Kitchen of the Week: Green and Gorgeous in California
An apple-green countertop color matches this kitchen renovation's green approach: ecofriendly floors, sustainably harvested wood and more
"This family is not afraid of color," says interior designer Alison Glen. An apple-green countertop might scare off some homeowners, but this family of four in Venice, California, wanted to renovate their kitchen to make it bold and happy. Of course, a countertop that vibrant meant that all the other materials had to be chosen around it. Glen stuck with a simple palette for the rest of the space, installing ecofriendly concrete flooring and zebra wood cabinetry as a fresh contrast to the bright green. The result is a modern but homey kitchen. "It's so cheerful, even a sunken soufflé won't bring you down in this kitchen," says Glen.
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by LA Dwelling
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| The zebra wood cabinetry is the perfect hue to contrast with the apple-green countertop. Glen says it's worth it to invest in the materials that matter, such as cabinetry and countertops. "But durability doesn't have to be boring," she adds. Glen and the family spent a lot of time researching what the best materials would be for this kitchen, choosing materials that are stylish but ecofriendly. The zebra wood is both those things — it's formaldehyde free and was harvested from sustainable forests — and durable to boot. Cabinetry: Bradco Kitchens and Baths; countertop: Caesarstone, Apple Martini |
by LA Dwelling
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Glen had extra storage put into the bench seats in the dining area for rarely used fine serving pieces and partyware. The table and the benches were both custom made by a local carpenter. Radiant heat keep the stained cement flooring from feeling too cold.
Lighting: Rejuvenation; flooring: Montanari Construction; flooring stain and finish: EcoCrete Soy Stain
Lighting: Rejuvenation; flooring: Montanari Construction; flooring stain and finish: EcoCrete Soy Stain
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by LA Dwelling
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| A small desk area is nestled next to the oven, set lower than the countertop for a sense of division. A large base drawer holds the printer, which helps keep the desk uncluttered. Glen filled the kitchen with plenty of handy features that the owners love, including an integrated filter in the sink faucet, vertical storage for baking sheets and a pullout trash and recycling bin. Oven, cooktop, dishwasher: Bosch; hood: GE Profile; refrigerator: JennAir; sinks: Kohler; faucet: KWC; hardware: Hafele |
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by LA Dwelling
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| The long, narrow shape of the kitchen restricted the client's layout wish list. A complete island would've taken up too much room, so Glen installed a combined bar and prep space on one of the walls. The sink, range and refrigerator aren't laid out in the traditional work triangle, but it still works well for the family. The current configuration leaves room for entertaining and helps eliminate traffic jams. Backsplash: Trend Mosaics; bar stools: Crate & Barrel |
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by LA Dwelling
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| "Details usually come at a price," says Glen. "In order to afford the visual extras, like a metal strip in the countertop, we scaled back some of the upper cabinets and used open shelving instead." She also installed large base drawers around the perimeter for storage. Browse more Kitchens of the Week |
Ideabook published on May 25, 2012.
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People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
It's good to look behind the labels........and to continue to educate ourselves.
BTW Magnesium Concrete is the concrete of the future--requires far less energy to produce, and lasts much longer than conventional limestone concrete. And magnesium is extremely abundant on the earth's crust.