Taste of Tuscany

Kitchens that are small, with limited naturallight, need careful thought if they are to be successfully remodeled. When everyone in the family enjoys cooking together and then sitting down to eat in the kitchen, planning is even more crucial.

For Diane Bohstedt, allied member ASID, getting the traffic flow right in this Evanston kitchen was the starting point for the whole project.

"When the family cooks everyone pitches in, so I needed to re-design their small and inefficient kitchen so that traffic jams would be kept to a minimum," says the designer.

"To do this, I positioned the kitchen island so that it provides a natural separation. No matter what job somebody has, whether prepping food, cooking, or cleaning up, they won't interfere with anyone else."

The homeowner also wanted a kitchen that was light and airy, with space for an eating area not easy, as this is a small room that does not receive much natural light. Additional lighting and a pale color palette, with painted and glazed cream cabinetry, dealt with one aspect. The dining problem was solved when the family commissioned a small lava stone dining table during a trip to Italy.

A focal point in the kitchen is the custom marble range hood, which has corbels that reach down to the granite countertops. Bohstedt has made the main sink another focal point, adding a valance, Austrian blinds and an ornate tiled backsplash.

"These elements are quite formal what I would call an upscale Tuscany look," she says. "I've also included feminine elements, such as the leaded harlequin glass inserts of the display cabinets, the curved lines of the range hood, and the custom mosaic backsplash tiles behind the sink."

The formal look has been softened by the use of stained alder for the kitchen island, which has a knotty, rustic-looking grain.

For details, contact Insignia Kitchen and Bath Design Group, Ltd, 1435 S Barrington Rd, Barrington, IL 60010, phone (847) 381 7950. Website: www.insigniakitchenandbath.com.

Story by: Trendsideas