The story below is from our January/February 2020 issue. For the full issue Subscribe today, view our FREE interactive digital edition or download our FREE iOS app!
A historic gem gets a kitchen facelift.
A stately white house on a hill in South Roanoke’s Edgehill was on the market in 2018. It was waiting for an owner that would appreciate its fine craftsmanship and charm—and wouldn’t be scared off by the decades-old bathrooms and kitchen.
The Jarrett family is new to the Roanoke area, but old houses, and the renovations that go along with them, are something they know well. Having owned older homes in Mississippi and Tennessee, they loved the good bones of the property and didn’t shy away from the kitchen overhaul that would be necessary to update it, and make the layout more livable for a modern family.
“The house was dated, but had been well taken care of, and all the mechanicals were in good shape,” says Emily Jarrett.
Emily and husband Rob were drawn to the front screened-in porch framed by mature wisteria, and charmed by the wide center hall staircase. The kitchen layout was choppy and awkward, but Emily saw potential in the space.
After living in the home for nearly a year, they knew just how they wanted to change the first level for maximum enjoyment for their family of four, including a middle school-aged daughter and high school-aged son, as well as extended family who visit often from Mississippi and North Carolina.
To execute their vision, the Jarretts turned to Mike Kraemer and Stone River Contracting, a company that regularly renovates older properties. Mike understood the couple’s vision for an enduring kitchen with improved flow.
“We didn’t want to plop a modern or trendy kitchen into this house,” says Emily. “We wanted timeless style and good workmanship that would look like it belonged.”
A wall was opened between the kitchen and dining room, creating an open feel. The builder was careful not to destroy the vintage dining room wallpaper, which fits Emily’s taste—traditional with an eclectic twist. Opening the wall allowed room for a large peninsula bar for casual eating, homework, cooking and baking.
The cabinets are fully custom, which was necessary to work around quirky plumbing issues and corners. The creamy cabinets are topped with neutral quartzite countertops in shades of gray, cream and brown. An apron front sink is period-appropriate, and the matte-look subway tile with hand-finished edges lends an organic feel to the space. The stainless appliances, including a JennAir gas cooktop with downdraft venting, are functional for an avid cook. Warm brass pulls add a just-right contrast. The result is light, airy and calm.
“Life is busy, and as the kitchen is the hub of this home, it needed to be a calming space,” Emily notes. “The previous kitchen had dark, busy granite and very loud fern wallpaper. It was too much.”
The contractor raised the ceiling by eight inches, enlarging the space by ripping out old can lights and installing new ones. A wet bar area was kept and updated with glass-front cabinetry to showcase pretty stemware and serving dishes. The kitchen fireplace near the bar area was converted to gas for easy use, and the two chairs framing it are the perfect spot for morning coffee or an evening glass of wine.
When the Jarretts purchased the home, the laundry was in the kitchen, behind a cabinet door. Relocating this was a top priority, and it is now housed in a laundry room on the first floor which has a sink, a second full-sized refrigerator and washer and dryer. Beyond the laundry room is a new mudroom with custom locker cubbies, one for each family member. The new mudroom had a previous life as a sitting room, and, before that, architect Robert Allen had designed it as a garage.
Because the space is the family’s entrance from the driveway, it begged to be better utilized. Old carpet was ripped out, and new slate-look ceramic tiles were installed to handle muddy shoes and dog tracks from the family’s two labrador retrievers. A craft desk and two chairs, which offer a view through the large window onto the side yard, share space with the cubbies.
The Jarrett family spent 10 weeks without a kitchen, eating takeout and easy prep meals while their home was overrun with contractors, plastic sheeting and dust. But it didn’t deter the family from getting on with the updates—the master bath is slated for demolition soon, and the new Roanokers will continue breathing fresh life into one of South Roanoke’s finest properties.
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