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Rethinking the everyday kitchen

By adding cabinets to conceal appliances and a table instead of an island, former White House social secretary Amy Zantzinger revived her family’s tired kitchen.

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Amy and Richard Zantzinger's Chevy Chase kitchen is always ready for a party, with cabinets that feel like furniture and a center table appropriate for a sit-down meal or a soccer-team meeting.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

During the two years Amy served as White House social secretary to George W. Bush, she planned a state dinner for Queen Elizabeth II, helped produce two White House china collections and orchestrated an evening of quail and lamb for 20 world leaders gathered for an economic summit. The whole time, in the back of her mind, she was putting together her plan to renovate her own worn-out 1970s kitchen.

During the two years Amy served as White House social secretary to George W. Bush, she planned a state dinner for Queen Elizabeth II, helped produce two White House china collections and orchestrated an evening of quail and lamb for 20 world leaders gathered for an economic summit. The whole time, in the back of her mind, she was putting together her plan to renovate her own worn-out 1970s kitchen.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

The appliances and dishes in the morning coffee station, all stored behind a pocket door, let all members of the family help themselves to breakfast.

The appliances and dishes in the morning coffee station, all stored behind a pocket door, let all members of the family help themselves to breakfast.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

'We wanted the cabinets to feel like furniture and be painted, creating a softer, gentler room,' says Richard, whose firm, Mauck Zantzinger & Associates, builds custom homes.

"We wanted the cabinets to feel like furniture and be painted, creating a softer, gentler room," says Richard, whose firm, Mauck Zantzinger & Associates, builds custom homes.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

When designing their new kitchen, the Zantzingers imagined a free-standing wooden table at counter height, not an island. Although they have a formal dining room and a round dining table in the family room, they wanted to have casual meals in the kitchen, too. For their kids — Audrey, 10, and Richard, 9 — the reclaimed oak table would be a homework center and soccer-team gathering place.

When designing their new kitchen, the Zantzingers imagined a free-standing wooden table at counter height, not an island. Although they have a formal dining room and a round dining table in the family room, they wanted to have casual meals in the kitchen, too. For their kids — Audrey, 10, and Richard, 9 — the reclaimed oak table would be a homework center and soccer-team gathering place.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Zantzinger loves to open the refrigerator and the spice drawer and see everything neatly lined up.

Zantzinger loves to open the refrigerator and the spice drawer and see everything neatly lined up.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Zantzinger’s No. 1 rule for kitchen organization is keeping all like things together. Then, when she’s looking for something, it’s in an obvious place. She has a designated drawer for measuring spoons and cups, a cork-lined slotted knife drawer, and a cabinet with three narrow roll-out drawers for platters.

Zantzinger’s No. 1 rule for kitchen organization is keeping all like things together. Then, when she’s looking for something, it’s in an obvious place. She has a designated drawer for measuring spoons and cups, a cork-lined slotted knife drawer, and a cabinet with three narrow roll-out drawers for platters.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

When the refrigerator and the cookbook cabinet doors are closed, the room appears elegant and uncluttered.

When the refrigerator and the cookbook cabinet doors are closed, the room appears elegant and uncluttered.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Some of the best times, the couple says, are weekends when the kitchen becomes a lunchtime hangout for starving kids and, later, a place for parents to grab a stool and a glass of wine. 'It all happens in this room,' Amy says.

Some of the best times, the couple says, are weekends when the kitchen becomes a lunchtime hangout for starving kids and, later, a place for parents to grab a stool and a glass of wine. "It all happens in this room," Amy says.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

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