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[Oznell]

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.

[bmorechick]

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.

[Desert Lily]

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.

[Oznell]

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.

[Desert Lily]

@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.

[Jaspertimes]

I want that kitchen, I love it!

[shoptilyadropagain]

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.

[Oznell]

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..

[wilma]

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.

[VegasBusinessWoman]

@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.