Taste of Provence kitchen by V6B Design Group

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Provence-style kitchen by V6B Design Group

The dark-stained, oak island, which has a distinctive cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, room, table, wood flooring, orange — The dark-stained, oak island, which has a distinctive furniture look, is the main food preparation area in this Provencal-style kitchen. The design is by V6B Design Group.

A traditional hearth adds an element of warmth cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, furniture, interior design, kitchen, room, table, orange, brown

Dark wood beams in this Provencal-style kitchen relieve cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, furniture, interior design, kitchen, room, orange, brown

Minimizing the ornate detailing in this Provençal-style kitchen cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, estate, interior design, kitchen, living room, room, orange

Minimizing the ornate detailing in this Provençal-style kitchen cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, furniture, hardwood, interior design, kitchen, laminate flooring, room, table, wood, wood flooring, orange

Cabinets in this traditional Provencal-style kitchen has a bookcase, cabinetry, cupboard, dining room, display case, door, furniture, interior design, living room, room, shelf, shelving, window, orange, brown

The island in this French kitchen features decorative cabinetry, furniture, black

Dark wood beams in this Provencal-style kitchen relieve dining room, interior design, living room, room, brown

Cabinets in this traditional Provencal-style kitchen has a cabinetry, display case, furniture, interior design, kitchen, orange, white

In any kitchen remodel, there are things you can change and things that you simply have to work around. And often, it is the ceiling height that is fixed.

Such was the case for this remodeling project by interior designer Jennifer Moriarity and the kitchen design team at V6B Design Group. When Earl Lawson of V6B first saw the house, the family living space had already been gutted. Walls had been removed leaving one large space to accommodate the kitchen, dining and family living area.

"The main challenge here was the low ceiling, especially as we wanted to create a voluminous look," says Lawson. "The general contractor introduced solid wood beams, which help to break up the great expanse of ceiling and are in keeping with the owners' desire for a warm and inviting Provence-style kitchen."

The team felt it was important to avoid a cute or contrived look. Consequently, Moriarity's design borrows from the French style, but it also reflects a North American design response in terms of the colors and some of the finishes.

"However, there is an underlying sense of structure that keeps the Provence style to the fore," says Lawson. "The kitchen was not all about inserting cabinetry into an empty space. It was about creating the structure into which the various elements would be placed for example, creating niches and alcoves, just like the old stone walls in traditional French homes."

V6B specified distressed white cabinetry with Provene§al-styled doors. These include a bank of wall cabinets modeled on an imported French display cabinet that sits in the adjoining formal dining room.

"The cabinetry is not overly ornate," says Lawson. "Specifying a pale color with the painted surface rubbed through gives the furniture a lighter feel than traditional cabinetry."

To provide a bold accent, the island features dark-stained oak. Crafted in a furniture style, the island incorporates table legs, decorative corbels and wire mesh doors fronting the living area. A 2½-inch-thick limestone countertop helps to anchor the piece visually while also softening the look of the dark wood.

Other traditional features include an open fire, a farmhouse sink, and custom-designed hood that reinforces the cooking center's sense of symmetry. Functionality is assured, with storage maximized by full-extension hardware and pull-outs.