Kitchen
The black kitchen cabinets are made of a high-tech material called Fenix that’s super-matte, fingerprint- and scratch-resistant, and nonporous. “It’s got this really strange, velvety feel,” says Laney, who’s used it in several of his projects. “It’s great for kitchens.” The vertical portion of the island is white oak and the counter is Italian quartzite in swirly, expressive Explosion Blue. Linear island pendant light: Allied Maker
Go Deep With Your Upper Cabinets This Roman kitchen by Subconscio studio has typical shallower-depth (12 to 15 inches is standard in the U.S.) upper cabinets at eye level above the sink, but has counter-depth cabinets above and beside those. The result: a few more square inches of storage and a sleek, uniform look. Bonus tip: The dark cabinets seen here visually recede, and the brighter color pops, giving the illusion of more depth.
It includes one of the room’s two upper cabinets with glass doors framed in black aluminum. The style of these cabinets plays off the style of the windows and keeps things light. “I like to use these aluminum-framed cabinets as an accent,” the designer says. Aluminum-framed cabinet doors: Element Designs
Tip: Before drilling any holes, make sure the cabinet hardware suits the proportions of the door or drawer. “The builder did the greatest thing — he made mockups of the hardware pulls from wood,” Catlin says. “These cabinets have pulls in a lot of different sizes, and this helped us make sure we were getting the proportions right for every door and drawer.”
“With the kitchen, they specifically wanted gloss acrylic, and they were specific about cabinet finishes,” Van Sluyter says. “They were receptive to my flooring suggestions, tile, countertops and the wood we wrapped the beams in.” In the photo above, the tall cabinet on the left is a refrigerator with a shiny front panel that integrates into the adjacent cabinetry. The matte finish of the walnut floors plays off the glossy acrylic cabinets to add visual interest. For the kitchen counters, Van Sluyter chose an engineered ultra compact slab surface similar to quartz and porcelain and is considered very durable. “I love that it’s a manmade material, so it doesn’t have the upkeep of marble or granite. It has beautiful natural veining and comes in a matte finish instead of gloss. So with all the light coming in, it doesn’t have the glare,” she says.
For this Northwest Washington, D.C., kitchen by Case Architects & Remodelers, the designer gave the countertop a curve to soften the lines and give the space a transitional feel. The curve is also a practical choice because the counter abuts a walkway that heads toward a door. A curve in the pebbled quartz countertop means there’s no sharp corner to hit should you make a misstep.
LEM Bar Stool The simple and elegant LEM bar stool, by Japanese designers and then-partners Shin and Tomoko Azumi, earned the Product of the Year title at the FX International Interior Design Awards in 2000. Sharing a name with the trailblazing Lunar Excursion Module, it combines a swiveling, low-back seat and a pedestal base with either a fixed height or a height that adjusts via a lever-operated gas cylinder. It’s manufactured by Italy’s Lapalma.
Hillstrom widened the opening into the kitchen and designed an eye-catching highlight where the dark, looming pantry cabinet had been. The beautiful new bar’s location next to the dining area and out of the chef’s way is convenient. And aesthetically it provides a nice transition between spaces. Over the bar, a clear glass cabinet door puts glassware on display while protecting it from dust. Under the bar is a wine rack. Glass mosaic tile highlighted by undercabinet lighting adds something special to the bar’s backsplash. “My clients loved this tile because its shapes resemble the wine bottles stored below,
Frank Textiles Josef Frank’s Brazil fabric, displayed behind glass in this New York City apartment by INC Architecture & Design, has a tropical theme too. The architect, who in 1933 fled Nazism in his native Austria for a job with interiors firm Svenskt Tenn in Sweden, spent much of WWII in New York before returning to Sweden. His textiles from this especially creative period of self-imposed exile display an escapist quality on top of his already joyful folkloric style. In all, Frank created more than 2,000 furniture sketches and 160 textile patterns for Svenskt Tenn. Although he was disappointed that he was never able to resume his architecture career once he left Austria, he helped define Scandinavian modern design.
