| The owner is so pleased with the kitchen's improved function and aesthetics that she says she enjoys cooking again.
Snowcapped mountains and ferries skimming across Puget Sound provide ever-changing panoramic scenes from this Mukilteo home. The kitchen's orientation and space plan, however, limited views and created an awkward flow and insufficient workspace.
The family desired a comfortable gathering place for informal dining and secondary seating for after-school snacks or for guests to gather. Contemporary style appealed to the owner who wanted the kitchen and family room to reflect her family's lifestyle as well as her home's aesthetics.
Design Challenges:
-
A small island with inadequate work space isolated the cook from the view and family activity.
-
An electric cook top was preferred over the island gas cook top that had an inefficient downdraft.
-
Dining at a long counter impeded family interaction and oriented diners with their backs toward the view.
-
Two teen-agers needed a snack center away from the primary meal preparation area.
-
The mother and daughter enjoy working together in the kitchen but were limited by the existing space.
-
Uninspired tile countertops were difficult to maintain. Wanted were attractive, low maintenance countertops.
-
Cabinetry storage was insufficient and the recessed appliance garage was inaccessible.
-
A large TV in the family room lacked visual appeal and consumed valuable wall space therefore limiting the furniture arrangement.
Design Solution:
-
A large granite island with prep sink provides a second work zone and ample work space for mother and daughter to share. The orientation capitalizes on the view and encourages interaction with family and friends in the adjacent family room or seated at the raised counter.
-
The ceramic glass cook top with recessed stainless steel shelving and efficient overhead ventilation replaced the gas cook top and downdraft, and utilizes the space where the hard-to-reach recessed appliance garage had been.
-
A separate snack area is zoned to avoid interference with the cooking work triangle. Snacks are easily prepared with an under-counter beverage center and convection microwave above it conveniently located near the sink and refrigerator. The snack center also serves the bar and dining room just a few steps away.
-
A warming drawer below the wall oven adds to the convenience of meal preparation and serving.
-
Extending the hall wall created space for a walk-in pantry that provides easy access to small appliances and bulk items. A rice paper film on the glass pantry door adds texture, obscures contents and allows light to filter through. The same technique is repeated on wall cabinets flanking the hood.
-
Repetition of stainless steel in appliances and tile, and a graduated square motif create rhythm, unity and harmony. Hand-made glass tiles in metal-like frames interspersed among quartz squares create a stunning textural backsplash and hood accent.
-
The banquette, accessible from the family room and kitchen, provides intimate seating for casual dining and playing games while enjoying views of the fireplace and scenery.
-
A dramatic diagonal splice of natural alder and walnut-stained cherry wraps around the corner of the banquette and transitions to an adjoining entertainment center. Cabinetry houses the now inconspicuous TV and electronics and allows more flexible furniture arrangement in the family room for comfortable TV viewing. The custom cabinet was constructed for easy conversion to storage when audio-visual needs change.
-
The original stone fireplace was visually and functionally enhanced by re-facing it with chocolate-colored porcelain tile and adding a niche designed to accommodate a flat screen TV at a future date. Use of color, materials and design unite the fireplace and family room with the kitchen.
|
