Kitchen & Bath Business January/February 2025 - 69

countertop was also extended by nearly 2 feet on one
side and half a foot on the other to create overhangs
for counter stools.
Along the oven wall side, a bulky storage unit
previously concealed a coffee bar, and a partition
wedged between said bar and the ovens peeked
outward. Here, the design team once again cleared
the way, removing both and replacing the entire
oven wall's casework - which includes a panelized
fridge - with the new kitchen system. Beyond the
fridge, a conspicuous doorway with transom led to a
36-square-foot laundry room and closet space. The
architect opened this laundry zone, knowing full well
it would draw the eyes back farther and create the
illusion of a larger kitchen overall. The storage units
here now also bear the new kitchen design to keep
the look cohesive.
The Finish Line
Optical illusions don't end with the now-exposed
laundry closet, however. Through a careful choice of
fi nishes, Goralnick was able to produce a light and airy
feel. Working closely with the cabinet maker, Ornare,
he selected its platinum wood veneer with brushednickel
hardware for the perimeter casework, a closely
matching nut tone for the cook island's back-painted
glass fronts and a bright Cristallo stone to replace the
previously weighty black countertops. Dark fl oor tiles
were swapped out for light-toned engineered ash
wood planks that complement without mimicking the
cabinetry exactly.
An existing drop ceiling was torn out, but instead of
keeping that overhead space open, the design team
inserted a fl oating ceiling with small downlights and
extended it beyond the island to just over the dining
table to help make the kitchen appear larger. But the
reason for this move was twofold.
" We fl oated that ceiling because if we had a chandelier
on at night, it would have refl ected in the window
and you couldn't see the most amazing view in
the world, " said Goralnick, referring to the residence's
vistas of Manhattan's East River and the United Nations
headquarters.
All said, the challenge of visually enlarging and
modernizing the kitchen without moving any major
elements or appliances was a piece of cake for the
architect. The icing on the cake? A mirrored backsplash
he inserted along the sink wall helps refl ect
those phenomenal city views.
SOURCES: DESIGNER: Goralnick Architecture
Design Studio D.P.C. PHOTOGRAPHER: Italo Boreggio
Paulino APPLIANCES: Miele CABINETRY: Ornare
COUNTERTOP: ABC Stone FAUCET: Blanco FLOORS: PID
SINK: Elkay
Previous Page: Architect Barry
Goralnick did away with multiple-depth
storage units at the sink in favor of a
clean line of wall and base cabinets
with recessed nickel pulls. New white
countertops, a mirrored backsplash
and back-painted glass cabinetry on
the island all help enhance daylight and
create an airy and open feel.
Top: A coffee station, wall ovens and
a panelized fridge give way to a nowexposed
laundry hall, drawing the eye
back and visually enlarging the kitchen.
Above: Rather than implementing a
chandelier or pendants, the architect
inserted a fl oating ceiling above
the island and dining area with tiny
downlights to ensure that the kitchen's
views of the East River and iconic UN
headquarters remain front and center
at night.
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