A Country Manor
Honoring Heritage Through Design
Sometimes when life brings changes, the temptation is to do something totally new. That’s what Stefano and Elizabeth were facing. When the opportunity arose to move into her mother’s late-1930s Cincinnati home, they initially considered purchasing a new house, but the property held several alluring features. “We loved the property, especially the land,” Elizabeth says. Being one door down from some extended family helped seal the deal; they decided to work with the existing home to turn it into something that reflected them as a family. “Ultimately, we wanted to create a home where our entire family could come together, share meals, and make memories for years to come,” she says.
Since what they had in mind entailed extensive renovation and expansion of the home, they called on Jeckering Schneider Architects to helm the project. The focal point of the project was transforming the somewhat pedestrian kitchen into something that reflected Stefano’s Italian heritage and personality. “Stefano loves to cook,” said Elizabeth, “and as someone from Italy, creating a warm, welcoming environment centered around food and hospitality was incredibly important to him.”
Sourcing Italian Elegance
Because the kitchen was the heart of the project, we were brought in to handle all of the cabinetry that defined the space. Stefano and Elizabeth wanted to bring personal meaning to the space, so as many materials as possible were sourced from Italy. For instance, the striking oversized island, a centerpiece in the kitchen, has Italian Walnut Burl panels on the doors and end pieces. “[This] detailing was incredibly important to me because it adds so much warmth, texture, and character to the space,” emphasizes Elizabeth.
“I believe more people should value the art of custom building and thoughtful renovation. While custom work certainly comes at a higher cost than choosing a more standard or builder-grade approach, I think people are often surprised that it is not as unattainable or exorbitant as they imagine.”
Custom Functionality for a Culinary Family
Stefano and Elizabeth do a lot of cooking in their kitchen, so we built custom pullouts and drawers to hold their most-used spices, oils, and finishing salts, keeping them well within reach. They are also a true coffee and espresso family, so we created a dedicated coffee bar for them, complete with storage for all of their coffee-making tools, cups, and accessories. We framed it on either side with tall glass-fronted cabinets, allowing them to display some of their favorite books, ceramics, and collected art pieces, keeping with the overall curated look and feel of the space.
Lessons Learned
When asked how they felt about the finished space, they responded, “The space also feels deeply personal because it reflects both Stefano and me so naturally. Many of the materials and finishes were sourced from Italy, which was important to honoring Stefano’s roots and bringing a sense of European warmth and craftsmanship into the home. At the same time, the scale and openness of the kitchen feel very American in the best way — generous, inviting, and designed for gathering. That blend of Italian soul and American livability really defines the space for us.”
Elizabeth provided some tips for other people embarking on extensive home renovation projects. “I believe more people should value the art of custom building and thoughtful renovation. While custom work certainly comes at a higher cost than choosing a more standard or builder-grade approach, I think people are often surprised that it is not as unattainable or exorbitant as they imagine, especially when you consider the long-term value of creating a home that is tailored specifically to the way your family lives.” She goes on to say, “I would also encourage people not to compromise on the elements that truly matter to them. What made our experience so successful was having partners like Weston and the team at Peters Cabinetry, who consistently collaborated with me and respected the vision we had for the home. Every major design decision was thoughtfully discussed, and the final result feels exactly as I imagined it would.”
We couldn’t agree more.
