Sense of theater

Glossy black cabinets and a see-through refrigerator create a dramatic setting for serious cooking in this new kitchen in a restored bungalow

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and ceiling, countertop, floor, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, room, table, wood flooring, gray — View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and wooden flooring.

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, black

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, black

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and countertop, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, gray, black

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and ceiling, countertop, interior design, kitchen, room, gray

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and bathroom sink, glass, plumbing fixture, product design, sink, tap, gray, black

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and bathroom sink, countertop, plumbing fixture, product design, sink, tap, white, black

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and ceiling, countertop, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, gray, black

View of contemporary kitchen with dark cabinets and countertop, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, brown

Remodeling a traditional home always brings up a few challenges kitchens are invariably in the wrong place and too small.

To create a larger space for this kitchen in an older bungalow, a wall was removed to join two rooms into one. Designer Lara Farmilo of Poggenpohl says this left an L-shaped space with plenty of room for cooking and food preparation.

"One of the owners is a former chef and is passionate about cooking and entertaining," says the designer. "She wanted large cooktops, preferably on an island. But the shape of the kitchen didn't suit an island, so we created an island-style peninsula, which wraps around one corner of the kitchen as a cantilevered seating area."

The peninsula is almost 3ft wide, which not only reduces the distance between the key work areas, but also allows room for a large CoolDrawer at one end. In addition, it provides space for a series of Gaggenau cooktops to be centered on the counter. There is space for a platform area at the back of the cooktops for a knife block, oils and spices.

"The hood is not attached to the wall it is suspended, just as it would be on an island," says Farmilo.

Glossy black Poggenpohl cabinetry adds to the drama of the kitchen. Farmilo says the owners had seen Poggenpohl's Plus Integration kitchen in the showroom and wanted their cabinetry to be similar.

"The black is relieved by aluminum edging around the drawers, and an aluminum substrate beneath the honed black granite countertops. This helps enliven the cabinetry and makes it seem less dense."

A bank of cabinets at one side houses two ovens, two pull-out pantries plus additional pantry storage, a second CoolDrawer and a custom-designed refrigerator with glass doors. The height of the cabinetry drops to countertop level at one end, creating a niche with glass shelving. This design ensures the black doesn't overwhelm the space, says Farmilo.

The kitchen incorporates a new laundry, concealed behind doors. A low countertop can be used for folding washing.

Farmilo says despite the contemporary design of the kitchen, several traditional features have been retained, including sash windows and decorative mouldings.

Story by: Trendsideas

24 Feb, 2011

Kitchen Renovation

Trendsideas

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