Taste of summer

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White-painted cabinetry and simple styling reflect the traditional American beach house vernacular

View of the entire kitchen area, tiled floor, cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, brown — View of the entire kitchen area, tiled floor, white cabinetry, limestone and stainless steel benchtops, wooden staircase beyond, wooden bar stools, many accessories and ornaments, tiled hood and splashback, stainless steel microwave, oven, hob, sink and faucetry, lights mounted from the ceiling.

View of the entire kitchen, tiled floor, white cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, cuisine classique, floor, flooring, interior design, kitchen, room, window, brown, gray

View of the kitchen, tiled floor, white cabinetry, countertop, flooring, furniture, home, interior design, kitchen, room, table, wall, window, orange, brown

View of the kitchen, white cabinetry, limestone benchtop, cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, under cabinet lighting, window, gray, brown

Close up view od the chrome basin and cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, home, interior design, kitchen, room, sink, window, gray

Taking time out to enjoy the simple pleasures of life is the essence of summer. And it's even more enjoyable when you have a kitchen designed for casual living.

For the owners of this house, it was important to have a kitchen that would enhance the traditional Nantucket beach house design. Designer Joseph Paul Davis says simplicity was a key factor in achieving a relaxed, back-to-basics look.

"Simple, clean lines and plenty of white painted wood are typical features of these houses," he says. "Cabinetry with fancy, raised panels and lots of detailing would have turned this into a show kitchen rather than a welcome retreat."

To achieve the right look, the cabinetry has minimal detailing. While some of the doors and the drawers are unadorned, others incorporate beadboarding, which is another feature of traditional American beach house architecture. White-tiled backsplashes and a white-tiled hood also enhance the light, summery feel of the room.

As the kitchen is very large, and has a double-height ceiling, there was also a need to keep it intimate, says Davis.

"Choosing hand-made tiles, rather than slick and shiny surfaces, helps to retain a personal scale. Natural materials, such as the limestone flooring, also have a warming effect."

A band of white paneling encircling the kitchen at a height of 12ft helps to visually ground the kitchen. Building cabinetry into the space beneath a staircase also works to enclose the space.

Despite the size of the floor area, the work triangle between the island sink, the refrigerator and the range allows for easy meal preparation. Plenty of countertop space on the island also makes it easy to cater for large groups.

Davis says a second food preparation area, which features a sink, stainless steel counter and dishwasher, is also designed as a clean-up area. Plates are stored immediately above this counter, in traditionally styled plate racks.