New This Week: 3 Kitchen Features You Might Not Have Thought Of
Follow the lead of spaces that include a special element for one-of-a-kind style
Mitchell Parker
May 5, 2017
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.
Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More
Oftentimes what sets one space apart from another isn’t a big, grand gesture, but rather a small, thoughtful addition that stays with you even after you’ve left the room. These three kitchens embody that thinking by featuring something subtle yet strikingly special.
1. Whimsical Lighting
Designers: Leanne Tammaro and Adolphina Karachok of Designtheory; and Pivot Design Studio
Location: Toronto
Size: 175 square feet (16.3 square meters); 14 by 12½ feet (4.3 by 3.8 meters)
Homeowners’ request: An “effortlessly chic” kitchen that’s functional for a family with two young children without sacrificing style and whimsy
Great idea: Whimsical statement lighting. “For a bit of the unexpected, we added some large-scale birdcage pendant lights over the island for a fun focal point,” says designer Leanne Tammaro. “Even though the pendants are large, their see-through design doesn’t block any of the view. The finishes selected in the kitchen were all fairly neutral — natural walnut and white paint for the cabinetry, Carrara marble backsplash and white Corian countertops. The light fixtures were specifically selected for this area to add a bit of interest and a small but effective punch of color.”
Designers: Leanne Tammaro and Adolphina Karachok of Designtheory; and Pivot Design Studio
Location: Toronto
Size: 175 square feet (16.3 square meters); 14 by 12½ feet (4.3 by 3.8 meters)
Homeowners’ request: An “effortlessly chic” kitchen that’s functional for a family with two young children without sacrificing style and whimsy
Great idea: Whimsical statement lighting. “For a bit of the unexpected, we added some large-scale birdcage pendant lights over the island for a fun focal point,” says designer Leanne Tammaro. “Even though the pendants are large, their see-through design doesn’t block any of the view. The finishes selected in the kitchen were all fairly neutral — natural walnut and white paint for the cabinetry, Carrara marble backsplash and white Corian countertops. The light fixtures were specifically selected for this area to add a bit of interest and a small but effective punch of color.”
Other special features: Oversize steel-frame windows. Undercounter lighting. Custom inserts in each cabinet to maximize storage. A slim but functional island. “Although we didn’t have as much room as we would have liked for a kitchen island, due to the limitations of how far out we could expand the kitchen, we maximized the space we had and incorporated not only a lot of functional storage, but managed to allow for two counter stools at one end that could tuck under the island when not in use,” Tammaro says. “It’s a perfect space for when the kids eat their breakfast in the mornings.”
Why the design works: “Much thought was put into the overall proportions of all the elements in this kitchen,” Tammaro says. “We went so far as to select the size of the individual windowpanes that would look best for the overall width and height of the window openings.”
Designer secret: “A design decision that contributed to the success of this space was not forcing the use of typical cabinet hardware,” Tammaro says. “Instead, we allowed the focus to be on the birdcage lights, and designed the millwork to incorporate hidden finger pulls, small reveals and touch-latch hardware.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “During the demolition, we discovered a larger than normal steel post and beam that was affecting our continuous ceiling height in the kitchen and adjoining family room,” Tammaro says. “We made a collaborative decision to replace the dropped beam with a new flush beam that worked better with the overall design and allowed us to maintain a flush ceiling throughout. This solution was not an easy one for the clients to make, as it added a significant cost to the budget and affected the overall timeline of the project. But in the end, it was the best solution, and the clients never looked back.”
Also on the team: Pivot Design Studio (in collaboration with Designtheory); Andes Construction; Taylor Gabel of TB Gabel Co. (millwork); Valerie Wilcox (photography)
Birdcage pendant lights: Couleur Locale; wall paint: Oxford White in ulti-matte finish, Benjamin Moore; cabinet paint: Oxford White in matte finish, Benjamin Moore; millwork wood veneer: natural black walnut; perimeter countertops: Glacier White in honed finish, Corian; island countertop and backsplash: Carrara marble slab in honed finish; stools: About a Stool, Hay via Klaus; custom steel-frame windows: Bliss Nor-Am; faucet: Vento with pullout in polished chrome finish, Riobel via Taps Bath; sink: Quatrus in stainless steel finish, Blanco
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Why the design works: “Much thought was put into the overall proportions of all the elements in this kitchen,” Tammaro says. “We went so far as to select the size of the individual windowpanes that would look best for the overall width and height of the window openings.”
