When Amy Gallo, a designer from the Reico store in Richmond first met Jack Liesfield, one thing was immediately clear. Jack wanted to “keep the integrity of his home”, a stunning Williamsburg-styled residence that Jack built himself in the ‘70’s, intact.

So when Jack and Amy began his kitchen renovation they knew it had to be special, and convey all of the warmth and charm of an older home. Knowing what Jack wanted made all the difference for Amy and led the 2 down the path to one amazing kitchen renovation!

Jack wanted to be able to integrate state-of-the-art appliances and find a way to maximize all available storage without encroaching on neighboring rooms.   With the exception of some magnificent Heart Pine flooring which he had to keep, the rest of the kitchen was fair game for Amy as they worked together to give Jack some work space and vastly improved functionality. 

The two decided that the best plan of attack would be to select the cabinetry first and then incorporate the appliances. Raised panel inset doors with antique brass hinges were chosen in 2 finishes: distressed knotty alder with olive colored enamel for the perimeter cabinets, and distressed black enameled maple cabinetry for the island. The distressing on the black enamel of the island revealed red tones which accented the flooring. And wrapping the island in furniture board gave it the appearance of an older, repainted piece of furniture. Because Jack also had plans to repaint the moldings in the kitchen, paintable wainscot panels were used on the back of the knee-wall to ensure that all of the casework matched perfectly.

A panel-ready refrigerator and dishwasher kept the feel of the room and home in check. The range was cleverly hid behind the knee-wall (out of the main sightline of the surrounding rooms), and the microwave tucked neatly into a base cabinet in the island. The sink remained under the window, a stunning farmhouse sink set above the countertop to keep the style of the Williamsburg home intact.

Working together and communicating throughout the project allowed Jack and Amy to select the correct materials and craft a kitchen that met all of Jack’s needs and fit in seamlessly with the home’s persona. Said Amy, “The job was a lot of fun. The best compliment the kitchen received was that it looked like it had always been there.”

Here are some photos to see how it turned out: