Revival Kitchen in a Queen Anne

With the look of a butler’s pantry full of built-ins, it’s family-friendly.

- Patricia Poore

Once tired and lacking character, this large, 19thcentury Queen Anne house was extensively renovated, and it's exterior beautifully restored and polychromed. Architect Frank Shirley, of Cambridge, Mass., also designed a new garage in Queen Anne style for the property. Interior renovations brought the family four new bathrooms, all with period inspiration; a new master suite; and a writer’s studio.

A key design element is a “circulation spine” created down the center of the house, connecting with the previously isolated caboose of a kitchen to make it the family center. This area of the house got a 70-square foot addition to provide space for a separate mudroom.

The character is that of late-19th-century pantries and kitchens. The Indian owners brought their passion for color, provided by painted cabinets, textiles for a lively complement to the blue trim, and a tile backsplash that adds color and pattern without overwhelming the room. Top cabinets have perforated metal fronts in unlacquered brass, adding interest and more pattern and yet concealing stored objects.