This project was part of a decorator showhouse. The mansion was designed in 1918 for the William Coe family in regency style with gothic elements - leaded stained glass, hand-carved oak furniture and other decorative elements. The designers were challenged to convert two small rooms - a bathroom and a powder room - into a butler's pantry for the adjoining dining room where museum committee and staff members conduct meetings.
The room would include a microwave and refrigerator. In order to keep the historic style of the room in tact, the microwave was installed in a base cabinet and the undercounter refrigerator was installed with a door panel matching the cabinetry.
The existing bathroom had a beautiful leaded glass window that was partially covered with a wall. In order to create a spacious and sun-lit pantry, the designers eliminated the partition between the bathroom and the powder room, which removed the obstruction from the window and allowed sunlight in.
The designers kept the original style by paneling the walls and backsplashes with a loom similar to that of the rest of the house. An old-style copper sink and faucet were placed in a limestone countertop, creating an authentic Old World look. The blueberry glaze on the cabinets adds an up-to-date freshness to the room. Terra cotta and ceramic tiles were arranged in the center of the room to create a carpet-like effect.
This kitchen was a third-place award winner in the National Kitchen and Bath Association's 1999 Design Competition. Design and construction contacts:
Merrie A Fredericks, CKD,CBD
Audrey Krisbergh
SELECTIVE DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION INC T/A DESIGN CONCEPTS PLUS
278 N Lansdowne Avenue - Office
Lansdowne, PA 19050-1143
(610) 449-9560
