Kitchens are seductive when photographed and published, as colors are coordinated, fruit and flowers arranged, clutter removed, lighting just so. What is difficult to tell from glossy images is how well a kitchen really works. The East Bay Kitchen for a Cook is an excellent example of a kitchen that really works. It is a kitchen for an accomplished cook. It is also a kitchen that is independent yet connected to a formal dining room, a kitchen with an informal ‘cafe nook’, and a kitchen ideal for a couple as well as a crowd. It is a true working kitchen for all occasions. There are many things to take into account when designing a kitchen - surfaces, materials, storage, circulation, spatial relationships, natural light. These are all important considerations in designing a kitchen. What is equally important in designing a kitchen is how a person works in a kitchen, and generally, what their kitchen is all about. Is it a kitchen for one or more cooks? Is there a ‘mess factor’ that the client wants to hide? Does the kitchen function purely as a kitchen or as a social center, or both? What is the relationship of the kitchen to adjacent rooms, and if there is a separate dining room, how does the circulation work between the two? For a kitchen to really work well, each one of these items need to be addressed and resolved. There are no generalized correct answers to any of these questions, only a correct answer for each individual cook. The original Kitchen for a Cook was small, dark, and cramped, with no connection to the dining room, which was the main eating area. A discourse began between the architect and the client, centered on how the client works in her kitchen and the desired relationship between the kitchen and dining room, which would remain the primary eating area in the renovated kitchen. Other important considerations were how to incorporate an informal ‘café nook’ in the kitchen, and how to have an easy circulation between kitchen and dining area, for both people and food.

Meagan Larsen
Example of a classic formal and enclosed medium tone wood floor and brown floor living room design in Phoenix with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a stone fireplace

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized modern galley light wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Miami with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz countertops, beige backsplash, stone slab backsplash and an island

Atherton has many large substantial homes - our clients purchased an existing home on a one acre flag-shaped lot and asked us to design a new dream home for them. The result is a new 7,000 square foot four-building complex consisting of the main house, six-car garage with two car lifts, pool house with a full one bedroom residence inside, and a separate home office /work out gym studio building. A fifty-foot swimming pool was also created with fully landscaped yards. Given the rectangular shape of the lot, it was decided to angle the house to incoming visitors slightly so as to more dramatically present itself. The house became a classic u-shaped home but Feng Shui design principals were employed directing the placement of the pool house to better contain the energy flow on the site. The main house entry door is then aligned with a special Japanese red maple at the end of a long visual axis at the rear of the site. These angles and alignments set up everything else about the house design and layout, and views from various rooms allow you to see into virtually every space tracking movements of others in the home. The residence is simply divided into two wings of public use, kitchen and family room, and the other wing of bedrooms, connected by the living and dining great room. Function drove the exterior form of windows and solid walls with a line of clerestory windows which bring light into the middle of the large home. Extensive sun shadow studies with 3D tree modeling led to the unorthodox placement of the pool to the north of the home, but tree shadow tracking showed this to be the sunniest area during the entire year. Sustainable measures included a full 7.1kW solar photovoltaic array technically making the house off the grid, and arranged so that no panels are visible from the property. A large 16,000 gallon rainwater catchment system consisting of tanks buried below grade was installed. The home is California GreenPoint rated and also features sealed roof soffits and a sealed crawlspace without the usual venting. A whole house computer automation system with server room was installed as well. Heating and cooling utilize hot water radiant heated concrete and wood floors supplemented by heat pump generated heating and cooling. A compound of buildings created to form balanced relationships between each other, this home is about circulation, light and a balance of form and function. Photo by Philip Liang Photography.

The Shaddock family has been building homes in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex for more than 50 years. While home designs and construction methods have evolved and advanced over the years, we’ve maintained our high standards for integrity in every relationship—with our homebuyers, partners, team members, and tradespeople. Shaddock Homes newly completed home is located at 2820 Bluegill Lane, Prosper, Texas. This 1-story plan features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, plus a study and is offered at $586,000. Center-stage kitchen boasts ample white cabinetry to the ceiling, a large pantry and a huge quartz island. Contemporary finish out and colors in whites & neutrals. RevWood floors in main areas. Sliding glass doors across family room. Perimeter lot with view to greenbelt/walking trail behind. Spacious utility room pre-plumbed for sink. Upgraded tech package with security camera pre-wire locations, surround sound pre-wire, and video doorbell. Light gray painted brick. NO MUD or PID Tax! Low HOA dues! *SOUTH FACING*. For more information on the beautiful home contact Jackie Lillis at jacklillis@shaddockhommes.com This Home of the Week is presented by the Dallas Builders Association. For information on the Association please visit www.dallasbuilders.com.

Transitional freestanding desk medium tone wood floor study room photo in Phoenix with beige walls and no fireplace

Large beach style single-wall concrete floor open concept kitchen photo in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood countertops, white backsplash, stone slab backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

The project was divided into three phases over the course of seven years. We were originally hired to re-design the master bath. Phase two was more significant; the garden and parlor levels of the house would be reconfigured to work more efficiently with their lifestyle. The kitchen would double in size and would include a back staircase leading to a cozy den/office and back garden for dining al fresco. The last, most recent phase would include an update to the guest room and a larger, more functional teenage suite. When you work with great clients, it is a pleasure to keep coming back! It speaks to the relationship part of our job, which is one of my favorites. Photo by Christian Harder

Cory Holland - Holland Photography
Example of a trendy open concept light wood floor living room design in Seattle with beige walls, a standard fireplace and a wall-mounted tv

Master Bedroom with Red Bed Frame and custom drapery and bedding.
Bedroom - traditional master light wood floor bedroom idea in Charlotte

Large trendy l-shaped light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, marble countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula, white countertops and medium tone wood cabinets

Large contemporary gray two-story mixed siding flat roof idea in Burlington with a metal roof

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized coastal l-shaped medium tone wood floor open concept kitchen idea in Phoenix with an island, a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances

Open concept kitchen - mid-sized transitional l-shaped cement tile floor and gray floor open concept kitchen idea in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz countertops, white backsplash, marble backsplash, stainless steel appliances, an island and gray countertops

Italian farmhouse custom kitchen complete with hand carved wood details, flush marble island and quartz counter surfaces, faux finish cabinetry, clay ceiling and wall details, wolf, subzero and Miele appliances and custom light fixtures.

Our custom mahogany wine racks with a clear coat finish
Example of a trendy wine cellar design in New York

This single family home sits on a tight, sloped site. Within a modest budget, the goal was to provide direct access to grade at both the front and back of the house. The solution is a multi-split-level home with unconventional relationships between floor levels. Between the entrance level and the lower level of the family room, the kitchen and dining room are located on an interstitial level. Within the stair space “floats” a small bathroom. The generous stair is celebrated with a back-painted red glass wall which treats users to changing refractive ambient light throughout the house. Black brick, grey-tinted glass and mirrors contribute to the reasonably compact massing of the home. A cantilevered upper volume shades south facing windows and the home’s limited material palette meant a more efficient construction process. Cautious landscaping retains water run-off on the sloping site and home offices reduce the client’s use of their vehicle. The house achieves its vision within a modest footprint and with a design restraint that will ensure it becomes a long-lasting asset in the community. Photo by Tom Arban

Inspiration for a cottage home bar remodel in Richmond