Project: Design-build kitchen expansion and remodel in Stoneham MA – AKA Project Dracula’s Castle
#ProjectDraculasCastle is a bit of a misnomer, given the beauty and lightness of this kitchen, although it’s definitely our cheekiest project name to date. Our goal in this design-build remodeling project was to completely redesign the dark and cramped kitchen in our clients’ 1970s split home, and open the space to both a dining room and the “great room” off the back of their house.
Our client likened herself and her style to a 100-year-old Italian grandmother – the more details and layers the better – and joked that Dracula’s Castle would be her dream design. With her Sicilian heritage and her husband’s skill for cooking in mind, we knew this kitchen needed to be equipped for Italian family cooking and also chockfull of special details. The end result is *chef’s kiss*!
Photography: Regina Mallory Photography
Step One in this project was reimagining the kitchen’s footprint and layout. The previous kitchen and dining room were adjacent to a large “great room” flooded with natural light from floor-to-ceiling windows, so we expanded the size of the kitchen to encompass the dining room and create balance to the great room. The opening between the new kitchen and great room widened significantly to create an open floor plan and flow between the spaces.
With the kitchen’s footprint essentially doubling, we laid out the appliances with plenty of room to move between workstations, from the cooking station at the far end of the kitchen (complete with cooktop and double ovens), to the washing and prep station in the new island. When we expanded the size of the kitchen, our clients relocated their formal dining room furniture to an underutilized living room to create a new dining space.
The kitchen’s new layout anchors the refrigerator on a perimeter wall opposite the kitchen sink, and the remaining wall offers ample room for pantry and utility storage, and an ancillary countertop surface for serving. As our clients preferred table-height seating in the kitchen, we designed the island to be two-tier, with a wraparound table-height countertop supported with beautifully detailed legs. The American Black Walnut top offers the warm of a dining table.
With the kitchen now open to the great room, the space is flooded with beautiful natural light. While it’s a lovely, bright space, we wanted to layer depth and character with interesting materials and finishes. The raised panel cabinet style is more dressed up than the typical “Shaker” door, and a decorative mullion door with glass provides a formal, traditional feel for display.
The unique materials really shine at the ancillary countertop area, where the beveled arabesque backsplash tile is accented with a metallic bronze grout. The perimeter countertop is a quartz material with ribbons of gold, rose and bronze throughout. The decorative corbels under the wall cabinets and the Tuscan bronze hardware add more rich details.
At the cooking wall, we incorporated a really special detail to honor our client’s Sicilian heritage. The accent tile under the hood features a photograph taken by the client’s father in 1971 at the landmark port of Messina, Sicily, where the family is from. The sepia tone tinting of the photo and transfer to tile is a unique custom detail in this kitchen.
New beige porcelain floor tiles offer a durable foundation flowing from the kitchen to the great room, with subtle texture for a real stone feel. With the generous island placed at the center of the kitchen, there is plenty of room for guests to relax while our clients bustle about cooking and entertaining.
Another view of the stunning custom tile above the cooktop, which our tile installer framed with a marble pencil.
Out of the way but readily available, we tucked a shallow bookcase cabinet at the end of the island, so our clients have easy access to their collection of cookbooks. The island countertop features a profiled ogee edge, another subtle detail that lends character to the space.
In the spirit of evoking Dracula’s Castle, the layers of contrasting and handsome details in the space abound, from the oil rubbed bronze faucet and textured hardware, to the warmth of the walnut dining top and the unique quartz stone countertop. This was a truly unique and enjoyable design-build experience. Out team always aims to cater to the personalities, lifestyles and goals of our clients, and we’re happy that we achieved it in spades in this beautiful Stoneham home.
Take a closer look at #ProjectDraculasCastle as our designer, Jenni Jacobs, provides a tour of the beautiful finished space.
See how this space was transformed in our Before and After Gallery
Your kitchen should be more than just a place to cook—it should be a space that inspires and feels uniquely yours. At McGuire + Co. Kitchen & Bath, we specialize in designing kitchens that perfectly balance style, function, and your personal taste. From thoughtful layouts to custom finishes, we’ll help you create a space that works beautifully for your home and lifestyle. Visit our kitchen design services to take the first step toward a kitchen that’s made for you!
