09 November, 2010

Kitchen Kaleidscope-The Inside Story Part II

By Lisa Peck, ASID
I have written about kitchen design before on the LiLu blog...Little Things-Kitchens, Expand as if by Magic and Empty Nest Kitchen and other places. This kitchen has both common elements and different challenges from every kitchen we design.
Common Elements
Great work triangle
Using the three most used appliances in the kitchen we work to incorporate a usable work triangle between the refrigerator, cooktop and sink in every kitchen.
Point of use storage
While developing the elevations of each kitchen we think through the storage ensuring that all of your tools, ingredients and cookware is within reach right where you will use it to save wasted steps.
Aesthetics
Creating a kitchen that flows with the rest of the home, has a great focal point and has an aesthetic theme that suits the owners style.
Different Challenges
Lose the underused spaces
Our client had a home office and the kitchen desk wasn't being used as a desk. By turning this area into a large bank of cabinets we accommodated several needs. There is a bake center with double ovens and adjacent counter surface by Cambria. The same counter surface doubles as a buffet serving area when family is over for casual dining. At the opposite end of the bank of cabinets a bar area with wine, liquor, and glassware.
Make use of the soaring ceiling
The soaring ceiling in the space had been de-emphasized previously by soffits running the length of the room. Removing the soffits and adding a custom crown detail with a floating appearance allowed us to make the space feel larger. Punctuating the two seating areas with area defining lighting helps keep a human scale.
Relate to the wooded lakeside lot
Located on a lakeside wooded lot our kitchen had a built-in connection to nature. Choosing materials that were contemporary enough for the architecture of this home and related well to the nature seen through the windows was an important element of our design.