Designer secret: “A design decision that contributed to the success of this space was not forcing the use of typical cabinet hardware,” Tammaro says. “Instead, we allowed the focus to be on the birdcage lights, and designed the millwork to incorporate hidden finger pulls, small reveals and touch-latch hardware.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “During the demolition, we discovered a larger than normal steel post and beam that was affecting our continuous ceiling height in the kitchen and adjoining family room,” Tammaro says. “We made a collaborative decision to replace the dropped beam with a new flush beam that worked better with the overall design and allowed us to maintain a flush ceiling throughout. This solution was not an easy one for the clients to make, as it added a significant cost to the budget and affected the overall timeline of the project. But in the end, it was the best solution, and the clients never looked back.”
Also on the team: Pivot Design Studio (in collaboration with Designtheory); Andes Construction; Taylor Gabel of TB Gabel Co. (millwork); Valerie Wilcox (photography)
Birdcage pendant lights: Couleur Locale; wall paint: Oxford White in ulti-matte finish, Benjamin Moore; cabinet paint: Oxford White in matte finish, Benjamin Moore; millwork wood veneer: natural black walnut; perimeter countertops: Glacier White in honed finish, Corian; island countertop and backsplash: Carrara marble slab in honed finish; stools: About a Stool, Hay via Klaus; custom steel-frame windows: Bliss Nor-Am; faucet: Vento with pullout in polished chrome finish, Riobel via Taps Bath; sink: Quatrus in stainless steel finish, Blanco
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2. Exposed Ceiling
Designers: Matthew Hallett and Abigail Powell of Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals
Location: Historic Landmark District, Savannah, Georgia
Size: About 140 square feet (13 square meters); 13½ by 10⅓ feet
(4.1 by 3.1 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Use original materials to the maximum extent possible and otherwise find vintage materials. “This meant we got to shop for antique lighting, antique interior doors to match the three we had left, and reproduction hardware to match the one original set that was still extant,” says designer Matthew Hallett.
Great idea: Exposed ceiling. “The exposed beams in the kitchen were initially a challenge for me visually,” Hallett says. “They can make a kitchen hard to light and visually lower the ceiling height of the room. The homeowner really wanted to keep them, so we opted for track lights on dimmers that virtually disappear but provide tremendous amounts of light, layered with undercabinet lighting and two decorative pendants over the island.”
Other special features: Blue and gray cabinets. Deep blue backsplash. Refrigerator drawers and an 18-inch dishwasher (this is a part-time residence).
“Uh-oh” moment: “Sometimes appliance specs don’t tell the whole story,” says designer Abigail Powell. “We ran into an issue at countertop install with the depth of the refrigerator and freezer drawers to the left of the range. The appliance, once installed, stuck out farther into the space than anticipated. This affected the countertop overhang. Luckily, we were able to notch the doorway trim and pull the countertop forward slightly to accommodate.”
Also on the team: Richard Leo Johnson of Atlantic Archives (photography); Cody Tharpe of Tharpe Engineering (engineering); Cornerman Custom Tile (tile installation)
Cabinets: Legacy via KB Kitchen and Bath Concepts; countertops: Minuet Viatera quartz, LG Hausys via Counter Fitters; single-handle faucet: pre-rinse-style Align in stainless steel finish, Moen; paintings: Daniel E. Smith; pendant lights: Urban Renewal collection, Feiss via Houzz
See more of this home
Designers: Matthew Hallett and Abigail Powell of Ellsworth-Hallett Home Professionals
Location: Historic Landmark District, Savannah, Georgia
Size: About 140 square feet (13 square meters); 13½ by 10⅓ feet
(4.1 by 3.1 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Use original materials to the maximum extent possible and otherwise find vintage materials. “This meant we got to shop for antique lighting, antique interior doors to match the three we had left, and reproduction hardware to match the one original set that was still extant,” says designer Matthew Hallett.
Great idea: Exposed ceiling. “The exposed beams in the kitchen were initially a challenge for me visually,” Hallett says. “They can make a kitchen hard to light and visually lower the ceiling height of the room. The homeowner really wanted to keep them, so we opted for track lights on dimmers that virtually disappear but provide tremendous amounts of light, layered with undercabinet lighting and two decorative pendants over the island.”
