and more, all while staying almost entirely within the kitchen’s original footprint.
To make it happen, the couple called on Sean Lewis, creative director of Philadelphia’s Airy Kitchens. His design entailed opening a wall to the family room, recessing the refrigerator into a sidewall, and borrowing space from the hall coat closet for an appliance garage. “Homeowners typically want to squeeze as much into their kitchen renovation as possible, but that doesn’t always create a space that’s open, serene and friendly for entertaining,” says Lewis. “I often recommend adding storage in adjacent rooms to free up space for more people in the kitchen.”
A large peninsula and countertop provide a unifying element, doing triple duty as a prep surface, a serving buffet and a casual dining area. In the adjoining family room, a custom built-in hutch houses a wine fridge, a paneled under-counter refrigerator, freezer drawers, a sink, and upper-cabinet storage for serving dishes and barware. “Not only does this offer extra storage for the family, but it also allows guests to wash their hands, grab a drink and help set the table without entering the chef’s workspace,” Lewis says.
“I often recommend adding storage in adjacent rooms to free up space for more people in the kitchen.”
—Airy Kitchens’ Sean Lewis
A large peninsula and countertop provide a unifying element, doing triple duty as a prep surface, a serving buffet and a casual dining area.
The Airy Kitchens team helped the couple capture their style with one-of-a-kind touches. Upper cabinets are fitted with vintage glass, the window wall is covered with subway tile, and the refrigerator is paneled in distressed white oak to look like a rustic armoire.
“Two of our favorites are the different moldings and elevations that make each section of cabinets look like distinct pieces of furniture,” says Trimarchi. “There’s a little bit of patina setting in, and it adds to the character. It just keeps getting better over time.”
Airy Kitchens
88 W. Johnson St., Philadelphia, (215) 853-6060
