Europe at Home

A formal kitchen, sprinkled with Italian spice

Photograph by Darren Day

Life as a general’s wife takes Diane Jones places that most people never see. After an honored tour of duty on the European continent and a hitch at the Commandant of the Marine Corps’ House in Southeast Washington, the Joneses are home at last.

Settling in to her recently renovated kitchen, she returns with a lifetime of memories and an appreciation for international style. “My husband lived in Paris for 17 years and we like the European flavor,” she says, “so we wanted the kitchen to be something more formal.”

The original kitchen at the Jones’ house in McLean was an unadorned, off-white vision of bland. For eight years the house had been rented while General James L. Jones was stationed elsewhere. Finally ready to reside again in the house they own, they planned a major update.

A Sprinkle of Italian Spice

The basic design sprang from pieces of furniture that the couple had shipped home and from years of reconnaissance. “They’ve been all over the world, and she had photographs of kitchens in houses she’d lived in,” says Darren Day of Voell Custom Kitchens in Arlington. “They were going for a Tuscan feel.”

To formalize the room and sprinkle in some Italian spice, Diane pored over magazine clippings, inspected showrooms, and flipped through brochures. She was drawn to one particular image of painted maple cabinetry that combined elegance with rustic charm. “The initial picture was enchanting,” she says.

For added sophistication, ornate woodwork was rolled into the design as corbels and carved trim turned the range hood and window treatments into works of art. Pilasters were used on the base cabinets to impart the feel of fine furniture. “We wanted that decorative look,” says Diane, “I like things that you don’t see every day.”

With the cabinet selection locked in, the design team finessed the room’s layout but stayed within the same footprint, negating the need to knock down any walls. The big appliances, including the stove and refrigerator, maintained their positions. The existing oak floor only needed a refinish to pass muster.

Details Make the Difference

A subtle, patterned Brazilian granite mottled with a unique mix of golds, blacks, and creams replaced the existing laminate countertops. The kitchen’s island is fully functioning, providing storage on both ends, legroom for seating, and a second sink that comes in handy for kitchen gatherings. The stainless steel double ovens and range add a touch of modern while wood inserts disguise the front of the dishwasher, wine cooler, and refrigerator to blend them into the cabinetry.

The tumbled marble backsplash arranged in a diagonal pattern ties the entire space together, which was the Jones’ biggest concern. “I’m a very visual person,” she says, “so I was running from place to place with these small samples trying to make sure it was all coordinated.”

The design phase lasted two months and the work was complete in about six weeks. The beautiful results have earned the approval of everyone involved. “All the little details make the difference,” says Day, “and the [homeowners] were a pleasure to work with.”

“The overall elegance turned out exactly the way I hoped it would,” Diane says. “Now it’s exciting to be in there.”

Welcome home, indeed.

—Scott Sowers