Three Visions, Three Kitchens
Homeowners with different needs, different tastes and different budgets discover ways to make their dreams come true.
WHEN JENNIFER HURLEY FIRST SAW THE
diminutive 19th century rowhouse near
South Street that was to become her
home, it was the back yard that proved
the clincher. For Hurley, a city planner,
that little rectangle of outdoor space
provided the breathing room she needed
to live happily in the middle of the city.
The problem was, the only way to get to
her urban oasis was via a narrow alley
reached by a door in her tiny 9-by-9 foot
kitchen. At the top of her renovation list
was better access to the back yard.
Working with Schade and Bolender
Architects, Hurley decided she was
willing to give up some square footage in
the yard to gain a more expansive kitchen.
The addition houses not only cooking
functions, but also Hurley's living room.
That way, she says, friends can relax
comfortably and chat with her while she
cooks, and even on rainy days, she can sit
on the sofa and enjoy the back yard.
"We wanted to give a sense of
expanded space by including the back
garden as part of the room." says architect
Kiki Bolender, "so height of objects in the
space was crucial. We made sure that no
walls, tall cabinets or appliances would
block the view through to the garden."
Semicustom cherry cabinets hug the walls,
extending all the way to the ceiling for a
clean, elegant look. A slender island,
slightly curved on one side, is aligned
lengthwise in the space, with plenty of
room on each side for Hurley and her
