Harmony rules from Kitchen Trends volume 2502

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With the majority of life's projects, there are a number of confines within which we all must work. For certified designers Beth Kopin and Jim Dase, this kitchen remodeling project came with a few confines of its own.
The original kitchen was a separate room to the rest of the living area, and the homeowner wanted it to stay that way, says Kopin.
"We were asked to remodel the space, but to leave utilities where they were. The kitchen is a long, narrow area without room for an island, so the best concept was to go with a galley style."
With a wish list that included contemporary cabinetry and stainless steel, the next issue was to come up with a design that wasn't too industrial.
"The owner chose a very clean-fronted cabinet style that was to be stained dark," says Dase. "To lighten the overall look, and to ensure the kitchen retained some link with the rest of the house, the remaining materials were kept neutral.
"Ribbed glass inserts on most of the upper cabinets add a sense of lightness. An angled end with open shelving also breaks up the solid banks of cabinetry below."
Recessing the pantry wall at the far end of the space also helped soften the linear design.
"As well as breaking up the parallel lines on each side of the room, the narrower pantry wall allows more room for the table and chairs. I've discovered that unless you're planning a walk-in, a pantry doesn't need to be more than 12-15in deep, otherwise you tend to lose your canned goods at the back," says Kopin.
The mix of materials also serves to mask the symmetry usually associated with a galley kitchen. Each surface produces a different effect in a range of lighting conditions, says Dase.
"The kitchen gets ample natural daylight. When designing lighting, it's important to think about how the room will be used at night, too. We used recessed lights in the ceiling, augmented with lighting in and under the cabinets. Each creates a different interplay with the elements around it."
For details, contact Beth Kopin, ASID NKBA, Kopin Interiors, 150 Cary Avenue, Highland Park, IL 60035, phone (847) 926 0233; or Jim Dase, NKBA CMKBD, Abruzzo Kitchens, 1105 Remington Road, Schaumburg, IL 60173, phone (847) 885 0500, fax (847) 885 0555. Web: www.abruzzokitchens.com.