The Alan
family has remodeled several kitchens in the past decade. Built for
their own uses, as well as for potential buyers, the Alans have plenty
of experience and know what they need to do it right.
The
driving force behind this contemporary European kitchen design was
form, function and family. It had to meet the growing needs of a young
couple with two little boys and a big, extended family of cooks. The
owners wanted a layout that yielded multiple workstations and sensible
storage spaces.
“For
example, I took my measuring tape and measured my pots. What’s the
point of having beautiful, pullout drawers if nothing fits?” says
homeowner Sandy Alan. “My family likes to cook here. And now this
kitchen has everything they need so they can come over and go at it.”
“She
definitely knew what she wanted in a kitchen,” says Alex Butchart, CKD,
of Highline Kitchen Systems, who worked with the owners on a previous
kitchen design. He was once again entrusted with putting pen to paper.
“She gave us her specifications and we designed around it.”
The
kitchen had to flow and allow for ample elbowroom for multiple cooks.
Consequently, there are several large areas for prepping, baking and
cooking.
To
complement the ergonomic design, the kitchen is equipped with two of
everything to facilitate cooking and cleaning: two dishwashers on
opposite sides of the kitchen, two sets of sinks, two warming drawers;
two ovens; and two islands. Although there is only one gleaming,
six-burner gas stove, its 48-inch girth allows room for two.
With
everything flowing together, this kitchen is like a maze, albeit a very
elegant one. A pantry stretches from one side of the kitchen to the
other, connected on both sides by hallways into the kitchen. In one
hallway is a home office area, and the other hallway features a
Sub-Zero double-door wine cooler, which holds 125 bottles and comes
equipped with dual temperature zones designed to keep red and white
wines separate and at optimal temperatures.
The
homeowner also requested African wenge wood for the cabinetry. She had
used the wood for cabinets in a previous home and really liked its
exotic look and feel. The grain of this naturally dark-brown wood
reveals fine, light tan striations resembling waves. It dominates the
room and creates a visual framework for the butter-color, veined
travertine floor. The cabinets’ oversize, crescent-shaped stainless
steel handles are a striking contrast against the dark wood.
“Wenge
has a very dramatic effect in a room and was an excellent choice for
this kitchen,” says Butchart. “And because this is a big kitchen, with
such high ceilings, the cabinetry we designed really warmed up the
room. It’s a real nice complementary mix between the lighter floors and
the darker wood.”
“We
worked as a team to create the ideal kitchen for the homeowner,” says
Butchart. “And because this is a new home, we worked with both the
architect and the interior designer. The fact that she was very
specific in what she wanted made our job easier—we didn’t have to
second-guess the homeowner.”
Interior
designer J.A. Schmidt designed the centerpiece of the 300-square-foot
kitchen, which is a 12-foot-long, bi-level counter top covered with
Esmeralda green granite. The deep cabinet colors bring out the varying
hues of green found in the granite. “This kitchen has the look that I
wanted to accomplish. It is a reflection of all the little things about
kitchen design that we’ve learned along the way,” says Alan.
Through
trial and error, the homeowners learned what works for them and what
doesn’t. “My husband and I have lived in homes that just didn’t
function and it drove us nuts, but this kitchen works.”
(Update: Highline Kitchen Systems has completed its new showroom. Check it out for great kitchen inspiration at 1276 Young St.)
| GK SUPPLIERS |
Designer: Alex Butchart,of Highline Kitchen Systems
Architect: J.A. Schmidt Architecture (JASA)
Interior Designer: Dian Cleve, of Cleve & Levin Architects and Interior Design
Backsplash/Counters: Esmeralda granite, from Marmol HI Natural Stones, Ltd.
Cabinetry: Pacific Design Inc. wenge flush door, from Highline Kitchen Systems
Contractors: Sutton Construction Co.
Dishwasher: Superba, from KitchenAid
Faucet: Grohe
Floors: Travertine, from Bella Pietra, A Natural Stone Design Center
Hood: Professional Series, from Thermador
Microwave: Epicure microwave, from Dacor
Oven: Epicure wall oven, from Dacor
Range: Epicure, 48,” dual-fuel, from Dacor
Refrigerator/Freezer: Built-in, from KitchenAid
Sinks: Elkay
Steam Oven: Convection steam oven, from Miele
Warming Drawer: Epicure warming oven, from Dacor
Wine Cooler: Model No. 427, from Sub-Zero |
