Energized Tudor

From a dark, narrow galley emerges a bright and spacious kitchen that remains undeniably Tudor.

The British Tudor style is beloved for its grandeur and charm, but today's families often find the servant-focused kitchens dark, small and uncomfortable. Such was the case for a trader, his spouse and three kids involved in sports and the community surrounding their Westfield, New Jersey enclave of late-1800 Tudors and Georgian Colonials. The wife loves to cook, and wanted the kitchen to become the new central gathering place for family and while entertaining.

Not only was the original galley layout cramped, it was a "dead-end room" leading nowhere. Kitchen designer Jim Dove bumped a wall out five feet, adding an additional 150 square feet for comfortable walkways and ample dining space. He even added a screened-in porch that's now accessible from the kitchen. Buttery yellow and dark cherry cabinetry create the signature Tudor high contrast, but introducing pine and quarter-sewn oak knocks the formality down for a much more casual feeling. The seven-by-five foot island with turned spindle legs provides ample storage and seating while cleverly evoking the feel of furniture from old England. Rush-seated stools also convey an English pastoral sensibility.

An arch of wood and leaded glass spans a bank of pantry cabinets and Wolf double ovens, and echoes original arches and leaded glass details in the home including the magnificent entry. Underneath, the Sub-Zero built-in refrigerator and Sub-Zero built-in freezer serve as architectural columns. Black-painted mullions and sashes echo the original iron windows. Color and levity are added with blue and yellow swag curtains and the tile backsplash at the range. The homeowner was excited about her new Wolf dual convection ovens and Wolf rangetop with sealed burners that make cleaning a breeze—a benefit she felt was important given the kitchen's new status as the central living space. Dove couldn't agree more. "The kitchen," he says, "is the new living room of the house."