indoors R
enovation
B
elieve it or not, this
1904
Victorian home once had a
cramped galley kitchen with
only one window. Now the
17
x
15
-foot sun-filled space
incorporates plenty of room
for the blended family of
Steven Romero and Martie Kilmer. Here they
enjoy birthday celebrations, prepare Sunday
brunches, pack school lunches, and tackle the
evening’s homework assignments.
Steven is the primary cook, but two sinks,
nearly three walls of counter space, and a large
freestanding island encourage assembly-line help
from the whole family. Open shelves for dishes,
spices, and cookbooks, and pot racks mounted on
the ceiling and the wall, keep kitchen essentials
within reach.
OPEN SHt
-, GLANOE
COLOR ADVANCES
TOP CHEFS
Butter-color walls and
green linoleum flooring
give the kitchen,
above,
a fresh palette.
Countertops are made
of fireslate—a heat-
resistant, cement-
based material with a
green tint.
Steven Romero
typically commands
the commercial-grade
range,
right,
for family
meals, while the
children, including
Frances, Henry, and
Mikola, hone their skills
as his assistants.
7 0
NOVEMBER
2009
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS
A small porch was annexed to create a dining
spot that floods the kitchen with sunlight.
Outfitted with cushioned benches, the banquette
welcomes activity at various times of the day. “We
snack, read, work on art projects, and converse at
the table,” Martie says, “and there’s always a deck
of cards and dice ready for a rowdy game.”
