Project Spotlight
Bringing the Barn into the Kitchen: A Journal of an NKBA Designer's Off-Beat Kitchen Remodel
By Diana Tuorto
Introduction
2008 NKBA Design Competition "Best Overall Kitchen" Winner Peter Salerno, CMKBD, was hired by a couple in Morris Township, New Jersey to redesign the kitchen in their new home, located on 5.6 acres. Instead of taking a traditional approach to the redesign, Peter and the couple have decided to search for old barns from which to harvest chestnut, hickory and oak woods to incorporate into the kitchen. In this way, an old abandoned barn would find a new life in someone's family kitchen, and the materials would bring a rustic, unique look to the space.
To add to the project's appeal, Peter and the couple have recruited an Amish family to help dismantle the chosen barn, since all of the structures they are looking at were built by hand, over 100 years ago, by local Amish families. The wood will then be dried and reworked so that it can become an integral part of the couple's kitchen and home.
Chapter 1 - Choosing a Theme
Craig Bartlett and Nicole Steiner of Morris Township, New Jersey knew that they wanted their new home, and its kitchen, to be something special. "We currently live in a decent size house on a nice property, but with three children (eight year-old Madeleine, six-year old Seth, and 16 month-old Cora) and another on the way, Nicole and I wanted more property for the kids to enjoy," Craig said. "After an extensive search, we found a home on 5.6 acres in Morris Township. While it's still close to the center of Morristown, it has a very rural feel, which we love."
Adding to the rustic charm of the home will be the exterior architecture. "The entrance will have the look and feel of a silo, which is very fitting for this area," Craig added. "The exterior will also have a lot of stonework, which gives the home a sturdy, comfortable feel. Looking at the overall design of the house, the wheels started turning. I asked myself, 'How are we going to make the inside of the home feel as warm and inviting as the outside?'"
Despite Craig's love of the farm-like setting, he and Nicole didn't want it to create just another country kitchen. "We wanted the kitchen to have a barn feel, but with our own eclectic taste thrown in. We didn't want it to look like a home for horses or cows. It would need to have the barn look and feel, with a twist."
To obtain this look, Craig and Nicole hired NKBA member and 2008 NKBA Design Competition winner, Peter Salerno, CMKBD, who was thrilled to take on this unique project. Soon, Peter, Craig and Nicole began investigating the idea of dismantling an old barn and recycling the wood for use in their new kitchen.
"At first, I thought this project would be like any other job," Peter said. "I knew Craig and Nicole had a farmhouse theme in mind, but I didn't know to what degree they wanted to take it. Once we spoke more in depth, I told them how I had purchased a barn in New Holland, Pennsylvania to use the wood to remodel my own kitchen. I detailed the steps of how the lumber was hand-selected and milled. They loved the concept and wanted to incorporate that level of detail into their own kitchen."
Craig had seen the results of taking on such a creative project firsthand. "Growing up, my family owned a home in Pennsylvania, which we mainly used for recreation and vacations," Craig stated. "My parents noticed a barn falling down on a nearby farm and were granted permission to use some of the wood by the local farmer. He lined the walls and made shelves for the entrance way of the home, which gave it a very rustic look, fitting of the rolling hills of Pennsylvania. I've always had this concept in the back of my mind and now, with Peter's help, our vision will become a reality in our own home."
On June 6, 2008, Craig and Nicole closed on her new home. That morning, they also welcomed a new baby girl, Paige Eleanor, into their family.
Check back on NKBA.org for Chapter 2 - Finding the Barn.
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