Kitchen of the Week: A Something Old, Something New Kitchen in Brooklyn

The back parlor of this 19th-century Brooklyn townhouse was converted into a small kitchen a while back. Its new owners, a couple with a young son, loved its original features, especially the stone mantel and 10-foot pocket doors, but otherwise wanted a clean slate. Their architect, Shauna McManus, was given the challenge of preserving the old parlor look while fitting in a lot of hardworking elements, a dining table included, into approximately 325 square feet. To get the job done, she collaborated with kitchen systems masters Henrybuilt.

Photography courtesy of Henrybuilt.

Above: “We wanted the kitchen to be ‘inserted’ into the shell of the brownstone space—to be completely different from the historic details (which we took a lot of care to preserve), but we didn’t want it to be cold or sleek,” McManus told us. Her clients regularly host foreign houseguests; they asked that the new features allow for serious cooking to go on—hence the large work island—while looking more like furniture than kitchen components. Toward that end, McManus selected teak: “It’s warm and durable but different from traditional brownstone woods.”

Above: After considering many different floor plans, McManus and the Henrybuilt team slotted in the teak table at the end of the island, creating its own territory and preserving room to maneuver.

The table is one of five distinct areas that, as McManus explained, “are tightly woven into the existing footprint, and are tailored for food prep on the island, cooking at the stove, breakfast/coffee prep at the cabinet next to the fireplace, and cleanup at the main sink.”

Above: The existing arched window over the sink was opened up to create a big view of the garden and to bring in sunlight. It’s flanked by powder-coated steel shelves with black hardware, a Henrybuilt signature design. A Brendan Ravenhill Church light helps define the eating area.

Above: A microwave is tucked into the coffee counter. The tall cabinet on the other side of the mantel holds appliances, such as the blender, and pantry goods. The print over the mantel is by Shepard Fairey.

The new floor is four-foot-long rift and quartered white oak with a medium walnut stain.

Above: Caesarstone counters and cabinet faces of high-pressure, “truly kid-proof” laminate contrast with the teak. McManus chose white “to reflect more light all around.” The pulls are stainless steel (and, alas, not sold separately). The kitchen’s faucets are by Bulthaup and are paired with Julien sinks.

Above: Cabinets and drawers are kitted out for use; this one has movable dividers.

Above: A Wolf range stands at the far end of the island, which is conveniently fitted with a prep sink.

Above: Shelves, leather pouches, and a small desk of walnut topped with Paperstone create an additional zone, a family control center in the entrance to the room.

Powder-coated steel bins, a teak desk, and shelves from Henrybuilt's Opencase storage line

Above: The storage components are from Henrybuilt’s panel-based Opencase line, which hangs from steel rods and can be configured in a number of different ways. The lower steel bins currently serve as a toy chest.