All surfaces of the columns contribute to adjacent space as kitchen side appliances and storage are wrapped with aluminum laminated panels, changing throughout the day as they reflect the morning and afternoon sun into the north facing living room.

The goal of this renovation was to convert a 1940’s-era brick colonial home originally owned by the owner’s grandparents into a 21-st century home for a young couple starting out.

Previously small, compartmentalized rooms are transformed by removing specific sections and slices of wall resulting in a new adaptation of the modest floor plate. The removal of the non-load bearing wall separating the kitchen and dining area provided necessary connectivity and use of borrowed space. The center load bearing wall to the adjacent living room, encumbered with structure and hvac, provided more of a challenge.

Juxtaposed against the vertical columns, the continuous horizontal counter and cabinetry splices kitchen and dining area with an affordable and durable bamboo butcher block with ample room for side by side cooking.

On the reverse side, the surface of the columns evolves to host a series of horizontal picture rails, up-lighting and small recesses for the remote controls.

The surprise of the kitchen’s pine subfloor, discovered during demolition, illuminated the solution of using a bright floor stain to contribute to the visual continuity of the entire surface while still highlighting the different grains of wood.

Targeted subtraction of the central wall and consolidating the refrigerator, ovens, and pantry produced a composed array of ‘columns,’ providing definition of programmed zones while allowing spatial flow and visual continuity.