Twist on tradition kitchen by Luis Viteri

Remodeling is frequently on the agenda when you move into an older home and more often than not, it's the kitchen that needs the most work.

For the owners of this home, who had come from Italy, gaining more living space was a priority. They consequently embarked on a renovation that included a kitchen extension, says designer Luis Viteri of Showcase Kitchens.

Exposed, painted beams and trusses ensure the room has plenty of character in keeping with the style of the house, and so, too, does the cabinetry.

"It was important that the kitchen wouldn't date," says Viteri. "It needed to look good for years to come. We consequently specified white-painted maple cabinets with inset flat panel doors, from our Provence collection."

The cabinets are teamed with an island in mahogany.

"The clients specifically wanted the island to be quite different," says the designer. "It was designed to look more like a piece of furniture it features doors that are an inch thick, which give it a substantial feel. We also added La Cornue sliding baskets for fruit and vegetables. But the island doesn't have a second sink as originally planned, as this would have detracted from the furniture look."

Viteri says the kitchen was also designed around the new black La Cornue oven. The stainless steel cabinets either side are also by La Cornue.

"We added stainless steel countertops to this work area, and introduced other stainless steel elements, including a large, 30in farmhouse sink."

Stainless steel also features on the large lighting pendants sourced by the owners.

"The stainless steel offers a twist on the traditional, so this is more of a transitional kitchen," says Viteri.

Gray veining in the marble countertops ensures the look is coordinated. For added visual interest, small Calacatta marble tiles, rather than slabs, line the backsplash.

Story by: Colleen Hawkes

Photography by: Jamie Cobeldick