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Texture balance from Kitchen Trends volume 2411
A minimalist design aesthetic can result in a sleek and simple kitchen, but there is also the possibility of it appearing stark and unfriendly. In this kitchen, visually interesting and highly textured materials and features are used to counteract and soften the minimalist look.
Having worked on a previous home for the same client, designer Deborah Kalkstein knew that a sleek look with a neutral color scheme would be preferred in this kitchen.
"The dominant colors are white and stone gray. I chose white Boffi Soho cabinets for their clean, matte finish. The handles are recessed for a streamlined look, and the appliances have also been integrated into the cabinetry for the most part. The countertops are a very smooth Carrara marble in a pale gray," she says.
An aluminum backsplash brings out the silver tones in the counter, as well as lending shine to the room. To further engage the senses and provide a partial division between the dining room and kitchen, the designer used a freestanding dividing wall made from fiberglass, which has the appearance of tall reeds.
"This wall provides visual texture, and gives the homeowner some spatial options," says Kalkstein. "It can be moved easily, so the kitchen and dining room could open up for a party, and the view seen from the kitchen if desired."
The rear wall of the kitchen features a ventilation system integrated into the upper cabinets. This stretches across the wall and creates a strong horizontal form, which is reflected by an inverted rectangular shape in the ceiling.
"These visually engaging dropped or raised ceilings can be seen throughout the apartment. In this instance, the shape mimics the countertop beneath it, as well as relating to other rectangular forms in the room," the designer says.
A variety of lighting features has been installed, allowing several different atmospheres to be created. Perhaps the most prominent fixture is the handmade iron chandelier over the dining table. At night, the chandelier casts patterned shadows on the ceiling. A fluorescent tube runs under the peninsula countertop for a soft look, says Kalkstein.
"I didn't want the task lighting in the kitchen to compete with the chandelier. The four hanging lights above the counter look like bare bulbs, but have protective covers for visual comfort."
The clean lines of the cabinetry and countertop in this kitchen are balanced by architectural features, such as the tall reed-like structure between it and the dining room.
The lighting above the countertop is chosen for its bare, basic look. The bulbs have plastic protectors to prevent glare.
A strip of LED lights underneath the counter provide a soft glow.
While the dishwasher and refrigerator are integrated into the cabinetry, other appliances are exposed to add to the silver tones of the stainless steel backsplash and light fixtures.
The photographs, by Val Prudkii, were chosen to reference the Washington, DC area and add some color to the space. The newspaper and flowers in the left-hand photograph also relate to objects often found on kitchen countertops.
The Boffi Soho ventilation system on the back wall adds another stainless steel element to the kitchen. It includes a rack for hanging utensils.
Inca stone floor tiles in a pale gray are chosen to match with the Carrara marble countertops.
The Molteni chairs are leather with gray oak legs. The dining table is by MDF Italia.
Credit List
Architect
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Deborah Kalkstein, Contemporaria (Washington, DC)
Cabinetry
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White matte lacquered by Boffi Soho
Countertop
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Honed straight-edge Carrara marble by Marblex
Flooring
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Inca stone in light gray by Stone Source
Dining furniture
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Table by MDF Italia; buffet and chairs by Molteni; fiberglass room divider by Extremis
Lighting
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Hanging pendants by Ingo Maurer; recessed multiple light fixtures by Illuminations; chandelier light by Brand van Egmond
Oven, microwave, dishwasher, coffee machine
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Miele
Artwork
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Photographs by Val Prudkii
Story by Camille Butler
Photography by Stacey Zarin Goldberg
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