Long Island, NY

Design support · Early coordination

How the project began

This was less about replacing a kitchen and more about making the space fit the client’s life. The project began by looking at how the space was used day to day and rethinking layout and function before making aesthetic decisions.

My involvement

The client came to me through a neighbor whose kitchen renovation I had previously worked on. My role was to help clarify priorities, explore layout options and develop a direction based on how the kitchen needed to work 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 spends a great deal of time cooking, gardening, preserving, and outdoors, and the kitchen needed to support both everyday life and larger seasonal projects. Function came first, with openness to creative solutions and smarter use of what already existing rather than doing the usual default to full replacement

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.

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.