Together apart

Transitional design elements in a kitchen may do more than temper a solid, classic look. The kitchen's blurred line between old and new might also signal a transition across the entire house interior with traditional, existing rooms on one side and modern, remodeled spaces on the other.

This kitchen reflects just such a double agenda. Designed by architects Todd Pritchett and Craig Dixon, the kitchen's flat-panel cabinetry and tapered island legs contribute a more modern influence to the at-a-glance traditional kitchen.

Pritchett says this is the beginning of a series of rooms remodeled by the architects and provides an intimation of the contemporary rooms beyond it.

"The kitchen has an open-plan nature, with an informal dining area, billiard room and wet bar pinwheeling off it," he says. "In fact, all surrounding rooms are open to this space, with the exception of the formal dining room, which retains a degree of separation with two-way swinging doors."

The transitional look is furthered by the eclectic, furniture-like feel of the cabinetry. Having the island and rustic-look plate dresser both set on feet are part of this design intention. The island's dark wood tones and the vertical struts on the individualistic dresser also contribute.

Craig Dixon says the centrally placed island is pivotal to the design in other ways, too.

"The island is also something of a Transformer, to use the vernacular of children's comics," he says. "Ends of the cabinetry open out and up on smooth-action mechanisms to reveal mixers and other utilities. These pop up level with the island countertop, effectively extending its work surface."

Other appliances are also integrated into the cabinetry. A side-by-side refrigerator and two dishwashers, for example, are both treated this way. A stand-out exception is the custom La Cornue cooker that bears the initials of the owners' names.

Part of the kitchen takes the form of a galley annex. A second dishwasher and a second cooker situated here provide for kosher meat and dairy separation. They also accommodate cooking and cleanup for larger scale dinner parties.

The annex is in effect a second independent space, serving as a breakfast kitchen, complete with toaster and coffee maker. This area also caters to an outdoor grill set on the porch just beyond it.

"The kitchen's strong, simple looks belie its diverse functionality," says Pritchett. "This applies in terms of both architectural cohesiveness and the practicalities of day-to-day cooking."

Story by: Trendsideas