Mr. and Mrs. Bill Alison - 424 Randolph Avenue

With two small children and the news of expecting twins, the Alison's bought this house in 2003 with the plans for renovation and expansion to meet the needs of a large family. With the architectural expertise of Frank Nola, an extensive renovation was designed. A new kitchen and breakfast room, family room, screened porch, wine cellar and master bedroom were all added to the original house. Careful attention to the original detail of the staircase, trim and floors make it difficult to tell the old from the new. The large spacious kitchen was planned as a gathering space for family and friends. Centrally located, adjacent to the family room and also the old original part of the house, the kitchen is truly the heart of the house and lends to wonderful gatherings.

The interior of the home has a French provincial style which is evident in the kitchen as well. The custom cabinets created by David Hastings show some provincial elements such as the corner detail, the hardware, the glass fronts, and also the use of chicken wire in the free-standing pantry. Included in the cabinetry are four convenient wicker storage baskets in the island, pull-out trash cans, spice drawers, and tray storage which all help in keeping things well organized.

The stainless appliances and the warm brown countertops all add to the beauty and charm of this kitchen. It is equipped with a Wolf range and an additional wall oven for use when cooking for a large crowd. The large stainless farm sink and twin drying sinks are great for cleaning up. The second sink on the island and also an extra dish washing drawer makes it possible to have two people on clean-up duty at the same time. The marble countertops in the kitchen, bar area, and desk area are all Walker Zanger Monte Carlo and the tile work is the same material. All the stonework throughout the house was designed by Mike Knox.

The walk-in bar is located right off the kitchen with an opening looking into the family room. The polished nickel hammered sink has a great look and the full size wine cooler with refrigerator drawers, ice maker, and pull out drawers for storing liquor makes entertaining a breeze.

The Alison family spends much of their time in and around the kitchen. This open floor plan allows this charming kitchen to be the center of activity and to also function beautifully.