These Hudson counter stools are part of a 2000 collection that Philippe Starck designed for Emeco — the company’s first new silhouette in more than 50 years. They’re in a kitchen reconfigured for a Seattle homeowner by interior designer Michelle Dirske. The counter stools are from Design Within Reach. They come with or without the leather seat cushion and are available in either a counter height or bar height.
Midcentury Modern Pairing eye-catching blue stools with a clean and simple pendant creates a retro-modern look that has become a new classic in design. It’s quite a different look from the original kitchen’s, but the playful shapes and color are right at home here because the fundamentals of the kitchen — the colors, materials and textures — are solid building blocks that can support a variety of more whimsical decorative furnishings and fixtures. Stylus counter stools in blue: design tree; Mimas pendant lights in white and raw ash: Nuevo
Channel system. One option to help avoid degrading the finish with repeated use is an integrated channel system. A channel system offers a clean look with the ability to open base cabinetry without touching the drawer fronts. Instead, you pull on the integrated metal lip.
Kohler introduced its Tailor customizable farmhouse sink, which has a changeable decorative front panel. Homeowners can choose one of Kohler’s six decorative panels, which range from floral to geometric. This panel is called Light Floral. Alternatively, customers can insert their own material, like a countertop material or tile, into the panel slot. KBIS: Cool Surfaces Photo from Kohler Here’s a look at the same sink with Kohler’s Etched Stone insert.
Kohler introduced its Tailor customizable farmhouse sink, which has a changeable decorative front panel. Homeowners can choose one of Kohler’s six decorative panels, which range from floral to geometric. This panel is called Light Floral. Alternatively, customers can insert their own material, like a countertop material or tile, into the panel slot. KBIS: Cool Surfaces Photo from Kohler Here’s a look at the same sink with Kohler’s Etched Stone insert.
Instead of multiple small recessed downlights over a countertop, a long line of recessed lights is also a great way to evenly illuminate counters and cabinets. This approach may feel a bit odd in traditional spaces, but it works beautifully in modern kitchens such as this one, designed by Winder Gibson Architects.
One of the most common mistakes in kitchen lighting is to add overhead lights over floors rather than above workspaces like countertops, sinks and ranges. Recessed downlights, the workhorse of most kitchens, are too often placed in front of or behind countertops. This can create harsh shadows right where you might be working with sharp knives. Instead, consider locating recessed downlights directly above the center of countertops, as CTA Design Builders did over the perimeter countertops in this kitchen. Don’t worry about lighting up those floors; enough light still will be present to see those spills.
Light the Counters One of the most common mistakes in kitchen lighting is to add overhead lights over floors rather than above workspaces like countertops, sinks and ranges. Recessed downlights, the workhorse of most kitchens, are too often placed in front of or behind countertops. This can create harsh shadows right where you might be working with sharp knives. Instead, consider locating recessed downlights directly above the center of countertops, as CTA Design Builders did over the perimeter countertops in this kitchen. Don’t worry about lighting up those floors; enough light still will be present to see those spills.
It is the 'Venice' stool by Chairtech The Barstools shown are available @ Barstools & More Seating in Miami, FL Please Call for info. 305-232-5499 t looks like the Nuevo Living - Lisbon Bar Stool - White Top Grain Italian Leather for $250: http://www.dynamichomedecor.com/Nuevo-HGGA217.html It looks like the Nuevo Living - Lisbon Bar Stool - White Top Grain Italian Leather for $250: http://www.dynamichomedecor.com/Nuevo-HGGA217.html Stools with moving parts are prone to fail eventually. Also, these type of stools have large floor bases to balance them and some are very heavy to move around when cleaning. There are different gas lifts too. The heavier versions are better and more industrial quality. The large flared base is something else to clean too. Keep in mind visual impact. Stools with 4 legs show more floor area and give the room a larger appearance. Stools with short backs are more comfortable to sit at for longer times and you can sit more upright and not lean on the benchtop. Short backed stools don't protrude above the benchtop and are more discreet. Ensure you have a footrest at the front of the stool for short legs. You don't need a foot rest on each side of the stool. ...
