Cramped,
dark and stuck in the ’70s, the well-worn Hawaii Kai kitchen was
designed for what was originally a retirement community. The homeowners
knew it could not accommodate a family with four growing kids and one
(very curious) tabby cat. They needed professional help.
“Whenever
you come into this house, the kids and their friends from the
neighborhood are hanging out. This is a wonderfully fun household,”
says Judy Dawson, of Designer Kitchens and Baths. “But, the space was
too tight.”
The
homeowners tagged Dawson, a certified kitchen designer, to free the
kitchen from its time warp. Her first design challenge was to
physically (and visually) open up the 8-by-10-foot, U-shape layout. She
needed to make room for two cooks, increase the natural flow of air and
sunlight, and accommodate the active lifestyle of a young family.
The
simple remedy was to reassign two feet of the entryway hall’s six feet
of “dead space” to the kitchen—accomplished by moving a wall shared by
the two rooms. The result was dramatic. The kitchen’s footprint didn’t
change much, but visual appreciation did. “The extra two feet allowed
us to change the whole configuration of the kitchen,” Dawson says.
Next,
Dawson needed to make use of the tropical environment. She added a
vaulted ceiling, a couple of bay windows, updated louvers and
lean-looking casements from Coastal Windows. The new bay window over
the sink allows natural light to flow in and greatly improves the
natural flow of air in the room. Solar fans in the attic and kitchen
combat the rising hot air. The vaulted ceiling “gives the room a really
expansive feel,” Dawson says.
The
original dark cabinets, hung from the ceiling, gave the kitchen a
cave-like feel. “If you want an open kitchen, you can’t have overhead
cabinets,” Dawson says. But how do you accomplish an airy feeling in a
small kitchen, without sacrificing storage?
Dawson’s
strategy was to clear the countertops by using the limited space in
unusual ways. Her space-making remedies included full-extension pullout
drawers to hold pots, pans and dishes, and a spice drawer with a
52-bottle capacity. It’s “much more efficient and ergonomic” to lift
these items up to the counter than the other way around, Dawson
explains. “The kids can all reach it—and when you’re older, you can,
too!”
To
create visual continuity with the rest of the home, she installed a
warm-hued African hardwood floor throughout the kitchen, the front
entryway and into the living area. For finishing touches, a
stainless-steel hood and a resplendent piece of natural-color granite
with garnet accents worked beautifully. Granite from Stoneworld made a
perfect backsplash. The same stone pattern was carried into the living
room, where it was utilized to build a matching buffet and wet bar. “I
like the eclectic naturalness of materials,” Dawson says.
“When
you have that much character in a space,” she adds, “you don’t want
cabinets everywhere and cluttered walls. You must allow the simplicity
of the design to shine through.”
| >> WHERE TO GET IT |
Designer: Judy Dawson, CKD, of Designer Kitchens and Baths
Cooktop: Fisher & Paykel 36” gas, with iridium finish, from Designer Kitchens and Baths
Dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel double drawer, with iridium finish, from Designer Kitchens and Baths
Faucet: KWC Orinco, with 9” reach, from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Hood: Thermador 36,” from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Microwave: GE Advantium 120, from Servco Home & Appliance Showroom
Oven: Fisher & Paykel 30,” from Designer Kitchens and Baths
Refrigerator: Sub-Zero built-in 36,” from Sub-Zero |
