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VIEW THROUGH THE ARCH

Written by peter    Monday, 31 August 2009

CASE STUDIES IN the old days, a picture was worth a thousand words. And regardless of the current exchange rate, photos are still the best way to show what's new in kitchen design. Stylewise, these eighteen studies present as broad a palette as possible. You'll find European cabinets and components, French country motifs, polished colonial brass, high-tech concrete, and stainless steel. But don't worry too much about sticking to one theme: creative kitchens often combine elements of several standard styles. Each real-life situation is a little different, too. Some of these kitchens are large; others are small. Most of the designs address special problems or requests hope fully, one of these solutions will work for you. If it's individual pieces that catch your fancy. VIEW THROUGH THE ARCH How can you expand a tiny galley kitchen? To obtain space, this architect first eliminated a small bathroom in back, then added an arch at the entry to the adjacent dining room, and finally opened up the view into the adjoining family room via an angled peninsula. European-style white cabinets set the tone; curved end cabinets imitate the fluid shapes of the peninsula, soffits, vent hood, and Italian light fixtures. The custom vent hood gleams with polished brass and mirrored steel. Plenty of pullouts, appliance garages, and lazy Susans make storage a breeze there's even a sealed pullout bin for dog food! COZY, COMFORTABLE GREAT ROOM The big, high-ceilinged living room was too cold and formal for the homeowners who wanted a comfortable, cozy space for everyday relaxing. To solve the problem, they pushed out the wall next to the original kitchen and created a great room to house many of their vari?ous activities. Beams, cabinetry, and decor link the areas visually. The basic kitchen L includes stacked wall ovens, a built-in refrigerator, and a stainless steel sink; a large central island houses a modu?lar cooktop ensemble and plenty of storage compartments. Downdraft ventilation preserves the open feel. A built-in desk holds down one corner; a wine bar area completes the picture. COUNTRY COOKING Out went the old walls and in came a new kitchen that meets the needs of a serious cook. The new maple butcher-block island is the center for food preparation; pots on the striking pot rack provide a focal point. A residential/commercial range (insulated for home use) puts out plenty of BTUs; the mirrored wall oven with a pizza insert and the warming tray below complete the cooking center. The style is clean country contemporary: black granite counter-tops accent the white, glossy, raised-panel cabinets; the silver and black of appliances add punch. Backsplashes are white field tiles with black diamond accents. Lighting is from PAR downlights with strip undercabinet lighting for close tasks. A new bay window and built-in window seat area complete the far end of the new space.

Last Updated ( Monday, 31 August 2009 )