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A renovation gets the kitchen in sync with the rest of a country-style house

THE NEWLY PURCHASED HOUSE IN CONVENT STATION had what the homeowner describes as a "country inn" feeling. The trouble was that its sterile, white elephant kitchen was a stark departure from the home's overall mellow atmosphere. The biggest oddity was a load-bearing beam that ran across the ceiling, which was angled here and there, stopping at several heights.

THE FARMHOUSE table (above), which is too tall for comfortable dining, serves as an ideal island for this Convent Station kitchen.

 

SOURCES: cooktop, stove, and range hood, Thermador, cabinets, Signature Custom Cabinetry in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, through Sawhorse Designs in Millburn; light fixture, Urban Archaeology. White dominated the cold old kitchen (BELOW left). The fan had emphasized the different ceiling levels and angles. A small pantry (BELOW RIGHT) replaces the shelf niche shown in the lower before photo. Baskets enhance the country flavor and provide a textural contrast to the wood cabinets and stone countertops. For a hightech break, homeowner Lynda Cohen looks to the flip-down LCD television. SOURCES: windows, Pella; sink and faucets, Franke; television, Luce.