Sense of refinement

When you buy a house, there is almost always a compromise required in some area and it is often in the kitchen. So it's not surprising that kitchens are the rooms most likely to undergo a renovation.

The owner of this house wanted a more open, well-ventilated kitchen that would be better suited to her preference for Asian-style cooking. Kitchen designer Richard Landon says it was also essential to provide an island with a place to sit and chat, and a beverage refrigerator that would serve the adjacent deck.

"In addition, we needed to incorporate a recycled plank of elm that the client had found and loved," he says. "This became the kitchen's centerpiece, floating above the island. Lighting was routed into the underside of the plank, preserving the counter space underneath."

The island houses the oven, microwave and warming drawer, ensuring these appliances are close to the primary work zones. A second island separating the kitchen from the dining area incorporates a wine refrigerator.

Landon says the perimeter cabinets feature Wilsonart's High Definition¢ laminate, banded in cherry.

"We provided a variety of door styles," he says. "While the lower cabinets are in the laminate, the upper cabinets feature glass with a yarn-like texture. The remaining cabinets have steel doors with oblong perforations that emulate the pattern of the glass."

Landon says the glass and steel doors help to scale down the bulk of the cabinetry. For a similar reason, the cherry frames of the doors are more slender than conventional framing.

"The narrow width of the frames and the mitered corners are reminiscent of a picture frame," he says. "The design gives the cabinetry a certain grace, which fits with the Asian aesthetic required by the client."

For visual continuity, the cabinetry's crown moldings mimic the angle of the vaulted ceiling.

The mix of materials is not limited to the cabinet doors the countertops also feature different materials. Sea Foam granite is used for the main countertops around the perimeter of the room. These are contrasted by a resin-impregnated PaperStone surface on the island and computer desk area.

Landon says the back of the island is tiled to match the warm-toned floor tiles.

"Using the same material helps to visually expand the walkway between the island and the existing hearth. But the tiles on the island have the long and narrow dimensions of the staggered oak floors just outside the kitchen entry."

To maximize resources, the original kitchen cabinets were used to create a second kitchen on the lower level of the house. This also gave the owner cooking facilities while the new kitchen was being installed.

Story by: Trendsideas