Country goodness

For many couples, an empty nest is an opportunity to take stock and perhaps downsize. The owners of this house decided it was time to remodel their existing home.

Built in the early 1990s, the home had a very serviceable family kitchen. Now, however, the owners wanted a kitchen that was also a pleasure to work in, says designer Bruce Kading of Beson Kading Interior Design Group.

"An exceptional cook, our client especially loves to bake, so we had the opportunity to design a space that, while functional, had a personalized element as well.

"With the children grown and no longer at home, and frequent visits from out-of-town guests, we also looked at turning the space into something more suited to lingering."

As the home is in a wooded setting and has an English-manor style, Kading designed a traditional country kitchen.

"We kept the original oak floor and the brick chimney surround that separates the kitchen from the family room and built on those to complete the country-style theme."

Kading specified knotty alder for the cabinetry he and Carol Sadowsky designed.

"The original ceiling was replaced with tongue-and-groove paneling appropriate to the architectural detailing."

Another client request was for more preparation space, so Kading repositioned the cooktop further to the left to provide more counter space between it and the sink on its right. The kitchen island was also enlarged and a secondary sink installed, along with an integrated refrigerator drawer.

"This added functionality means two or more people can work in the kitchen without getting in each other's way. Interestingly, although the furniture within the kitchen is now larger, the overall flow has actually improved."

A copper hood and tiles link with the light fittings in the kitchen and family room, helping create the feeling of a shared history, says Kading.

"Once the cabinetry was installed, we gave it an aged look with a distressed finish, and also applied a treatment similar to burnished Venetian plaster to the walls adding to the impression that the kitchen has evolved with the house over time."

Story by: Justin Foote