Andrew Bordwin

My wife and l live in a 1919 center-hall Colonial house in Hastings-on-Hudson, New York. With three stories, five bedrooms, a sensible and well-flowing layout, and a position on the lot that allows us to take full advantage of garden and play space, we knew that this house had everything we were looking for.  The kitchen, however, was another story.  While it still had the original butler’s pantry, it lacked any real place to put ovens, a stove, a refrigerator, or cabinet and counter space.  In addition, there was no bathroom on the first floor, and we wanted to solve that problem as well. Though we didn't want to lose the butler's pantry; we knew that it would need to be removed if we wanted to make room for all this.  It posed a formidable challenge.

Enter Paul Ochs.  After a brief discussion and some time with paper and pencil, he managed to solve all these challenges with great elegance and economy.  The new powder room would allow for a refrigerator cove, as well as a wall on which the  butler's pantry shelves and counter could be mounted.  In addition, the plan called for a very spacious 18-foot counter, more than enough storage above and below, as well as a table for six.  The revamped passage to the dining room and another to the living room allowed for placement of double ovens as well as a very open traffic flow.  We have the services we need, and we managed to keep the butler pantry, maintaining the original sensibility of the house.

Paul's strength is in his experience and his intuition. With a solid foundation in the history of architecture and design, he treats existing structures with respect and perspective. On site he is persistent and focused, running the job with an eye to the owner's convenience and the worker's care.  Paul understands the needs of a busy family, and that's reflected in his design and his manner.  We cannot recommend him highly enough.

Sincerely,

Andrew Bordwin