Yin and yang

With most of life's projects, there are a number of confines within which we all must work. For certified designers Beth Kopin and Jim Dase this kitchen remodel came with a few confines of its own.

The original kitchen was a separate room to the rest of the living area, and the homeowner wanted it to stay that way, says Kopin.

"We were asked to remodel the space, but to leave utilities pretty much where they were. The kitchen is a long, narrow area without room for an island, so the best concept was to go with a galley style."

With a wish list including contemporary cabinetry and stainless steel, the next issue was to come up with a design that wasn't too industrial or oppressive.

"The owner chose a very clean-fronted cabinet style that was to be darkly stained," says Dase. "To lighten the overall look, and to ensure the kitchen retained some link with the rest of the house, the remaining materials were kept neutral.

"Ribbed glass inserts on most of the upper cabinets add a sense of lightness. An angled end with open shelving also breaks up the solid banks of cabinetry below."

The linear design was also softened by recessing the pantry wall at the far end of the space.

"As well as breaking up the parallel lines on each side of the room, the narrower pantry wall allows more room for the table and chairs. I've discovered that unless you're planning a walk-in, a pantry doesn't need to be more than 12-15 inches deep, otherwise you tend to lose your canned goods at the back," says Kopin.

The mix of materials also serves to mask the symmetry usually associated with a galley kitchen. Each surface produces a different effect in a range of lighting conditions, says Dase.

"The kitchen gets ample natural daylight. When designing lighting for a room, you must consider its night-time use. We used recessed lights in the ceiling, augmented with interior-cabinet and under-cabinet lighting. Each scheme creates a different interplay with the surrounding elements."

Kopin says the finished result is a balance between the diverse materials, light and shadow, and the color palette.

"We've used a series of contrasts that are, in the end, a cohesive whole."

Story by: Justin Foote