Amongst the vines - rustic yet practical kitchen by Neil Peoples

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Rustic yet practical kitchen by Neil Peoples

View of kitchen. Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, estate, interior design, kitchen, property, real estate, gray, brown — View of kitchen. Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional aesthetic. Functional space.

Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional countertop, cuisine classique, estate, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, brown, gray

View of cleaning space. Small work bench, Architect bathroom, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, window, brown

Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, home, interior design, kitchen, living room, room, gray, brown

Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, room, brown

Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, brown, gray

Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, home, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, room, brown, gray

Architect Neil Peoples AIA. Tuscan inspired kitchen. Traditional cabinetry, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, gray, brown

For those passionate about cooking and entertaining, the ideal kitchen would offer abundant room and plenty of counter space, and a level of practicality that would make it a comfortable space to work in for extended periods.

Just such a kitchen was on the wish list of architect Neil Peoples' clients when they commissioned him to design their new home.

"The owner loves spending time in the kitchen. She is an adventurous cook of different cuisines and wanted a large, homey, yet practical working kitchen that would give her plenty of scope to pursue her culinary aspirations."

With a total area of around 750sq ft, the kitchen is large, and it needed to be divided into a number of spaces to be workable, including a butler's pantry, general pantry, an oven room, a china pantry and a breakfast room.

Separating the larger space in this way gives more of a focus to each of the individual areas, and allows for multiple tasks to be carried out at the same time by different people.

"Two large islands also serve to divide the main space one for prep and the other for guests to sit at, allowing them to be a part of the experience without being in the middle of it. They also provide extra storage," says Peoples.

There is also a designated cleanup zone to one side of the kitchen. This zone has been positioned near the entry to the butler's pantry a walk-through space that leads to the dining room.

"Placing the cleanup zone in this position means dirty dishes from the dining room can be easily set down in the kitchen without the need to cross into the larger space," says Peoples.

"Creating a high level of connectivity between the spaces that make up the kitchen and the adjoining rooms was the key to making the space a success."

Establishing an aesthetic connection with the home's wider environs was also a leading objective of the design.

"The kitchen is on the upper, entry level of the house, and has a commanding view of the surrounding vineyards. Ample windows provide abundant natural light and also place this view front and center. The rustic, Tuscan feel of the interior design lends itself perfectly to the bucolic character of the view."

"Features such as the reclaimed Douglas fir beam, copper sink, antiqued finish to the cabinetry and plaster finish on the walls are all instantly recognizable as Tuscan design elements," says Peoples, "and just as readily evoke the kind of pastoral scene that lies beyond the windows."