Show and tell remodel by Rill Architects

In any family with young children, the kitchen takes on special significance. It's the center of a busy household and it needs to function seamlessly. But it also needs to be a cheerful, inviting place where family and friends feel welcome.

Both these factors came into play with the design of this kitchen. Architects Jim Rill and Linda Gallegos of Rill Architects say the kitchen remodeling was part of a major renovation that also included an addition to the adjoining breakfast room and the terrace beyond.

"The project was all about improving the flow through the house and providing seamless connections between the different areas and the outdoors," says Rill. "The owners like to entertain and the house is always filled with young children, not to mention various turtles and rabbits. They wanted a family gathering area with an inviting breakfast room that would make the most of the elevated outlook."

The kitchen also needed to be highly functional and designed to discourage children from entering the work space.

Gallegos says the owners wanted a European-style kitchen, reminiscent of older kitchens in Italy. This consequently determined the choice of the cabinetry and the glazed paint finish specified by kitchen designer Hedy Shashaani, Jack Rosen Custom Kitchens.

"It's a very subtle look," says Rill. "The cabinetry is light and not overly ornate. We wanted to give the entire kitchen an elegance and detail that had been missing in fact the original space was a very large volume devoid of any detail. We added large crown mouldings to help bring down the scale of the ceiling and make the space more intimate and friendly."

The island, which has an African teak countertop and fluted corner detailing, sits in the center of the kitchen, providing a place for food preparation, serving and casual dining. Illuminated glass display cabinets, a custom range hood, concealed microwave oven and semi-integrated refrigerator further enhance the European old-world look.

Not surprisingly, the cabinetry is fitted out to ensure it is highly functional, and there is a separate, walk-in pantry that provides additional storage.

Another defining feature is a new gas fireplace set within a large wall of decorative shelving, backed by dark-stained tongue-and-groove paneling.

The fireplace provides the warmth the room needed, both visually and literally, says Gallegos.

"The owners wanted the space to entertain and have their friends around. The fireplace makes that possible."

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Geoffrey Hodgdon