“The details are not the details. They make the design.”

– Charles Eames

To solve the design challenge, I first started by removing the wall between the kitchen and dining area as well as an existing half wall between the living room and the kitchen. The exterior of the residence has a gorgeous outdoor pool and pool house as well as a pond, so views and access to these features were addressed by adding windows to the dining area and increasing the size of the kitchen window. The sliding doors to the back deck were replaced with French door units and moved to align with the front entry door. These changes allowed your line of sight to view the exterior landscape elements from every angle in the kitchen.

The narrow space of the kitchen was addressed by relocating the refrigerator and wall ovens to the exterior sink wall. This allowed us to reduce the depth of the cabinetry on the opposite wall, which opened up the floor plan for an island. The center island houses an induction cooktop and microwave drawer.

Architectural elements were crucial in this design. The cabinetry was designed to mimic the look of built-in furniture, similar to a turn of the century farmhouse, but modernized for today. Armoire enclosures for the wall ovens, refrigerator and pantries. The connecting cabinetry is matching, yet slightly undersized from the armoires to help reinforce their presence. The island is a matching door style, yet finished in a dark stained cherry, which compliments the clean white paint of the perimeter cabinets.

All the appliances are SubZero and Wolf products with the exception of the dishwasher. By using these products, I was able to install them as flush inset, keeping the lines crisp within this project.

The client wanted the cabinetry to blend in and not dominate the space. So, a white on white color scheme was used with splashes of color to create interest. The tangerine paint in the back of the open cabinet and the red bar stools as well as the copper sink and light fixtures all stand well on their own.

The attention to detail on this project goes beyond the surface. Under and in cabinet lighting is utilized, as well as special wide opening hinges on the pantry doors for full access.

In the end, a very happy client with a kitchen that met and exceeded their expectations.

Photography by Arielle Sewell