topic Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN in Home

STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Oznell — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 22:49:56 GMT

Designer Steven Gambrel's Manhattan kitchen. They had to dig down three more feet to give him the height he wanted.

Could this kitchen have been one of those basement kitchens sometimes found in old New York townhouses? I think it's amazing.

The remarkable vintage pendant lights, and the side mounted vintage faucet in the marble, sink give it such an old world vibe.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

bmorechick — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:05:54 GMT

That's one stunning kitchen and it looks like it may have been a basement kitchen by the height of the window. Both my grandmothers had basement kitchens in their Baltimore row houses. They called it the "summer kitchen" because it was naturally cooler down there. But the ceiling was only about 6 feet. I am 5'11" so I always had to duck down. They were short ladies, so no issue for them!

Those are my colors, neutral and modern, but so cozy.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Desert Lily — Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:31:58 GMT

Hi @Oznell That's a nice-looking kitchen. Too bad there's no room for stools at the island, & I think they could've extended the window down by the sink (& ditched half of the lower open shelf) so the owner isn't looking at a blank wall while there. (I'm going by the length of the doors & the light out the window)

I have high ceilings, and part of my kitchen is open to the 2nd level.

While it might give a feeling of expanded space, I can't reach anything above the 2nd shelf level in my upper kitchen cabinets. And if something is in the back of the cabinet 2nd shelf, I can't reach that either.

I'm 5'4" tall. I keep a children's step stool in my kitchen (& one in my closet) in order to reach some things. To reach the 3rd & 4th shelf level in my kitchen cabinets, I have to bring a ladder in from the garage. I put things up there that I never use, so they're half-empty.

When I've seen some home remodel or redecorating shows brag at how tall the cabinets are, I just think that it's wasted space. It makes me think they'd need one of those library ladders that move.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Oznell — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:30:41 GMT

That's very interesting about your grandmothers' kitchens, @bmorechick . I've vaguely heard that term before-- "summer kitchens"-- brings gauzey images of a past way of life, love it! Thanks for supplying that info about basement kitchens.

@Desert Lily , I would like to see stools under the island too, if possible. I wonder if those super narrow, sort of saddle-type ones would fit under there. Your point about high storage is well taken, yet I love it. Never have enough storage. I'm only 5'3" myself, and I use a bamboo foot stool and, failing that, clamber up on a kitchen chair. Even though it can be inconvenient to reach, I still love storage that goes all the way up to the ceiling, like in old Victorian houses.

Like you, I store seldom-used stuff up there, like my mother's fragile teacups, etc.

My ceilings aren't as high as yours, but I'd love to have the room for a sliding library ladder! As long as it was very, very firmly clamped to the wall.

His open storage, shelves above the sink, etc. would be a pain to reach too.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Desert Lily — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 00:46:12 GMT

@Oznell I wouldn't want to have to use a sliding ladder in my kitchen or any other room in the house, except perhaps in the library. I want practicality (& safety at this stage) along with good/aesthetically-pleasing design.

I use my loft as a reading room, but have shelves with books that don't require a ladder. No library here LOL.

Even if they could fit saddle-style stools under the island in the pic, they couldn't sit in them with appliances on both sides. It looks like a working island for preparation.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Jaspertimes — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 01:56:01 GMT

I want that kitchen, I love it!

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

shoptilyadropagain — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 02:42:00 GMT

It's not quite my favorite color but I'll take it over an all white kitchen that I'm so tired of seeing. I love those pendant lights. I'd also prefer some seating around the island.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Oznell — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:04:01 GMT

I dunno, I might tuck in one stool at the island, facing the French doors. Then I could sit, peel carrots, and still peek outside...

@Jaspertimes , I found a few more pictures of his kitchen and 19th century townhouse, on a totally different online source, "Du Jour" --

Kitchen from a slightly different angle--

And, they had the other end of the kitchen, yay-- 18th century inlaid table, vintage 20th century chairs, love. This looks somewhat Parisian, to me. The fireplace is one of five in the house.

Solid bronze vintage mirror makes a statement in the living room with its soft blue walls. The mirror is definitely too "baronial" for me, but it fits with his bold aesthetic. English fireplace.

He collects these Dutch paintings. His layered rugs give such a cozy look.

Steven Gambrel is one of my all-time favorites-- he just has such a strong point of view, and he is able to mix and integrate disparate objects with such assurance. Love this distressed antique Italian mirror in this moody vignette..

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

wilma — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 03:22:29 GMT

The second photo of the kitchen is more appealing to me because it's a bit lighter and brighter than the first one. It looks like a nice functional space. I prefer more color and warmth though.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

VegasBusinessWoman — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 05:48:51 GMT

@bmorechick years ago, in my flaming youth, I shared a rowhouse in Baltimore with some hippies and a self-described witch. The kitchen was in the basement along with a coal furnace, but the dining room was on the first floor. It was a beautiful old house with so many unique antique features that we were all too young to appreciate.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Big Joanie — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 11:22:29 GMT

I love it ...

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

DREAMON — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 12:31:13 GMT

All I can say is I LOVE IT!!!!...and I want it!

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Patriot3 — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 13:03:09 GMT

It's just okay for me. It seems a bit cold. The sink looks too much like a miniature bath tub. I do like the doors.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

stevieb — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:22:34 GMT

This is a neat kitchen and a very interesting space. I like all of the elements including the very different pendants. That said, the place in time when it made sense to have a basement kitchen is long past. Without servants flying up and down steps to bring me whatever I need, this woudn't work for me, so unless this is an English basement type apartment, I think I'd have to move on.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

wagirl — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 14:55:01 GMT

I really like it!!! I love the colors and the size--looks like alot of storge too---am all over the vintage , kind of industrial style!! and the glass cabinet fronts-----yes please!!! can see my many different color fiestaware dishes showing thru!!!

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Oznell — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 16:35:51 GMT

Oh, I hadn't thought of that, @wagirl -- that quiet, neutral background of the kitchen would be a perfect backdrop for showing off Fiesta (or any other colorful, interesting pottery), through all the glass fronts... I like it!

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

just bee — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 18:02:53 GMT

I'd probably take out a kidney on that island, but I still love that space.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

Imaoldhippie — Sun, 09 Apr 2023 19:58:53 GMT

Very nice, I would like to see rooms done in something else color wise besides black, white, and gray. Especially gray, all the fixer upper shows that put the gray in the homes (especially bathrooms and kitchens) they flipped for the last 3 to 4 years are about ready to be redone because gray is going out of style & getting boring and redundant.

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

jubilant — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 12:32:31 GMT

This is a great looking kitchen. I agree it has an old world look to it. I love the pendent lights, the drop dead gorgeous stove, the sink, and all the materials that were used.

Speaking of "summer kitchens"...my grandparents had a farm and turned one of the "out buildings" into a summer kitchen. Later in their life it became a big "cat shed". The cats loved it. Talk about "rich cats"...Ha!

Re: STEVEN GAMBREL'S MANHATTAN KITCHEN

CANDLEQUEEN — Mon, 10 Apr 2023 13:10:33 GMT

It is a beautiful kitchen! It a bit gray for me though, as I prefer more warmth to my rooms, but it is stunning!