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Space to spread out from Kitchen Trends volume 2507
For a homeowner who enjoys the dual roles of cooking and entertaining, the kitchen needs to be both functional and set up for socializing.
Kitchen and interior designer Mark Williams took on the project of transforming three condominium apartments into one. The entire space was gutted and the kitchen, dining and living areas were relocated along one wall of the building, with floor-to-ceiling doors and windows opening onto a large, 78ft-long terrace.
"The owner is an enthusiastic cook who also likes to socialize, so he wanted to be able to cook and entertain at the same time. The kitchen had to be functional, but also beautiful, because it can be seen from everywhere in the home," says Williams.
To achieve this, the design utilizes a simple palette of materials – stainless steel, natural and lacquered wood, and green back-painted glass along the rear wall behind the open shelves.
"These finishes create the subtle look we wanted, but they also complement the light, bright and sunny aspect of the rest of the apartment," says the designer.
The large central island is split into two functional spaces – an area for cooking and preparation, and a table with seating for family and friends. These two zones are defined by their materials. The sink and cooktop are inlaid into a single piece of stainless steel, and the wooden table is constructed to be flush with the rest of the countertop.
Ventilation above the island is concealed in a series of stainless steel panels. Only those over the cooktop operate as a hood; the rest were made to match and provide additional lighting for the cook working at the countertop.
To achieve a clean look for the kitchen, the cabinetry was designed and laid out so the functional faces are not visible from the living and dining areas. Only flat wood panels on the long side and end of the island can be seen, and all drawers and cupboards are located below countertop height. Cabinets above the ovens are built to be flush, with concealed handles, while open shelves, which are designed for display rather than storage, are above the perimeter countertop. A short wall between the dining area and the kitchen shields the workspace from the view of guests in the hall.
On the far side of the kitchen, in an alcove next to the dining table, is a beverage center or butler's pantry. This includes a small refrigerator, as well as storage for glasses and other bar paraphernalia.
This kitchen is in a large apartment created from three separate units. Floor-to-ceiling windows and doors give the kitchen a sense of connection with extensive terraces outside. The countertop on the large 6ft x 12ft island is made from flush-joined stainless steel and wood. The sink and cooktop are integrated into the stainless steel. Cupboards for seasonal and oversize platters and crockery are concealed behind flush-fitted doors in the back of the island.
All cabinetry on the rear wall is flush-finished so that the functionality of the kitchen isn't obvious from the dining and living areas.
A short wall, which offers a handy place for a wall-mounted television, also provides a partial barrier between the hallway and the kitchen. The stainless steel range hood over the island was customized for this countertop. Ventilation panels are over the cooktop, and the rest of the panels supplement recessed lighting on the ceiling.
A beverage center, built from the same materials as the kitchen cabinetry, fits snugly into an alcove between the kitchen and dining area. Concealed behind the wood cabinetry doors is a bar refrigerator. The center also provides space for storage of glassware and other items.
Credit List
Contractor
:
Cruickshank
Cabinetry
:
White matte lacquer; ovangkol wood
Backsplash
:
US Colorglass, custom back-painted glass
Kitchen uplighting
:
Estiluz
Dining room lighting
:
Boyd Lighting
Oven, cooktop, microwave, dishwasher
:
Miele
Refrigeration and wine cooler
:
Sub-Zero
Story by Mary Webb
Photography by John Umberger
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