{"id":316727,"date":"2026-08-08T15:00:17","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:00:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/316727\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T15:00:17","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T15:00:17","slug":"how-one-designer-brought-warmth-and-old-world-charm-to-a-manhattan-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/316727\/","title":{"rendered":"How One Designer Brought Warmth and Old-World Charm to a Manhattan Kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Estimated3 min read<\/p>\n

When Joyce Downing Pickens<\/a>\u2019 clients moved into a historic home in New York City\u2019s Greenwich Village, the space had been absolutely gutted. All of the character and charm of the 1899 townhouse had been removed by its previous owners, and what was left was a white box with a chopped-up floor plan. It took another gut renovation to bring back period-appropriate architectural features, transforming it from modern and luxurious yet a bit bland into a dramatic, elegant home that honors the history of the location.<\/p>\n

The kitchen was no different from the rest of the house: White, boxy, and missing the period detail that had once made it so special. \u201cReally, my clients just wanted a beautiful kitchen with inlay cabinetry that felt appropriate for the home,\u201d Pickens, the founder of JDP Interiors<\/a>, tells House Beautiful. Her clients, a young couple, were the entertaining kind, always having guests over to stay, so they needed a kitchen that allowed for standing room, constant in-and-out flow, and hidden storage compartments and appliances to keep it tidy.<\/p>\n

\"kitchen<\/p>\n

Courtesy of JDP Interiors<\/p>\n

Pickens\u2019s solution was a U-shaped floor plan, something \u201cto make it feel more substantial, complete, and have a sense of design and function,\u201d as the member of our 2024 Next Wave<\/a> class puts it. It\u2019s not the largest cooking space out there, but it\u2019s efficient. Her design fit more storage cabinets and even an extra six-seater dining table for more casual meals. The only aspect that didn\u2019t get an update was the window placement, since changing the historic facade wasn\u2019t an option.<\/p>\n

As with the rest of the house, Pickens found inspiration in original fireplaces (which had mercifully been left untouched) for the furnishings, architectural details, and color palette. They did, unfortunately, have to remove one of the fireplaces from the kitchen to make room for the wire-brushed solid white oak cabinetry, but in doing so they were able to add something else wholly unique to the space. \u201cWhat was left was just a wall pop-out,\u201d the designer says. \u201cSo we actually created a full millwork floor-to-ceiling cabinet area that hid and disguised the wall pop-out. This didn\u2019t allow for full-depth cabinets along a lot of this wall, but it still provided more storage for glassware.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"kitchen<\/p>\n

Courtesy of JDP Interiors<\/p>\n

Now, the homeowners can work and entertain in a kitchen that suits their historic home and neighborhood. Pickens made sure to add molding and other architectural details that would fit the proper time period in every room, with touches of modernity here and there to accommodate the clients\u2019 style. Nothing could be too ornate or detailed. \u201cIt\u2019s a small but mighty kitchen that has become the heart of the home and really brings a lot of warmth to a previously cold space,\u201d Pickens explains.<\/p>\n

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\"kitchen\"MICHAEL CLIFFORD<\/p>\n

Range: Lacanche. Cabinetry: KJ Remodeling. Hardware: Liz\u2019s Antique Hardware. Pendant: JDP Interiors<\/p>\n

The kitchen looks seamless and clean because Pickens and her team actually hid quite a few features in plain sight. \u201cWe hid the microwave in a double cabinet to the left of the range,\u201d Pickens says. \u201cI hate built-in visible microwaves, so we often hide them into a cabinet with a pull-out drawer and electrical inside to support it.\u201d The trash can is also tucked away in a full-size, pull-out drawer.<\/p>\n

Many of the drawer fronts are actually doors, disguised \u201cto create a consistent repeat of drawers on the left side or to hide the dishwasher and create symmetry on either side of the sink,\u201d Pickens adds. It\u2019s this consistency that keeps the relatively small space from feeling busy.<\/p>\n

\"kitchenMICHAEL CLIFFORD<\/p>\n

Island: custom, designed by JDP Interiors and fabricated by Petersen Antiques. Flooring: The Hudson Company. Roman shades: custom, in Rose Unaicke fabric. Dining chairs: vintage, Guillerme et Chambron. Light fixture: Pinch. Bowl: The Expert. Candlestick holder: Skultuna.<\/p>\n

One of the \u201ccolumns\u201d next to the mirror hid an immovable pipe, so Pickens added another column to the other side and centered it within the space for symmetry.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love the rustic warmth of this kitchen in the middle of New York City. I feel like people always jump to paint in the kitchen, but you just can\u2019t beat the warmth of stain-grade wood, and it makes such an impact,\u201d she adds. \u201cIt was my vision from day one, and it\u2019s so fun to see it come to life.\u201d<\/p>\n

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