I was thrilled to see a story on the cover of the Washington Post Magazine this weekend about Susan Toffler’s Chevy Chase home, designed by the late modern architect David Condon and recently renovated with the help of Designer Susan Vallon. A lot of blogs have already re-posted this story, but what I am most focused on is the kitchen, full of vintage St. Charles cabinets.
Photograph by Gorden Beall
Photograph by Gordon Beall
I found out about this project last year when I was an editor at Washington Spaces, but The Post smartly snapped it up when the magazine folded in December.
Toffler’s original St. Charles kitchen is in good company: Frank Lloyd Wright used the cabinets at Falling Water in Pennsylvania,
Photograph via www.wright-house.com
and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe used them in the Farnsworth House in Illinois:
I had known about St. Charles from a visit to the Kitchen and Bath Industry Show a few years ago, shortly after the Viking Range Corporation bought it and revived the brand, which was founded in 1935.
“We took it back to its roots, and we re-launched it in its iconic state,” said Jim Gregory, the general manager of St. Charles who answered the phone himself when I called the company number today.
But rather than customers seeking a retro look, he said, St. Charles is seeing younger people who are after a thoroughly fresh design. “I think we’re seeing an extreme amount of interest from people in their 30′s and 40′s who are really into minimal design,” Gregory said.
So this is what you get today:
Images courtesy of St. Charles
Rather than a conventional toe-kick, St. Charles builds cabinets on either four-inch or six-inch legs, a European style that makes it look more like furniture.
Another think going for these sleek cabinets is that they are extremely eco-friendly. Jim tells me that the steel is 98 percent recyclable, and that 70 percent of them are made from already-recycled products.
AND, there are 23 colors to choose from:
St. Charles kitchens have been profiled in a number of publications, including House Beautiful:
House Beautiful photographs via St. Charles
A detail shot of the kitchen's wet bar
After writing this post, I’m filled with St. Charles envy — ahh, someday!
For those who want it today, the local dealer for the company is kitchen designer Nancy Thornett of Nancy Thornett Associates.
Jennifer Sergent. Native Washingtonian. Former editor at Washington Spaces magazine and HGTV. Currently searching for – and writing about – DC’s design voices. Write to me @
These cabinets are beautiful, clean and simple in their modern style. It makes me happy to hear of others that have the foresight to see a company that has been around and be able to take it back to it’s roots. The trend seems to be leaning towards reviving the classics and I say they are doing a fabulous job. Love, love the House Beautiful kitchen with its blue island and how the back splash and pendants wrap the color around the room. xo
Wonderful post. I too loved the kitchen in the Post story house and took note for future reference. Will bookmark this post too, and hope to need it for my own future kitchen. Yes, St Charles envy! Lisa
I have the same st. charles cabinets in my garage waiting for an owner. How do i find out the value of them. They are the same as in your top picture. They need a good home!!!
FOR PAM RITCHEY – Are you still looking to sell the St. Charles cabinet mentioned in your March 127th blog which I just discovered today?
Suzanne
To Suzanne
I just purchased a home in Beverly Hills that was owned by one of the original “rat pack” actors. The cabinets are ALL original St. Charles and we are interested in selling them. If you are interested, please post!
I have an original set of St. Charles cabinets in a home I purchased about a year ago. There is a ton of them, and I still have the original dishwasher with the matching cabinet front (it’s in the garage though). Cabinets are in the pale yellow finish. Anyone interested in these, please feel free to contact me at rojodeuce@yahoo.com
We love the glass backsplashes! They are our favorite.
My boss started with St. Charles in 1949 in Beaumont, TX until he moved to Houston, TX to take over the St. Charles franchise until he became the Wood Mode rep in 1972.
I was an architect in San Antonio, TX until 1965 when I became a St Charles kitchen designer in 1965 until I moved to Houston, Tx to associate with David Steffan in the Wood Mode showroom.
St. Charles was a wonderful product and had a wonderful reputation.
Robert, that is so cool! Thank you so much for sharing your story. I LOVE St. Charles cabinets.