Multi-Use Contemporary Kitchen
- Kitchens, Contemporary/Modern, Traditional
This “Ultimate Kitchen” designed for ‘Professional Builder/Remodeler’ and ‘Food and Wine’ magazines for the National Home Builders Show reflects today’s continuing trend to multi-use living spaces. Reflecting the clients’ personalities and individual expression, Wendy combines kitchen and living spaces to suit modern, active and often multi-generational families who want to be at home, and spend time together. A bright, welcoming, comfortable space designed with natural, replaceable and recycled materials can safely and happily host meal preparation by many, dining, relaxing, hobbies, laundry, and more – for everybody from grandparents to the family pets.
The large center island with its massive multi-purpose Galley Work Station, compost bin, and induction cooktop is the focal point, with bar counter for entertaining and table height for intimate dining. A clean up sink and dish storage along with coffee/bar/snack area is located on the back wall, flanked by beverage/wine refrigeration and ovens. Filling the backsplash, counter windows offer indoor herb gardening accessible to the cooks – which along with the built-in compost bin on the island combines to answer today’s clients’ environmental awareness and needs for fresh, healthy, locally grown foods. A ‘china’ cabinet near the refrigerator, with its unexpected contrasting soft color, provides essential pantry storage.
This ‘working kitchen’ is bookended by the garage entry with built in desk and storage areas (coats, laundry, brooms, dog dishes, kids gear, craft supplies & work area…) on one end, and on the other a spacious sitting room for comfortable lounging by the fire with books, music, and TV.
A wall of sliding doors and clerestory windows bring an abundance of natural light. The living spaces are extended to bring the outside in with deck for grilling and dining; while sliding barn doors, which can open wide when desired, lead to the formal dining, quiet living, and private areas of the home. These living spaces have functionality to meet form in design with clean lines, flowing separate spaces, and an eclectic mix of modern, rustic and colorful materials.