Chef's Kitchen Delight
For a beloved Southern chef and his wife, the kitchen truly is the heart of the home. These successful restaurateurs longed for a cohesive kitchen where the entire family could be together, and they could entertain while cooking. Seeking to completely re-design a new kitchen with intentionality of space while accommodating their young family, the homeowners enlisted the expertise of a seasoned design/build team to guide them through the process.
The original U-shaped kitchen was tight, constrained and isolated from the rest of the home. To enlarge the kitchen and integrate it more with the main living area, an all-new kitchen was designed by incorporating an adjacent playroom. The living room walls in the playroom were also demoed to connect all of the main living spaces together.
The new thoughtfully designed kitchen showcases a central 10’ long seated island where gathering is key. The former dining nook was converted into a desk area with cubbies where their twin girls can study and do homework but are still part of the kitchen. To highlight the contemporary aesthetic of the original windows, the designer opted for wood shelves instead of upper cabinetry. This also allows much more natural light to flood the interior. With the removal of the interior walls, a new lighting plan of LED recessed cans and island pendants were designed to highlight the overall space and provide task lighting for cooking. The wood shelves at the far left of the kitchen were designed to house the homeowners’ record collection, showcasing their love of music and entertaining. The end of the long island features a beverage refrigerator and “lounge” seating to further encourage gatherings in the kitchen.
A custom hood, professional appliances, a series of drawers, open base shelves for large pots, a new pantry and broom cupboard all make this kitchen a chef’s delight. The custom zinc hood with brass straps was built by a local Lake Martin metal artist. The professional grade appliances include a 48” Wolf range with French top, a monogram dishwasher and refrigerator, a zephyr beverage refrigerator and a zephyr hood insert. For better functionality, cutlery organizers, a Rev-a-shelf cutting board pull-out, a spice pull-out and carefully placed outlets on the interior of the island, were designed.
The detailed and exquisite finishes blend effortlessly with the organic aesthetic. The light quarter-sawn white oak Durasupreme cabinets complement the dark soapstone counters, while the earth tones of the dark green “Rock Bottom” colored island and pantry area blend with the Calacatta quartz on the island. Brass cup pulls were chosen to highlight the series of drawers and enrich the overall interior.
Describe what the project accomplished and any significant challenges and creative solutions that may have been required.
A significant accomplishment of this project was delivering a professional kitchen for a professional chef. Intentionality and togetherness, as well as a better functioning space, was key. By demoing several interior walls and creating a new kitchen layout, the renovation successfully provides this chef a place to showcase his culinary skills and gather with family and friends.
However, the project was not met without challenges. From the front to back, the house was out of level 3.5", therefore, the cabinetry had to be significantly shimmed. Also, when the wall separating the existing kitchen and playroom was removed, a beam was recessed into the ceiling. Because the house had a hip roof, the beam would have protruded through the roof. The design/build team was able to successfully install the beam and encapsulate it in a custom shroud that serves as the range hood exhaust.
Overall, this renovation was a well-managed project with its success due to meticulous planning and ingenuity from the design/build team. From integrating new appliances and custom elements, to sourcing modern materials and providing a functional design plan, each upgrade offered an opportunity to tailor the kitchen to the homeowner’s needs. This thoughtful design now provides an efficient and cohesive kitchen where the entire family can be together.
The original U-shaped kitchen was tight, constrained and isolated from the rest of the home. To enlarge the kitchen and integrate it more with the main living area, an all-new kitchen was designed by incorporating an adjacent playroom. The living room walls in the playroom were also demoed to connect all of the main living spaces together.
The new thoughtfully designed kitchen showcases a central 10’ long seated island where gathering is key. The former dining nook was converted into a desk area with cubbies where their twin girls can study and do homework but are still part of the kitchen. To highlight the contemporary aesthetic of the original windows, the designer opted for wood shelves instead of upper cabinetry. This also allows much more natural light to flood the interior. With the removal of the interior walls, a new lighting plan of LED recessed cans and island pendants were designed to highlight the overall space and provide task lighting for cooking. The wood shelves at the far left of the kitchen were designed to house the homeowners’ record collection, showcasing their love of music and entertaining. The end of the long island features a beverage refrigerator and “lounge” seating to further encourage gatherings in the kitchen.
A custom hood, professional appliances, a series of drawers, open base shelves for large pots, a new pantry and broom cupboard all make this kitchen a chef’s delight. The custom zinc hood with brass straps was built by a local Lake Martin metal artist. The professional grade appliances include a 48” Wolf range with French top, a monogram dishwasher and refrigerator, a zephyr beverage refrigerator and a zephyr hood insert. For better functionality, cutlery organizers, a Rev-a-shelf cutting board pull-out, a spice pull-out and carefully placed outlets on the interior of the island, were designed.
The detailed and exquisite finishes blend effortlessly with the organic aesthetic. The light quarter-sawn white oak Durasupreme cabinets complement the dark soapstone counters, while the earth tones of the dark green “Rock Bottom” colored island and pantry area blend with the Calacatta quartz on the island. Brass cup pulls were chosen to highlight the series of drawers and enrich the overall interior.
Describe what the project accomplished and any significant challenges and creative solutions that may have been required.
A significant accomplishment of this project was delivering a professional kitchen for a professional chef. Intentionality and togetherness, as well as a better functioning space, was key. By demoing several interior walls and creating a new kitchen layout, the renovation successfully provides this chef a place to showcase his culinary skills and gather with family and friends.
However, the project was not met without challenges. From the front to back, the house was out of level 3.5", therefore, the cabinetry had to be significantly shimmed. Also, when the wall separating the existing kitchen and playroom was removed, a beam was recessed into the ceiling. Because the house had a hip roof, the beam would have protruded through the roof. The design/build team was able to successfully install the beam and encapsulate it in a custom shroud that serves as the range hood exhaust.
Overall, this renovation was a well-managed project with its success due to meticulous planning and ingenuity from the design/build team. From integrating new appliances and custom elements, to sourcing modern materials and providing a functional design plan, each upgrade offered an opportunity to tailor the kitchen to the homeowner’s needs. This thoughtful design now provides an efficient and cohesive kitchen where the entire family can be together.
Project Year: 2024
