Symphony of Kitchens

The Georgian-style house on 3214 Candace Dr. was built in 1979 and has undergone major reconstruction and additions in the past, but the 2013 gutting and renovation of it’s kitchen, laundry room and backyard pool achieved everything the owners envisioned.

The open kitchen space owes its new footprint to both practicality and ingenuity. A wall, removed to make room for the island, unites the breakfast area and new mahogany and granite bar. A pass-through keeps the great room connected and glass cabinets on either side display treasured collections from a lifetime of world travel. The well-equipped cooking area includes two side-by-side refrigerators. The pantry features drawers instead of shelves.

The polished chrome faucet, hardware and pot-filler and stainless steel appliances add contemporary notes to the space’s warm traditional elements: heart pine floors, a beaded brass chandelier and French-inspired wall covering.


808 Aumond Place East

This 808 Aumond Place East home was built in 2014. The lady of the house, who loves to cook, spent many hours designing the kitchen. If it were not so visually arresting, you might call the kitchen arrangement a “complex,” for the perfect integration of food preparation, dining and conversation space.

Ceiling beams visually define the breakfast area from the sitting area, where the couple enjoys coffee with the morning news. The centerpiece of the kitchen, a pewter island countertop and a matching stove hood, will patina with age. To minimize clutter, drawers adjacent to the stove hold all cooking utensils. Spice racks are built into adjacent cabinets and the coffee station is discreetly hidden behind doors. A small refrigerator keeps thirsty children from being underfoot. In addition to a full-sized refrigerator, two freezer drawers are housed in the island as well as an icemaker and TV. 


1121 Johns Rd

 The homeowners remodeled their 1913 home on 1121 Johns Rd. in 2013. The house is a charming and stylish blend of old and new, traditional and modern. While retaining some of the original cabinets, the transitional kitchen is described by the owners as an “updated, functional space that is now the hub of our home.”

The original cabinets and pine countertop between the ice machine and the range, once part of a butler’s pantry, were updated with a glass-tiled backsplash, fluted drawers and brushed satin nickel hardware. The new wall of cabinets, which houses appliances and a television, reflects the room’s original style. Contemporary acrylic and stainless steel chairs provide seating for the marble-topped island. A conversation area and long bench under a wall of windows comfortably accommodates family and guests during meal preparation. Colorful artwork and brass mid-century modern chandeliers complete the eclectic mix of old and new.


129 Anthony Rd

Though the renovation of this 1917 home on 129 Anthony Rd. in early 2013 took only three months to complete, the changes are nothing short of inspiring. Looking at the house, you might never guess its original footprint suggested it was a “shotgun” structure. The outside hardware is original to the house as are all the wavy-glass windows and doors, except the breakfast area window and the back door, which were part of the renovation.

Taking the walls, floors and ceilings down to the studs, the renovation included relocation of the laundry room upstairs, which allowed room for additional storage, an island and breakfast area as well as a small powder room. To increase traffic flow, the door to the dining room was also relocated. The new open layout provides an ideal space for meal preparation and at the same time accommodates family and guests for conversation and socializing. Brass chandeliers add a modern touch to the otherwise classic design.


538 Front St

This 538 Front St. home has an open floor plan as well as innovative conveniences that blend easily with the homeowners’ love of family furniture artifacts. The kitchen by its placement and design is the heart of this home. Large windows offer an abundance of natural light and a connection with the river, the activity on the Greeneway and breathtaking evening sunsets.

The ample counter space and extended breakfast bar in the kitchen allow for cooks and guests to have the separate but open arrangement the couple sought. White cabinetry keeps the kitchen light and offers the perfect frame for modern black appliances. The stove hood blends seamlessly with the cabinetry to make a relatively small kitchen visually expansive. A deep-well sink is the owner’s favorite feature, hiding dinner dishes from view.


512 Front St

This 512 Front St. home offers views of the river as well as spectacular sunsets. These pale in comparison, however, to the rich palette of colors and textures that fill this house designed for family connections, open and versatile spaces, and ultimate efficiency.

The kitchen’s oversized center island is both a favorite and necessary element for this large family. Upon entering, brick and mortar pillars, designed by the husband, invite guests to gather under a ceiling of old beams. Each area of the kitchen fills a particular need: an office hidden behind pine doors; hallway closets that store linens, tableware and small appliances; a kitchen chandelier with pulley system for easy adjustment; a copper stove hood; and flanking oversized refrigerator and freezer units. 


19 Phoenix St

This 19 Phoenix St. home is casual, warm and inviting. With sight lines from the front door all the way to the back, it’s easy to recognize this house was meant for family gatherings and entertaining. Its well-appointed architectural details and colorful artwork are a casual yet elegant complement to the streamlined, neutral background, designed to keep living and eating spaces as open as possible.  

The kitchen is a model of versatility and convenience. Light streams in from every angle. Cabinets extend to the ceiling to lend spaciousness and provide ample storage. Built-in appliances are in perfect scale with the kitchen’s size and ideally meet the couple’s needs. The quartzite for the countertops was found in Charlotte after an extensive search for a natural stone surface.

This article appears in the February-March 2016 issue of Augusta Magazine.

RSS Augusta Magazine’s Front Porch

  • Episode 11: Jay Jefferies
    Jay Jefferies stops by to deliver the weather and much more!
  • Episode 10 - Nesia Wright
    We had the pleasure of sitting down with Nesia Wright, owner and CEO of the Georgia Soul Basketball Team. Ashlee and Nesia discuss life as the owner of a basketball team, retirement and more.
  • Episode 9: Venus Morris Griffin
    Venus Morris Griffin, one of the top real estate agents in the Augusta area, stops by our front porch to talk about her success and her upcoming book. This episode is sure to set a fire in you to go for your dreams!
  • Episode 8: Michael Romano
    Michael Romano, self-proclaimed carbohydrate king and executive pastry chef for Edgar's Hospitality Group stopped by our front porch to chat with Ashlee.

E-Newsletter

Previous Issues

Related Articles

The Tri-County Boom

The Tri-County Boom

The Savannah River Region is expanding with Aiken, Columbia and Richmond counties seeing growth in new business and industry.