One of the perks (not twerks) of my job is that I get to work in lovely homes on the beach. If I'm having a "design panic moment" all I have to do is look out the window at the ocean and all is well. This townhouse project came to me as a referral and is actually a winter home on the ocean in Delray Beach. This homeowner is a potter with a keen eye for design and finishes.The kitchen was outdated and not very functional. My client enjoys cooking and entertaining and was seeking to integrate her open kitchen with the stylish and artful adjacent dining and living room.My first thought was that even though we would lose cabinets, the soffit structure had to go. We could make up that loss of storage by going higher with the cabinets and by adding a tall cabinet to the left of the refrigerator. I wanted to open up the space yet ensure that it was integrated with adjoining areas. The ceiling is so high we were able to increase the height of the cabinets without having to go all the way up which would have disrupted the existing crown molding. We also gained storage by adding the two end cabinets on either side of the seating area. The cabinet to the counter is also great storage and the open shelving to the right was included to showcase some of my client's pottery pieces. Scroll down to see the solution.

We used a warm stained bamboo with a subtle blue-green tint for the cabinetry. The back wall is aqua glass tiles to reflect the ocean. There is a pantry with touch latches to the left of the built-in refrigerator. An appliance garage conceals toaster oven to the right of the sink and open shelves feature my clients beautiful pottery creations.

My design was custom built by Brendan Donovan Furniture & Cabinet Co. Cabinet hardware is Top Knobs Sanctuary Collection in German Bronze. Refrigerator is Subzero with flush installation. The rest of the appliances are by Jenn Air. For this project we selected the Blanco Quatrus medium single sink because it fit the space as well as the styling of the kitchen so well. The faucet is Blanco Kontrole. Again this stylish Blanco faucet provided the look and pull out functionality we needed. In addition, the scale was appropriate for the space. Counter tops are grey granite from Cavastone fabricated by Stone Palace. They feature a contemporary "waterfall" detail at the end of the peninsula.All in all I would say mission accomplish and my clients agree!

The last few posts we have been exploring the big questions I get from clients who are in the market for a new kitchen. Today we are up to #4, and it's a biggie. What counter top should we get? Counter tops are a main component of the kitchen. They have to look right but more importantly they must stand up to daily use. During the 50s, 60s and 70s , other than the odd wood or tile counter top, most of us had laminate counters. Formica ruled the roost. To be fair, laminates have come a long way and are quite popular in Europe. They are not as indestructible as granite or quartz but the price is right. Truth be told, back in the day, it was not unheard of to have a laminate top last 30 years or more!

Traditional Kitchen by Newton Kitchen and Bath Fixtures Kitchen Concepts, Inc.

Remember those "Boomerang" Formica counter tops? If not, then you might find one now in a Mid-Century Modern style kitchen of 2013.

A great example of the natural variations inherent in granite.

Today my clients know about granite but what's this quartz all about ? Here's what I tell them: If you love the uniqueness and natural variations of granite then it's the top for you. If you can't stand that and you prefer consistent color and/or pattern then quartz is for you. Quartz is man-made and is about 93% quartz with the other 7% being the resins that hold it all together. Performance wise you can't do better than quartz. It is non-pourous, very hard, heat resistant and does not require maintenance. When it comes to price, at least in Florida, the price is comparable to granite. Both materials are generally available in 2cm or 3cm material. 2cm is about 3/4" thick. You can use it like that if you like the thin look but typically it gets doubled up to give you your 1 1/2" standard counter top thickness. If you're planning a matching backsplash this is a good option since it can be 3/4". Yes, the counter edge will have a seam in the middle but if your fabricator is worth his salt, you shouldn't really notice it. A 3cm thickness will give you 1 1/4" thick counter top with no seam but it makes for a very thick back splash which may not leave you enough room for your faucet. My favorite brands for quartz are Cambria because of the color selection and because all the colors are the same price. That makes it easy! Cambria is also made in the USA. I also love Silestone which can be a little more expensive but is cutting edge when it comes to new textures and technologies. Silestone is made in Spain and features their trademark Microban which enhances the antibacterial nature of quartz even more. Granite can come from South America, Mexico, Europe and even India. If opting for granite you'll need to make a trip to the yard to select your slabs since they vary so much. If you need help deciding you know where to find me!

Next up: Tip #5: Glass Doors, Solid Doors or Open Shelves?

561-254-7736