waterfall counter visible from dining area, glass fluted pocket doors to contain smoke
Other materials they chose for the kitchen were crafted using modern-day technologies yet still fit in with the midcentury modern Eichler look. The floors are luxury vinyl tile flooring that looks like concrete. “Without the hardness and porous nature of concrete, this tile is easy to maintain, soft on the feet and great for kids and pets,” Lin says. And the homeowners wanted a thin countertop and an integrated sink, made possible by a solid surface product called Krion by Porcelanosa. This material is a mix of minerals and resins that resembles the kinds of countertops that might have been original to an Eichler but is antibacterial and low-maintenance. The island is 8 by 4 feet and includes a dishwasher, integrated sink and book-matched walnut around the perimeter. This side has four large storage cabinets.
The backsplash is by Heath Ceramics, a company that has been producing handmade pottery in California since 1948. After using hexagon tiles in other places throughout the house, Lin recommended this take on the shape for the backsplash — half hex in a braided pattern. “We wanted something more subtle and classic so it doesn’t look too trendy or loud or take away from the rest of the kitchen,” she says. “Also, the color variation in Heath’s handmade tiles made them look more natural while adding contrast and texture.”
An exhaust fan often poses a challenge, particularly if you’re eager to conceal it, which is what the owners of this kitchen wanted to do. The builders worked with the architects at Archea to adapt the wall cabinet to accommodate both the ducting and small spice jars.
Along the side wall, Murray & Ball Furniture hid more storage behind a sliding barn door.
A narrow space beside an integrated fridge-freezer contains a pullout pantry.
Island Idea. Two countertop materials — honed bianco olinda marble and black walnut — allow the island “to feel more like a piece of furniture,” says designer Emily Culley. “This allows for a larger island without the need for a seam in the [stone] countertop.”
Island chairs - design by http://www.houzz.com/pro/nestdesignstudio/nest-design-studio and they may be able to help you!
s/s sink: Vault in 18-gauge stainless steel, Kohler;
The custom cabinetry is quite a minimal design, with very narrow beading around the edge, and handles the same size as the trim,” “The exposed brick and steel supports elsewhere are quite busy, so this offers a nice balance.” Black Blue cabinet paint:Farrow & Ball
The backsplash in this Norfolk, England, kitchen is copper that has been intentionally aged to get its lovely patina
This client wanted a resilient surface in their main workspace, and opted for PentalQuartz Thassos on the island, with a 2" miter. We are finding that more and more of our clients who want white countertops are opting for quartz composite products, such as Caesarstone, PentalQuartz, and Quartz Master. The manufacturers are introducing new materials all the time that mimic those white marbles that we all love. We are also choosing some of the new porcelains, such as Neolith, which are very realistic! However, I read that it can't take heat, which could be a deal breaker
A large island (4 feet by 8 feet) provides plenty of space for work and socializing. The Nuage quartzite countertop has a strong presence. The “slab” is actually 2 centimeters thick, but its mitered edges give it the illusion that it’s 3 1/2 inches thick.
One of the homeowners is very artistic and creative and they made most of the design choices, like this Prussian blue on the cabinets,” Coulson says. Crisp white subway tiles and paint provide a stark contrast to the dark blue-gray base cabinetry, while maple butcher-block countertops warm things up. Pro’s go-tos. Coulson’s experience helped the couple with several decisions, including his over-the-kitchen-sink window choice. It extends all the way down to counter height and slides open. “I practically insist upon this with clients,” Coulson says. “The way the sill extends the countertop adds depth, and it’s very easy to operate over a sink.” The reeded glass on the upper cabinets is another material he consistently recommends to his clients. “There’s so much to like about it. The verticality of the pattern helps make low ceilings feel higher. It works well with Shaker cabinetry and it’s a classic — it’s something you see in 1940s homes as well as in new homes,” he says. The glass partially obstructs the view into the cabinets — a nice touch that relieves homeowners from any pressure to keep contents looking perfectly styled and organized. Key detail. Also worth noting is the...
