Thomas and Gitesh took it upon themselves to be preservationists rather than 'destructi-ists' in their new pre-war apartment. They loved the potential they knew this apartment had — deep down.
The kitchen required another level of care and attention, however, because it had been renovated in the 70's. Gitesh and Thomas decided to gut it completely, putting in IKEA cabinets, high-end appliances, a poured concrete counter, and a restored oak floor that had been buried under three layers of linoleum.
Other owners in the building who felt that such a big kitchen was superfluous for their lifestyle, turned into a second bedroom and built a galley kitchen along the apartment's narrow hallway! But Gitesh and Thomas are committed to the idea of a full size kitchen — ready to take on the cooking skills and responsibilities such a preference implies.
Thomas and Gitesh's Answers to the Kitchn Questionnaire
What's your cooking style?
We try to cook healthy — lots of fish, vegetables, and traditional Indian dishes (Gitesh’s mother’s recipes).
What inspires your kitchen?
We experimented with a mix of old and new — the restored original hardwood floors and classic subway tiles and pendant lamps + the modern poured concrete countertops and commercial appliances. It’s rare for a mid-sized apartment in NYC to have an eat-in option and the natural light of a window, so we wanted to maximize the space without overwhelming it.
What is your favorite kitchen tool or element?
I love the oven. For anyone trying to decide if the commercial range is worth the investment (a struggle I had), go for it. It’s not just the visual impact of it, the cooking power is incredible.
Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
I’m hardly one to give advice as I’m just learning my way around the kitchen now, but I guess the best is to be willing to experiment (spices, elements, etc.) and to take the time to present food well. Don’t just use your nice dishes and things for company, enjoy them even when you’re cooking for one!
Biggest challenge in your kitchen:
Going with the commercial appliances in a relatively small building was hard. They didn’t fit in the elevator or easily down the hallway. Also, incorporating the stacked washer/dryer — it obviously dominates the room from some vantage points but there was no where else to put them (unless we wanted to give up closet space).
Biggest indulgence:
Again, the commercial appliances.
Dream tool or splurge:
I would have loved to do custom cabinetry… but think the low-cost Ikea solution ended up looking okay (right?).
What are you cooking this week?
We cooked a curry on Monday, swordfish steaks on Wednesday and will be hosting a family brunch on Sunday.
What cookbook has inspired you the most?
I’m a big fan of Jamie Oliver… also like the Dean and Deluca cookbook (although it lacks pictures!)
What's the most memorable meal you've ever cooked in this kitchen?
We have yet to even host a housewarming… so that special meal is yet to come!
Resources:
• Viking appliances
• Ikea cabinetry
• LG washer/dryer
• Concrete countertops were custom
For the rest of Thomas and Gitesh's home, check out their upcoming full house tour on Apartmenttherapy.com.
• Kitchen Tour Archive: Check out past kitchen tours here.
We're always looking for real kitchens from real cooks.
Submit your kitchen here.
(Images: Jill Slater)
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LOVE LOVE the kitchen - enjoy it - it is well done. I agree with you the the washer and drier look a bit sad on one side, but the other choice would have been to get one of those washer/driers in one unit - not very efficient, or smaller W/D inside a large white closet. But I know these large W/D are better they have bigger loads and get it done fast. I love my Bosch W/D
Love this kitchen-those original cabinets were pretty bad, I must say. The Ikea cabinets turned out great. I am thinking of using those same ones in my kitchen (someday) so it's nice to see the finished product. The light fixture is cool too.
The only thing I might add would be some kind of focal point over the sink...a little shelf or something (but that's just me.)
I want your kitchen almost as much as I want your dog!
Oh man, I actually kind of love those original cabinets. Minimalism may be the hot thing on this website, but I'd rather have interesting old oddities like those than modern, streamlined cabinets which (sorry) just scream Ikea from 30 feet away.
What a beautiful kitchen! I would want to hang out in this space all the time and cook.
p.s.
super cute pup. what kind of dog do you have?
I love your beveled subway tiles--just like the ones in the Parisian subways! These are the style my husband would prefer for our kitchen, but I haven't been able to find them in our budget anywhere so have been planning on going for super inexpensive subway tiles from HD or Lowe's. What was your source, Gitesh and Thomas?
Slightly curious how this post is described as being about "preservationists". I came to see what they had preserved and was presented with a gut job kitchen remodel. And a completely generic one at that.
@obleak1, the article says something like "the kitchen, however, needed different treatment." I didn't catch that the first time, either: the photo that comes between the first few sentences ruined that transition. I think it would have been better to say, "Although T&G [preservation stuff], the kitchen required a different tactic," instead of dividing it into 2 sentences.
I love this site, but I am an English teacher and sometimes want to see the articles cleaned up a bit and make them as polished as the photos. This site is so wonderful, and these moments in the articles are gut-wrenchers for me.
I like the shot of the sink that shows you how they do their dishes. Yay for real life.
"destructi-ists?" What the hell? Try "destructionists."
This kitchen isn't generic. It's classic. And while I love the personality some people can inject into a kitchen with their choices in tile, cabinets, countertops, flooring--kitchen renovations are extremely expensive, even when you're trying to do it on the cheap. They're also time-consuming and inconvenient. Unfortunately, personality often means the room that looks sleek now will look a bit cheesy in five years (since, unfortunately for the homeowner, bathroom and kitchen trends are the ones that change most frequently). Who wants to go through the expense, loss of time, and inconvenience of renovating a kitchen every five years?
If someone renovating their space absolutely loves a particular style and has no question that they'll be loving it still in five or more years, then cheesiness be darned--they should go for it. But the plethora of classic kitchens reflects, I think, that most of us want a fresh, clean-looking, functional space. Sometimes we're lucky enough to inherit sturdy and charming older cabinets. Sometimes we get shoddy cabinets from someone else's renovation. Sometimes someone else would die for the cabinets we despise.
For myself, I do not tire of seeing visions and revisions of classic style in kitchens. For every shaker cabinet, there's an interesting drawer pull. For every subway tile, there's an adorable throw rug.
G & T--I agree with the post about putting something above the sink. Some art would add some great color, but a mirror could be so helpful and practical--so you can look at people you converse with!
Yeah, what is "destructi-ist"? Did you really mean "destructionist", or is it some new term that haven't heard? lol
Anyway, I think the floor is fantastic! How lucky that you were able to uncover such a gem! It looks great with the white cabinets/tile and the modern features.
And really, the washer and dryer don't bother me. They go well with the rest of the kitchen. Just another appliance in a room already full of them, right!
I love your kitchen tiles. Could you tell me where they came from?
Looks like my springer spaniel.
I love your kitchen table. Could you tell me where it came from?
I want this space!
No, seriously, I want this space! ;)
I love this white, bright & modern kitchen! Beautiful job! I think a floating shelf would look lovely above the sink as someone mentioned but looks good now to.
Washer/dryer seem fine to me. New York, right? I expect to see that type of thing in an urban, small spaces kinda town.