Other special features: Blue and gray cabinets. Deep blue backsplash. Refrigerator drawers and an 18-inch dishwasher (this is a part-time residence).
“Uh-oh” moment: “Sometimes appliance specs don’t tell the whole story,” says designer Abigail Powell. “We ran into an issue at countertop install with the depth of the refrigerator and freezer drawers to the left of the range. The appliance, once installed, stuck out farther into the space than anticipated. This affected the countertop overhang. Luckily, we were able to notch the doorway trim and pull the countertop forward slightly to accommodate.”
Also on the team: Richard Leo Johnson of Atlantic Archives (photography); Cody Tharpe of Tharpe Engineering (engineering); Cornerman Custom Tile (tile installation)
Cabinets: Legacy via KB Kitchen and Bath Concepts; countertops: Minuet Viatera quartz, LG Hausys via Counter Fitters; single-handle faucet: pre-rinse-style Align in stainless steel finish, Moen; paintings: Daniel E. Smith; pendant lights: Urban Renewal collection, Feiss via Houzz
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3. Chopping Station
Designer: Jules Thomas of Maker Agent
Location: Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 368 square feet (34.2 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: An avant-garde but cozy kitchen for a large family that loves big holidays and dinners with friends
Great idea: A chopping and prepping station with a butcher block countertop made of bigleaf maple
Other special features: Marble countertops. Custom tile backsplash.
Designer secret: “There’s never one attribute or contribution that makes a room a success,” says designer Jules Thomas. “A successful room is always the result of careful planning and a series of well-thought-out elements coming together.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “We found a chimney stack hidden behind a wall in a very unfortunate location, and it was an added significant expense to remove it,” Thomas says. “But it had to go, so we all took a deep breath, removed it and moved on.”
Also on the team: Model Remodel (construction); Board & Vellum (architecture); Greenhome Solutions (butcher block countertop); Rutt HandCrafted Cabinetry; Maker Agent and Pratt & Larson (custom tile); Lake City Plumbing; Cindy Apple Photography
Custom paint colors: The Paint Laboratory; lighting: Cisco; range and oven: Sub-Zero
See more of this home
More
Your New Kitchen: 7 Tricky Questions You Didn’t Know You’d Ask
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Get inspired: Browse the latest kitchen photos uploaded to Houzz
Get started: Find a kitchen designer near you
Designer: Jules Thomas of Maker Agent
Location: Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle
Size: 368 square feet (34.2 square meters)
Homeowners’ request: An avant-garde but cozy kitchen for a large family that loves big holidays and dinners with friends
Great idea: A chopping and prepping station with a butcher block countertop made of bigleaf maple
Other special features: Marble countertops. Custom tile backsplash.
Designer secret: “There’s never one attribute or contribution that makes a room a success,” says designer Jules Thomas. “A successful room is always the result of careful planning and a series of well-thought-out elements coming together.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “We found a chimney stack hidden behind a wall in a very unfortunate location, and it was an added significant expense to remove it,” Thomas says. “But it had to go, so we all took a deep breath, removed it and moved on.”
Also on the team: Model Remodel (construction); Board & Vellum (architecture); Greenhome Solutions (butcher block countertop); Rutt HandCrafted Cabinetry; Maker Agent and Pratt & Larson (custom tile); Lake City Plumbing; Cindy Apple Photography
Custom paint colors: The Paint Laboratory; lighting: Cisco; range and oven: Sub-Zero
See more of this home
More
Your New Kitchen: 7 Tricky Questions You Didn’t Know You’d Ask
Homeowner’s Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Get inspired: Browse the latest kitchen photos uploaded to Houzz
Get started: Find a kitchen designer near you
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All unique in their own right and I am sure each home owner is enjoying their new space. Lessons learned; beware of 'uh oh moments' (☺) and exposed beams can visually lower ceiling heights, the latter of which I would have thought to be the opposite.
We've had a butcher block island for over twenty years similar to the one in the picture although our butcher block runs the length (not the width) of the island. And, we also have four barstool chairs for the higher part of the island which is granite. We have a prep sink w/a disposal in the butcher block which makes for easy clean up when chopping.
First kitchen by Toronto designers, love love love the steel frame kitchen windows. Also, love the hidden drawer and cabinet pulls, love love love this.
Kitchen 2, love the fireplace right in the kitchen, just love it. Kitchen 3 love the chopping block lower so you can put your body weight into it. Great article.