Country values

Inspired by the look of traditional American farmhouses, this open-plan kitchen cleverly conceals its more practical elements

A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, kitchen appliance, kitchen stove, room, white, gray — A view of the kitchen, wooden flooring and cabinetry, granite benchtops, lights, stainless steel ovens and microwave, glass cooktop, granite backsplash.

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When is a kitchen not a kitchen? When it is designed to be a library. That was the philosophy behind the design of this family living area, which incorporates kitchen facilities, but plays them down visually.

Integrated appliances along with cabinetry designed as pieces of furniture help ensure the kitchen is seen as part of a large family living space, rather than a purely functional area for food preparation.

Architect Jacob Albert of Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects says the house is modelled on traditional stone farmhouses found throughout the northeastern United States combined with some of the more refined elements of a country house.

"Some aspects of the house, such as the curved bay window in the family room, are more generous and grand than would have been the case with an old farmhouse," he says. "But we have taken some of the spirit of those old homesteads locating the kitchen-family room in the centre of the house, for example and incorporated it here."

Albert says the kitchen was always the heart of the home, the place where the family spent most of its time. For the owners of this house, that is still the case. With its comfortable seating, built-in bookcases and large fireplace, the kitchen-living space is a room for all seasons.

In keeping with the concept of a large family gathering area, the kitchen is well equipped for entertaining there are two ovens and a separate walk-in pantry. An island provides extra benchtop space.

"The compact nature of the kitchen area makes it very easy to work in," says Albert. "Everything is right at hand."

Honed Absolute Black granite benchtops are paired with white painted cabinets. These feature flat drawers at benchtop height, with panelled doors and drawers at lower levels. Several overhead cupboards are designed to resemble antique display cabinets.

"As we wanted the kitchen to fit with the overall look, we also avoided using a rangehood," says Albert. "A decorative, cast-iron grille on the splashback doubles as a ventilation unit."

The height of the cabinets was customised to suit the owners' preferences the benchtop containing the hob is slightly higher than the sink and island units.

To reinforce the sense of the kitchen as being the heart of the home, the architect provided a strong visual connection with the rest of the house. Doors to other rooms are positioned in a line, creating a long axial view right through the house and out a window at the far end.

"The surrounding fields and woodlands can be glimpsed through this window, providing a further connection with the more immediate landscape," says Albert.

This connection is even more pronounced from the family room thanks to the French doors opening directly onto the backyard.

The soft-green painted walls throughout these rooms further reference the link with the outdoors.