Glimpse of the future contemporary kitchen

Contemporary architecture puts a focus on lifestyle homes are increasingly designed to allow an easy, relaxed flow between living areas, and invariably the kitchen plays a prominent role. In fact, as this project shows, it's often the hub around which everything revolves.

Designed by Sears Barrett Architect, the house features a long, freestanding curved wall of stacked stone that adds a distinctive textural element and helps to define the various spaces within the large, open-plan living area. Crucially, the wall embraces the kitchen as the heart of the home, while providing a large opening that makes it easy for family members to interact with one another. It also allows an easy circulation between the kitchen, dining and living areas, making the space ideal for entertaining.

The curved wall supports uplighting for the ceiling, and features deep, illuminated niches for displaying items from the owners' extensive art and sculpture collection.

To commission a kitchen that would be in keeping with the contemporary character of the house, the owners went to Bulthaup Denver by Kitchen Distributors. Designers Jed MacKenzie CKD and William M Landeros CKD say the kitchen needed to be clean-lined and bright, and the owners gave specific instructions on the kinds of materials to be used.

"Most notably, they did not want any exposed wood," says MacKenzie. "This is quite unusual for Denver, Colorado."

To meet this brief, the team recommended Alpine White laminated fronts to the base cabinets, and a natural clear anodized aluminum to the overhead and tall cabinets. These resemble contemporary pieces of furniture inserted into the open-plan space.

"The owners also requested two islands in the original brief," says Landeros. "We felt this might not be the best solution for the room, which is rather large. We thought the circulation would be better served by a single island with a perpendicular bar top and leg, and bar stools on either side. With this design, family and guests can sit either side, so it is better for socializing than sitting all in a line. It also means no-one has their back to the rest of the house."

The interior designers specified statuary marble for the bar top and leg, and integrated this into the quartz island countertop.

"Rather than having the bar top resting on top of the island, we have sandwiched it in place," says MacKenzie. "Visually, it is a more clean-lined way to integrate the two elements."

Other special features of the cabinetry include a recessed channel that runs beneath the edge of the countertop. The negative detailing creates a shadowline that adds character. It also helps on a practical level, providing a finger grip for the upper drawers and doors.

Co-ordinating Miele appliances maintain the sleek lines of the cabinets. These include a Miele induction cooktop that sits flush with the countertop directly behind the sink. As well, there is space for a coffee machine and double ovens. The refrigerator is integrated into the bank of tall cabinetry, which also provides an appliance garage for small appliances on the right, and a tall, pull-out pantry on the left.

The designers say the design process was highly collaborative, which helped to ensure the aesthetics and functionality are precisely what the client ordered.

Story by: Trendsideas