Free flowing

An area can appear spacious without being particularly large the design of the furnishings and the use of color and light can make an enormous difference to our perceptions of space.

Kitchen designer Christine Julian was called on to remodel the kitchen and adjacent living areas in this home. Apart from being outdated, the old kitchen was totally separated by a wall from the dining and living room.

"The owners wanted their new kitchen to have a more contemporary look, and more importantly, to connect better with the living spaces," says the designer.

The wall separating the kitchen and dining room was removed, so now the three areas feel like one large open space, with light flooding in from windows at both ends of the house.

To create the contemporary look the owners wanted, dark rift-sawn oak cabinetry is topped with light-colored granite counters. Most overhead storage is on open, white-painted maple shelves, apart from two white cabinets framing the hood.

The breakfast bar, sitting across the top of the granite countertop, is made from translucent resin. By laying it over the granite, the bar appears to be floating, which emphasizes the lightness of the resin and makes the kitchen seem more spacious.

"Changing the materials helps to define the boundaries of the kitchen and reinforces the breakfast bar as a place to eat," says Julian.

By locating the refrigerator and pantry on the same side of the kitchen as the breakfast bar, the children can use the kitchen without going into the work triangle. Drawers on this side of the bar provide a handy storage space for the children's homework items and place mats.

Story by: Mary Webb

Photography by: Eric Hausman