Business with pleasure
This kitchen has vast expanses of commercial hardware to satisfy the owners' love of cooking, but the wood cabinets make it feel like home
It may be natural to want the best of both worlds, but it's not always so easy to achieve. For instance, those who love cooking often marvel at the efficiency of a restaurant kitchen, but shy away from bringing the industrial look of all that stainless steel into their home.
The solution for the owners of this house was to combine the capacity of a commercial kitchen with the welcoming ambiance of a domestic one.
Designer Roar Vaernes from Studio Becker was commissioned to redesign this transitional-style kitchen for a family who enjoy entertaining. Vaernes says the kitchen needed to be suitable for the family's day-to-day needs as well as the charity events they hold in their home.
To get the feel of the room right, Vaernes had to marry the myriad stainless steel appliances required for hosting large dinner parties with the maple and elm burr cabinets.
"Stainless steel is an industrial surface, while the maple and elm of the cabinetry give a much softer impression. To bridge the gap between the two styles, I specified crescent-shaped stainless steel handles for the cabinets. This softens the transition from the steel to the cabinetry and also mirrors the lines of the appliances.".
The homeowners required a large island in the middle of the kitchen for food preparation. To prevent the island from looking too imposing, Vaernes broke it up with a two-level design, anchoring the upper level and floating the lower level out towards the range.
The large, anchored section of theisland accommodates a dishwasher and a refrigerator, while the lower level provides an extra preparation area for caterers during large functions. The cantilevered cabinetry is defined by a solid elm burl door and drawer style, instead of the inset elm that features elsewhere.
Vaernes says the richness and quality of the bookmatched wood are highlighted by flattering lighting. Halogen spotlights above each door panel provide a detailed view of the grain while keeping glare to a minimum."
Studio Becker is a renowned multi-line manufacturer that can help you furnish your entire home, as well as your kitchen. The company's Ultimate Home Collection presents a range of luxury products, from traditional to ultra modern.
Contact Studio Becker, 1080 Marina Village Parkway, Suite 500, Alameda, CA 94501, phone (510) 865 1616, fax (510) 865 1148. Website: www.studiobecker.com.
Story by: Trendsideas
Home kitchen bathroom commercial design
