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