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JWH Design and Cabinetry LLC
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Pro Spotlight: Unlock Your Kitchen’s Design Potential
A smart layout means more than tearing down walls, this Rye space-planning expert says
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Who: Jennifer Howard of JWH Design & Cabinetry
Where: Rye, New York
In her own words: “Good design means analyzing the bones and the structure of your home — seeing what it can become.”
Whether you want a mudroom that minimizes chaos or a kitchen that optimizes entertaining, Jennifer Howard believes thoughtful space planning is the key to unlocking the full potential of a client’s home.
“I love fixing spaces,” says Howard, who owns JWH Design & Cabinetry in Rye. “When I’m viewing photos, walking through rooms or looking at plans on paper, I aim to improve the interior architecture before considering any other design work. Space planning has a powerful effect.”
Where: Rye, New York
In her own words: “Good design means analyzing the bones and the structure of your home — seeing what it can become.”
Whether you want a mudroom that minimizes chaos or a kitchen that optimizes entertaining, Jennifer Howard believes thoughtful space planning is the key to unlocking the full potential of a client’s home.
“I love fixing spaces,” says Howard, who owns JWH Design & Cabinetry in Rye. “When I’m viewing photos, walking through rooms or looking at plans on paper, I aim to improve the interior architecture before considering any other design work. Space planning has a powerful effect.”
Original inspiration. While transforming a 2,000-square-foot house into a two-story home for her young family, Howard discovered her passion for construction and design. “Inspired by the potential of the house, I couldn’t help but fall in love with the renovation process from start to finish,” she says.
Big-picture solutions. “Space planning can be an exhilarating puzzle,” Howard says. “The client’s needs and space limitations are pieces that work together to inspire creative solutions, a personalized floor plan and, ultimately, a space transformation.”
Ready for your kitchen to seize its potential? Follow Howard’s space-planning tips below.
Ready for your kitchen to seize its potential? Follow Howard’s space-planning tips below.
1. Consider the Chef
When kids, guests or pets enter the cooking area, it can be chaotic or even dangerous. Locating casual dining areas, pantries and beverage stations closer to doorways can optimize the kitchen’s work triangle for food prep, Howard says.
A Rye client is an avid entertainer who prioritized large appliances in her kitchen design. To protect her workspace, Howard switched the kitchen and the family room. “When her guests enter the kitchen from the foyer, casual seating and refreshments are located so that the crowds can help themselves and she can continue cooking,” Howard says.
See more of this project
When kids, guests or pets enter the cooking area, it can be chaotic or even dangerous. Locating casual dining areas, pantries and beverage stations closer to doorways can optimize the kitchen’s work triangle for food prep, Howard says.
A Rye client is an avid entertainer who prioritized large appliances in her kitchen design. To protect her workspace, Howard switched the kitchen and the family room. “When her guests enter the kitchen from the foyer, casual seating and refreshments are located so that the crowds can help themselves and she can continue cooking,” Howard says.
See more of this project
2. Consider the Rooms
Many homeowners are interested in a open-concept floor plan, as it encourages family connections. “Spaces still need definition,” Howard says. “Keep architectural elements, utilize color, add lighting or change up the furniture arrangement. Rooms feel best when the flow between them is easy.”
Howard raised the ceiling of the kitchen in Harrison seen here to add volume and a sense of spaciousness. “By leaving the header, we created a natural separation between the dining table and the kitchen,” she says. “Now the eating area has its own personality, while the cook is connected to the action in the rest of the house.”
See more of this project
Many homeowners are interested in a open-concept floor plan, as it encourages family connections. “Spaces still need definition,” Howard says. “Keep architectural elements, utilize color, add lighting or change up the furniture arrangement. Rooms feel best when the flow between them is easy.”
Howard raised the ceiling of the kitchen in Harrison seen here to add volume and a sense of spaciousness. “By leaving the header, we created a natural separation between the dining table and the kitchen,” she says. “Now the eating area has its own personality, while the cook is connected to the action in the rest of the house.”
See more of this project
3. Consider the Seating
A bigger kitchen island isn’t necessarily better; its purpose is to make cooking more efficient. “I try to avoid creating an island that looks like a landing strip,” Howard says. “The scale has to make sense with the overall kitchen concept. When seating people at the island, it’s important to consider the appliance locations and avoid seating people with their backs against appliances.”
Because a Rye Neck client had a long appliance wish list, Howard wanted to be especially careful where she placed the island seating. “I paid attention to where her children entered the kitchen,” she says. “Now if Mom is cooking at the range, they can enter and sit far from the action. Plus, they sit at the corner so they can face each other to talk.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Jennifer Howard and examples of her work, visit JWH Design and Cabinetry’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
A bigger kitchen island isn’t necessarily better; its purpose is to make cooking more efficient. “I try to avoid creating an island that looks like a landing strip,” Howard says. “The scale has to make sense with the overall kitchen concept. When seating people at the island, it’s important to consider the appliance locations and avoid seating people with their backs against appliances.”
Because a Rye Neck client had a long appliance wish list, Howard wanted to be especially careful where she placed the island seating. “I paid attention to where her children entered the kitchen,” she says. “Now if Mom is cooking at the range, they can enter and sit far from the action. Plus, they sit at the corner so they can face each other to talk.”
See more of this project
More: For more information on Jennifer Howard and examples of her work, visit JWH Design and Cabinetry’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Jennifer Howard founded JWH Design & Cabinetry in 1996, in Rye, NY. Her expertise in creative space planning... Read More
Review by robbie marcus:
Had an absolutely outstanding experience with JWH for my kitchen and bar renovation. From start to finish, the entire team (design and contruction) is professional, easy to work with and very hardwor...More
Thanks for the write-up! We love to share our philosophy behind great design. Hope this helps. Jennifer