In addition to functionality, the new shallow pantry is a design asset. Wendy came up with the idea of covering the sliding door with a magnetic chalkboard. “It’s a great way to post the recipe we are making and to leave notes for each other. It’s also become a place for guests to leave us notes for us to see after parties,” Scott says. The door keeps one side of the pantry revealed at all times, usually the right side, which is filled with glassware and contains a small TV.
In addition to functionality, the new pantry is a design asset. Wendy came up with the idea of covering the sliding door with a magnetic chalkboard. “It’s a great way to post the recipe we are making and to leave notes for each other. It’s also become a place for guests to leave us notes for us to see after parties,” Scott says. The door keeps one side of the pantry revealed at all times, usually the right side, which is filled with glassware and contains a small TV.
In the kitchen, you’ll find Moroccan lanterns, glazed earthenware containers for cooking tagine — the traditional North African dish — and wicker baskets scattered everywhere, used for storing utensils.
“Integrating the eat-in table function into the island was key in making the kitchen bigger,” Kyle says. This portion of the island has a custom brass-leg base designed at Astro Design Center, and the surface is walnut butcher block. Cushy upholstered stools with backs make the space comfortable to hang out in for hours. Traditional Kitchen by Astro Design Centre Astro Design Centre Sink. The work end of the island has a 4-foot-wide Workstation Sink by The Galley. It comes with different inserts for chopping, draining, straining, serving and cleaning that can be placed over different portions of the sink. “It helps recoup lost space on the counter, especially when working on the narrower side of an island,” Kyle says. Refrigerator wall. The refrigerator wall provides a lot of those places for everything in one concentrated spot — deep rollouts for pantry storage, tray dividers for pans, an appliance cabinet at counter height and a large built-in wine rack. The cabinet to the left of the refrigerator is the small appliance cabinet, placed conveniently at counter height. There are outlets inside. There are glass-front display cabinets at the top th...
Layout. Kyle got rid of the eat-in area, which made space for a large island. He flipped the island 90 degrees in the plan and lined it up on an axis with the range for a pleasing symmetry. There’s an easy work triangle between the end of the island, with its large, versatile sink, and the range wall, refrigerator and storage wall. The view you see here is now open to the family room, which previously had a wall closing it off from the kitchen. He designed the island with that in mind, providing an attractive view that draws people to it. Island. The island measures 10 by 5 feet and is birch wood with a dark stain. It incorporates a social eat-in end and a work end, distinguished by different countertops of butcher block and quartz. The work end houses the dishwasher, a microwave drawer, a trash-recycling cabinet and rolling drawers inside the cabinets. Lighting. In addition to recessed lights, two beautiful statement smoked mercury-glass pendants bring in glamorous shine and a metallic-looking finish. Quartz countertop: Zodiaq; pendant lights: Lorford Smoke Bell Lantern, Visual Comfort; browse more glass lantern...
This creative kitchen in Ireland features an island that transitions into a curved banquette at one end. The other side of the island has a built-in wine refrigerator
The designer of this Australian kitchen used salvaged tin ceiling tiles to cover the base of the island and the range wall.
Bacco Counter Stools in leather from Design Within Reach. http://www.dwr.com/bacco-counter-stool/4664.html
Soap niche. Instead of an undercounter soap dispenser, there’s a niche for corralling liquid soap and sponges.
Condiments. Because the couple cook every day, they keep the seasonings and oils they use most often next to the range.
Pot rack. For example, in lieu of storing their pots and pans in the deep drawers next to the range, the couple prefer to use a hanging rack. They decided that deep drawers required too many steps: opening the drawer, unstacking pans to reach the right one, restacking pans and finally closing the drawer. Instead, they can simply grab the needed pot off the rack.
integrated sink, stainless steel cabinets, metallic backsplash, stainless steel appliances, marble countertops and flat-panel cabinets
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