Country chic

A sense of warmth and bonhomie prevails in most traditional farmhouse kitchens in France and Italy. The hearth-style cooking centers, large tables and painted furniture all help convey a feeling of friendship and belonging.

It was exactly this ambiance that the owners of this character-filled house wanted for their new kitchen. Lea and Mike Faulkner say they love to entertain and frequently host charity events at home. Consequently, their kitchen needed to be suitable for caterers. And, because it is part of a larger living-dining area, it needed to be a welcoming place for guests to mingle.

Kitchen designer Angela Otten of Wm Ohs Showrooms, Inc says the design was influenced by the existing character of the house notably the extra-high ceiling and spectacular antique leadlight windows that cast a watery, prism pattern on the walls.

"The owners wanted traditional European furniture-style painted cabinets, with integrated and fully concealed appliances," Otten says. "Wherever possible these were built into the cabinetry. There is also a separate refrigeration room and pantry in two opposite corners."

Perimeter cabinets, which include a buffet and a hearth-style cooking center, feature Tuscany cabinets in Maple Meringue, with a crackle paint finish. The extra-large island showcases the French Country design in Turquoise. Otten says because the island can be glimpsed from the front entry, it was designed with arched glass-fronted display doors. Other distinctive elements include cut-away fronts to the drawers holding the pots and pans.

Perimeter countertops are a buttery-colored natural stone, while the island features iroko wood, which was laid to create a seamless look.

To provide the required functionality, there is a pot filler and three sinks, including a copper farmhouse sink that sits beneath the leadlights its design in keeping with the overall theme.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes