Long Island, NY
Design support · Early coordination
How the project began
The client came to me through a neighbor whose kitchen renovation I had previously worked on. She was drawn to the finished result — a clean, bright, functional kitchen with improved storage — and recognized many of the same limitations in her own space.
Although she hadn’t seen the before of that earlier project, she was clear about what she wanted to change and open to rethinking how her kitchen functioned day to day.
Existing kitchen – limited light, constrained circulation, storage under pressure
What wasn’t working
The existing kitchen suffered from poor lighting, limited storage, and a layout that made everyday use awkward. Circulation through the space was constrained, and the kitchen didn’t adequately support how the client actually lives and works.
Establishing direction
This is a very active household. The client is a keen gardener, forager, preserver, and cook, and spends a great deal of time outdoors — on the water in summer and skiing in winter. When I first visited, she was temporarily injured and less mobile, which brought the kitchen’s shortcomings into sharper focus.
Entertaining is important, but the kitchen also needs to function as a true working space — one capable of handling daily use, seasonal projects, and long-term storage without feeling overwhelmed. She loves colour and needs light, and was open to creative design solutions that prioritised function first, rather than beginning with a fixed aesthetic.
Budget considerations are real, and part of the brief has been to explore smarter use of what already exists — including the potential repurposing of cabinetry — rather than defaulting to a full replacement.
Early design work
Initial mock-ups have been used to test layout changes and improve flow through the space. These explore partial wall removal, adjustments to the kitchen entrance, improved access to natural light from adjacent rooms, and revised furniture placement.
We are also looking ahead to future storage needs, including the possibility of a dedicated pantry area that could significantly increase capacity without overwhelming the room. At this stage, the focus has been on making the space work better before making aesthetic commitments.
Early layout studies exploration circulation, light and future pantry storage
Current status
The project is currently in design development. The client is consulting with her carpenter to review structural options — including a potential new slider to the garden and changes to the ceiling — while we continue to prioritise spending and refine the layout.