CHEF’S KITCHEN CONDO REMODEL IN CAMBRIDGE, MA

This second-story Cambridge condo kitchen remodel delivers maximum impact within a modest budget. The homeowners’ goals were to open the space, expand countertop surfaces, increase storage, and enhance natural daylight. These objectives were achieved through a reconfigured layout, expansive patio doors, and the addition of a sunroom.

Inspired by the functionality of a chef’s kitchen, the design doubles the usable floor area within the existing footprint. The former dining space was reimagined as an eat-in kitchen organized around an oversized marble island. Floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets and a custom appliance cabinet with tuckaway pocket doors provide discreet, efficient storage solutions.

A bold black-painted shiplap ceiling with exposed mahogany beams adds visual sophistication while enhancing curb appeal for neighbors viewing the kitchen from the street below - "We wanted to let our neighbors know we did something cool inside." Finishes include custom cabinetry, marble countertops, full-height marble backsplashes, and floating marble shelves with concealed LED lighting.

Large-format patio doors extend the kitchen into a new sunroom that was reclaimed from a defunct service porch. The sunroom provides balanced daylight throughout the kitchen while offering a serene space for evening cocktails and sunset views over the Charles River beyond.

Through a strategic layout, harmonized material palette, and inventive design solutions, this kitchen remodel achieves a striking balance of functionality and elegance – all within the constraints of a 150-year-old Cambridge condo.

Builder: Carr Carpentry & Restoration

Photography: Jane Messinger