Baker's dozen

Multitasking is a fact of life for busy moms, but it takes on even more significance when you are also running a business from home. Or to be more accurate, from the kitchen.

Designer Elizabeth Brosnan Hourihan of Carpenter & MacNeille, who designed this kitchen with Ian Mentasti of Stephen Terhune Woodworking, says the kitchen needed to work for the family of six, and the owner's bakery business.

"Meeting the regulations surrounding the establishment of a commercial kitchen within a family home was challenging," Hourihan says. "Ultimately, this determined the design of all the cabinet and drawer interiors. These were custom designed with dividers and bins to accommodate specific ingredients."

It wasn't such a problem coming up with the overall aesthetic for the kitchen, however. The owner wanted a clean look and a soft color palette, with a limited number of materials and colors. The cabinetry also had to complement the traditional character of the house.

"We chose a classic cabinetry style with simple recessed panel doors and drawers that are easy to keep clean," says Hourihan. "We wanted the cabinets to have a furniture look, which softens them visually built-in cabinets can often look very heavy."

The furniture look is reinforced by the island, which incorporates a bar-style table with turned legs. The elevated top ensures the cooktop is a safe distance from children sitting on the stools.

Mentasti says the importance of high-quality cabinetry cannot be overlooked, with the functionality and long-term durability of the kitchen dependent on the design and construction.

The cabinetry was handpainted in Benjamin Moore Linen White, and features traditional beadboard backing to the island, shelving, and above the backsplash. The off-white cabinets are teamed with honed black granite countertops. The dark accent is repeated in the oil-rubbed bronze hardware, which has a rich patina.

"We chose a Botticino marble for the baking center, which is an ideal surface for rolling out mixtures," says Hourihan. "At 32in high, this countertop is also 4in lower than the main counters, so it is better suited to baking."

Other key features of the open-plan kitchen include a large farmhouse sink, and open shelves for cook books and children's resources.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Eric Roth