Historic Colonial Adapts to Modern Age

Architect Bill Hubner gutted the kitchen of this Colonial home built in 1825 and added a family room with lots of windows to create an inviting, open space. Homeowner and designer Britta McCarthy used warm materials like cork, natural woods and slate for a look that blends beautifully with the existing home.

• The original, small kitchen had a cramped feeling, so the new space, which is up a level from the adjacent family room, uses a minimum of upper cabinets and eliminates walls where possible. With a counter dividing the two spaces, the kitchen overlooks the family room and is opened up by a view that extends out the patio doors into the garden.

• Cork was chosen for the flooring because it blends so well with the wide pine plank floor used in the rest of the home.

• Honed slate, which scratches and develops an aged patina, was chosen for the countertops. Slate tiles, which hide dirt and grease beautifully, were used for the backsplash.

• The distressed wood beams used in the ceiling and posts throughout both rooms add a warm, rustic feel to the kitchen and family area.

• The island has a butcher block counter to contrast with the dark honed slate used on the other counters. Large, deep drawers all around the island are used in a nontraditional way for storage for plates and glasses. With a drawer stationed directly across from the dishwasher, loading and unloading the dishes becomes effortless.

• The appliances are stainless steel with black glass. The unusual wall oven is hinged on the side to swing open, allowing the cook to stand close to the opening rather than having to reach over an open door.

• A generous appliance garage in a corner hides appliances that might normally have been stored in upper cabinets.