DIY Kitchen Remodel

To revitalize his own kitchen, a designer takes a hands-on role

Written by Theresa McTammany • Photographed by Gridley & Graves

Robert Hunt knows a good thing when he sees it. So, when he and partner Van Creely stumbled upon a 1918 Arts and Crafts–style cottage situated along the historic Delaware River Canal, they snapped it up on the spot. "There aren't any homes like it in Bucks County," says the real-estate-savvy Robert, describing the well-proportioned rooms, hand-wrought woodwork and molding—all original features of the 90-year-old home. The kitchen, however, was another story. "It had wall-to-wall carpeting, fake brick walls and zero counter space," he says. "But the house was in good condition, so we weren't that concerned."

Two years after moving in, they tackled the kitchen, planning and sourcing the materials themselves, and letting professionals handle the major work. To simplify things, they stuck to the original 14x16 footprint, converting a former 4x4-foot pantry into a mudroom that would connect to the kitchen. "It was a collaborative effort," Robert says of the U-shaped design, which took three months to finalize. In the meantime, Van researched various appliances. "It was logical for him to do this, since he did the cooking," says Robert.

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