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The design of a family kitchen has to respond to a variety of functions and needs. The tricky part is to ensure that, when all the owners' requests have been catered to, the kitchen has a presence that is greater than the sum of these parts.
This kitchen forms part of a clean-lined, modern home that steps down a hillside towards a lake. Architect Lane Williams was asked by the client to create an expansive, user-friendly kitchen that would both take in the waterfront views and also look good from the surrounding living spaces.
"Set between the family area, dining area and the living room, the kitchen is a central element within the greater space," says Williams. "To create a focal point, we gave the kitchen a minimalist, floating appearance – through the introduction of suspended frosted glass cabinets, recessed toekicks and an accent on horizontal planes, such as the raised bar counter on the central island."
Strong red accents found elsewhere in the home are also repeated here, adding a touch of vibrancy to the kitchen's simple, clean-lined aesthetic. They provide a dramatic contrast to the generous use of wood, tile, stone and frosted glass.
The kitchen caters to both entertaining and a family lifestyle. For example, setting a cooktop in the island means the chef can prepare a meal and talk to guests or keep an eye on the children. All surfaces are easy to clean, including the porcelain tile backsplash. The same durable surface is used for the kitchen floor, helping delineate the space.
"Choice of materials was important in terms of connecting the kitchen to the adjoining areas," says Williams. "Wood on the undercounter cabinetry ties in with the dining area floor, the ceiling and furniture in the family room. This room steps down from the kitchen towards the windows."
As the floor changes levels through the space, so too does the ceiling. Williams says that acoustics are always a central concern with open-plan living, particularly when young children are involved.
"Sound travels in straight lines and breaking up the ceiling plane in this way also breaks up noise traveling across the space," he says.
The kitchen is open to the water views on one side, but on the other, a bank of cabinetry stretches to the ceiling, containing and anchoring the space.
"This cabinetry wall houses a large integrated refrigerator and fulfils another role too – screening the kitchen from the living area," says Williams. "The wall is so substantial that it easily houses the living room fireplace on the opposite side."

Architect : Lane Williams, AIA, Coop 15 (Seattle, WA)

Interior designer : Holly McKinley

Kitchen designer : Coop 15

Builder : Flip Builders

Cabinets : Poliform in gray-stained oak, teak and red lacquer finishes

Countertops : Masabi Gray granite from Pental

Backsplash, flooring : Basaltina porcelain stone tile

Windows : Marlin Windows

Doors : Fleetwood Doors

Bar stools : Bertoia

Lighting : Tech Lighting Monorail System

Sink : Poliform Stainless Steel

Faucets : Franke

Oven, cooktop : Viking

Range hood : Piatta by Poliform