My fascination with rustic kitchens dates back to the summers I spent in France.
And later to the various houses we rented in Italy. Most of those kitchens looked something like this one on the second floor of a house owned by a French archaeological engineer in Damascus, Syria.
Stone is a major element – both in the adjacent hallway and in the tile floor. Marble comprises the framework for the open storage except for makeshift doors below the double sink. There are no lower cabinets — just an open vertical slot for trays and square storage spaces for pots. This no-doors approach is common when maximum utility is required in a narrow space. Low marble shelves, holding utensils, piggyback the counter to the left and behind the sink. A plate rack above the sink provides dish storage. On the wall, almost behind the door, a hanging pot rack supports Middle Eastern utensils. Higher up is a fragment of a painted mural, with a typically floral motif, salvaged from an old house while a tiny table affords seating at the window. No one would describe this kitchen as fancy yet the storage areas are built of marble!
The kitchen and bath were renovated by an Italian architect who helped the owner restore the house, which is adjacent to the Ottoman-era palace of Beit Mujalled in Damascus’ Muslim quarter.
The story of this renovation is that the owner moved to Damascus and fell in love with the ancient wreck of a house. It had modern tiles applied over the ancient stone walls of the outdoor room and courtyard and he undertook a complete renovation.
The apartment hallway leading to the kitchen, is reached from outside, via a stairwell in the courtyard. How I would love to be invited for coffee and sit there in such ancient splendor before heading next door to see the palace.
