Command central

Family kitchens have to be all things to all people a place for the children to drop their bags and grab an after-school snack; a center of entertainment when friends stop by; and, of course, a cook's domain where meals are prepared.

The original kitchen in this 1960s brick ranch house simply couldn't keep up with the pace of a busy household, says architect David Maxam.

"It was a typical small starter house kitchen," he says. "It wasn't well suited to entertaining or the needs of the family. And there was no direct link to the formal living room, which was disconnected from the rest of the living space."

To provide more interior space, a small sun porch was removed and replaced by a large extension that now forms the dining room. Part of the wall between the kitchen and the formal living room was also removed to connect the two spaces and improve circulation through the house. A double-sided fireplace wall maintains a degree of separation between the formal and informal living areas.

Interior designer Ashley Cole worked with owners Jon and Kim Waalkes to design a new kitchen that would function, literally, as the heart of the home.

"Often the whole family gets involved with preparing food and baking," says Cole. "We provided several workstations so that more than one person could work in the kitchen at the same time."

The food preparation areas include two sinks, one behind a large chopping block handcrafted by Jon Waalkes from cabinetry off-cuts. Waalkes also made the concrete countertops, which have a light, limestone look that provides a strong contrast to the black walnut cabinets.

"We chose a clean-lined transitional cabinet style," says Cole. "This meets the need for a contemporary feel, yet the kitchen still looks warm and friendly."

As the owners wanted to add visual interest with patterned woodgrains, the bar top features solid zebrano wood. The wood wraps down the sides of the bar unit, defining and semi-enclosing the casual seating area within the island.

The designers also made a feature of the wall containing the major appliances. The cabinets and appliances are recessed to allow more space in the kitchen, and to create a flush, streamlined look.

Storage in the lower cabinets is provided by large drawers, which Cole says is the most ergonomic way to access plates, pans and utensils. A separate pantry is located behind the appliance wall. This area also has a new entry from the garage.

New hickory flooring flows through the living areas, enhancing the visualcontinuity. Similarly, a built-in secretary home office center was designed to match new maple cabinets in the dining room. Cole says these cabinets, display niches and high bookshelves help convey the sense of a warm, intimate library.

Both the kitchen and dining room feature coffered ceilings that help break up the great expanse of ceilings in the enlarged living area.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes