When Alicia Interiors owner Alicia Brewin agreed to collaborate on designing a new northwestern Maryland home with client Elaine Hottel, the challenge was to infuse the pristine space with harvested memories from Hottel’s decades living on her recently-sold family farms. It was especially important in the kitchen and breakfast area, which served as Hottel’s primary gathering space.
This farmhouse kitchen includes modern conveniences blended with a formal country style.
“She was moving from an old Victorian home. And I cringed at the fact that she was moving rather than renovating it. But it really wasn’t working for her,” Brewin says. “It was a large house and she was a very social person and entertained a lot. However, she seemed to live at her breakfast table and the rest of the house wasn’t being used.”
Construction for the entire new house took more than two years to complete. And it was hardly a straight-line production. After the original carpenter passed away, Frederick, Maryland carpenter Jack Damico of Damico WoodWorks stepped in to take his place. “I had to put finish on a lot of the woodwork right in her house,” says Damico. “I can’t spray varnish lacquers in somebody’s home, so I had to use a water-based acrylic. We taped everything off and all the surfaces were sprayed, even though the floors and countertops were already in.”
bringing the landscape inside
Hottel purposely specified open space above the sink area to enjoy grand views of the rolling hills gracing her 25-acre estate, a view that also includes far away glimpses of one of her family farms. An open hanging display cabinet features etched images of corn and wheat, again mirroring the farm essence Hottel desired.
In the breakfast room, artist Nathalie Vogel created a mural depicting the actual outside landscape behind the wall, complete with sheep, foxes, deer, and all manner of wildlife populating the real exterior scene.Hottel chose the countertop’s Brazilian granite because the pattern looked like an aerial view of farmland. The stone’s gray and white tones are a cool complement to the warm palette throughout the rest of the kitchen.
For Hottel, the connection with the outside makes the well-used kitchen a comfortable environment. –I love my kitchen because itês so open and workable. And no matter what direction I look, I have a wonderful view. That’s one of the things that makes me happiest when I’m working.”
Once the final kitchen layout was determined, design became a process of balancing rustic rural warmth with modern convenience to accommodate both Hottel and her mother. “I’m more of a contemporary person. But that never would have worked for her. You have to design for your customers’ best interests,” Brewin explains. “But as long as you’re designing for warmth and comfort, you’ll always hit the mark.”
Every visual feature was chosen by Hottel and Brewin to add some historic patina to the kitchen. The carpentry took on a pivotal role in providing the effect. Damico also had a good idea of how to deliver Hottel’s desires. “I had already done some work in her old house. Knowing the old fashioned, turn-of-the-century work she liked, I was able to achieve that time-worn, old farm look.”
Inset cabinet doors mimicked rustic farm quality and country-style wainscoting referenced portions of Hottel’s childhood home’s kitchen. Reclaimed barn heart pine was installed as flooring throughout the entire home, with variable widths between four and six inches for a historic feel. Under the knotty pine floors runs a radiant heat system to provide unrivaled warmth.
The abundant cabinetry was designed to accommodate the homeowner's collections of dishware. Granite countertops in the kitchen were selected to evoke an aerial view of farmland.
The cooking appliances offer a little play between aged character and contemporary sheen. At one end of the kitchen are stainless steel Wolf cooking ovens, with a matching 48-inch Wolf rangetop installed at the opposite end. Above the rangetop, a pot filler faucet provides Hottel with a measure of convenience. But to balance that new style, Brewin used subway tiles behind the rangetop to create a hearth effect, adding another layer of historic, rural charm. The constructed mantel also provides a display area for one of Hottel’s five dishware collections.
“The original design started with a brick hearth-style area on one side of the wall. But the layout changes nixed that idea,” says Brewin. “The kitchen needed a focal point and something to add some age.”
Other necessities dictated that the historic veneer would need to include further modern touches. Since Hottelês recent stroke left her with minor physical limitations, her efficiency of motion became a prime consideration. The island includes two Sub-Zero undercounter refrigerated drawers to hold fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing necessary movement during food preparation. The undercounter refrigerator also makes healthy snacks more accessible to her grandchildren.
In this kitchen, the farm is everywhere including mural in the breakfast room and glass of the crystal cabinet that is custom-etched with images of corn and wheat.
The cabinetry features full extension pullout drawers for all of Hottel’s utensils, pans, and baking dishes. According to Hottel, their accessibility is a must in her current condition. “The pullout drawers are so much easier than crawling in and bending at the knees to get something in the back.”
Stealing some kitchen square footage for the bedroom also meant incorporating space-saving features to help keep counters organized. A pullout appliance garage hides small appliances and reduces counter clutter. “I didn’t have a lot of counter space in my old house and I didn’t want a lot of clutter,” Hottel explained. “So I put an appliance station in the cupboard.”
With its mix of old time charm and contemporary amenities, the end result was every bit of what Hottel wanted. “It made me feel like I was home. It was very warm yet very workable.”
Mark S. Reeve is a freelance writer living in Ocean View, Delaware.Contacts:
Alicia Interiors: aliciainteriors.com or 360-452-0800
Damico WoodWorks: jackdamicowoodworks.com or 301-473-5744
Nathalie Vogel: nathalievogel.com
