Modern art

Designing a kitchen that is true to the aesthetic of other areas of a house is all part of creating flow.

For this remodeled home, it also required a careful balance of understated and vibrant elements to complement the owners' art collection.

Architects Stuart Cohen and Julie Hacker were asked to transform the ground-floor interior of this mid-century modern home. In addition, they created several extensions to the residence, including one to the original kitchen area. This enabled the new kitchen to be complemented by informal dining and living rooms.

"The house had been updated at several stages during its life and the kitchen had also been refurbished around ten years ago. This meant that it looked as if it had been transplanted into the space," says Hacker.

"Our aim with this project was to create a monolithic aesthetic. The kitchen needed to look contemporary but still entirely plugged into the rest of the house," says Cohen.

Cohen and Hacker worked closely with the homeowners throughout the design process to create a custom kitchen that met their needs.

Ceruse rift-cut white oak cabinets hide appliances, power outlets and other kitchen necessities which could potentially clutter the countertop area. Stainless steel cabinets frame the oven, cooktop and refrigerator and acid-etched glass backsplashes achieve a clean, dressed finish.

The architects enlarged windows to create visual links between indoor and outdoor living areas. An absence of visible doors contributes to an open and fluid feel.

Design director for Gary Lee Partners, David Grout saw the interior as having a curated look.

"We gained inspiration for the color schemes in the adjoining spaces from the natural surroundings of the house. It was important to maintain a warm and inviting space for the family," he says. "Oak cabinets and upholstery fabrics are continued through the informal dining and living areas to achieve consistency."

Grout also wanted this area to reflect the artistic elements of the house.

"The pieces in the owners' art collection are challenging and bold, so we used a Bocci clustered pendant chandelier and a selection of similarly dramatic elements in the informal living room to make connections with the art and tie the area in to the rest of the house," says Grout.

"We wanted the kitchen to be playful and fun. The architects' aspiration was that it remained quiet and ordered but also had fresh moments around the room that you wouldn't get tired of," the designer says.

Story by: Trendsideas