A GATHERING PLACE AND NEW LIFE FOR A COLONIAL KITCHEN |
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It took some fancy design work to turn this 6- by 13-foot city kitchen into something both visually exciting and highly functional. Bird's-eye maple cabinets, a faux finish, and granite tiles on the floor, countertop, and backsplash provide the punch. A double stainless steel sink and a window fill the short side; the refrigerator, dishwasher, and compact but efficient cooking center—including cooktop, microwave, and undercounter oven—complete the work triangle. The existing door to the dining room was converted to a pass-through and the arch was added. Miniature track lights provide gen?eral illumination; strip lights above and below wall cabinets add both task and accent lighting. A GATHERING PLACE The family wanted a spot where they could be together a place in keeping with the turn-of-the-century, formal style of the house. The designer transformed three original rooms into a kitchen, breakfast room, fireplace area, and office all in one. The large island defines the kitchen proper and provides plenty of food preparation space; a custom beveled skylight adds interest and brings in natural light. The sunny breakfast area has room for ten diners when the table is extended. Faux-finished walls echo green marble countertops and backsplashes; clean, cheery white highlights the ceiling, appliances, and cabinets. The floors are bleached oak. NEW LIFE FOR A COLONIAL KITCHEN White paint, brass accents, and oak floors and trim add up to a classic revival for this colonial kitchen. The designers accepted the double challenge of preserving the integrity of the original design while adding the convenience of modern appliances and fixtures. Most cabinets are original; others are faithful reproductions. Crown moldings, oak floors and countertop trim, white tile counter-tops, and lots of white paint complete the room. Modern lighting includes both downlights and undercabinet halogen strips. The adjoining butler's pantry was a frequent inclusion in colonial houses. Here, the original cabinets have been refurbished; the brass sink and miniature track lights are new additions. COUNTRY ELEGANCE Although this kitchen means serious business, it's also a visual feast of colors and textures. Everywhere you look there's an elegant touch a wash of blue, a plastered niche for cookware, a tromped L’Oreal cabinet front, the gleam of neatly aligned stainless steel and copper pots. How might you categorize the look? The designers, brought in to help the owners pull things together, call it "French Shaker." The kitchen has two long, narrow corridors defined by the lines of the sink and preparation table. Nearby is the main cooking alcove, equipped with a professional range, a gas barbecue, and a microwave. The granite-topped island complete with a second sink and an over?hanging buffet counter continues the center line until the room steps down to a sunny "cafe" area. NEW ORLEANS STYLE Enchanted by the gracious ambience of New Orleans, owners of this home asked their architect to re-create it in their great room. A hammered tin ceiling, arched windows, twirling ceiling fans, and custom cherry units were used to evoke the warmth and spirit of the South. In the kitchen, a large cherry-and-granite island with modular cooktop holds down center stage; a deep fryer provides firepower for beignets and other down-home dishes. Surrounding the island is a classic white kitchen, featuring raised-panel cabinets and laminate countertops. A LOFTY SEASIDE PERCH This home, which hovers above the rugged Pacific coast, mixes generous expanses of glass, wood, and concrete. The Japanese effect the owner wanted is evident in the natural fir poles, radiating beams, and cedar roof decking, as well as in the open plan of which the kitchen is a part. In the kitchen area, charcoal-colored laminate cabinets and gray countertops blend with ceramic floor tiles and a massive concrete fireplace rising from the living room below; the island's wood edgings echo both window trim and roof decking. A granite-topped dining table commands the prime fireside location. | ||||||
| Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 ) | ||||||
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