Elements Converge In Dream Kitchen

Another year is winding down.  We have been blessed  again with many interesting projects.  As we are in “finishing up mode” I thought I’d share with you one of the best of 2011.  This project was a true collaboration.  Our clients, a couple of sweet snowbirds from Chicago, were very hands on which made it fun to see this kitchen take shape.  The existing space was on the small side, the cabinets a little dated. Our assignment was to add a whole range of  state-of-the-art appliances and a clean unique contemporary feel that would flow into the existing family room.  Naturally storage and function were also of the utmost importance but the real challenge was in fitting it all in!!They chose a rich coffee bean stain for the cabinets to match existing cabinetry in the family room.  The cabinet fronts were not ordinary doors, no way.  Together, with our clients, we designed the Soldono and the Soldono Pacifica Doors just for this job.  The Soldono custom door features a cherry frame around a horizontal grained oak center panel all stained in a rich espresso color.  The center panel is beveled on one end with stainless steel grip strip inset on the frame.  No hardware sticking out in this kitchen! A select few of the upper cabinets sport the Soldono Pacifica custom door which received center panels in olive ash burl veneer for a huge shot of “unique”. Stainless steel serves as an accent finish and is found in the appliances and in the monster-multi-functional Hafele appliance garage.  Refrigerators are Subzero, ovens are by Gaggenau, cooktop is by Miele and the dishwasher drawers are by Fisher Paykel.  Thank you to Linda Roberts at House of Appliances for her guidance.   Counter tops are Caesarstone quartz by Stone Palace and the backsplash is painted glass by Florida Shower Door & Mirror, Inc. Clearly they do much more that shower doors!  Perhaps the "piece de resistance" however is the glass tile behind the hood.   It truly looks like water cascading down the wall behind the hood!  The sink is a Precision by Blanco and the glass theme is picked up again with the glass table.  You can find a listing of all the trades on the Local Resources page here at Kitchens for Living.

   

ENTER THE MATRIX

Marcello Becchi sports two full sleeve tats acquired in the South Pacific but more importantly he knows all about engineered stone and LEED certification. Let me “splain”, as Ricky Ricardo would say. I had the pleasure of hearing Marcello speak at Ceramic Matrix in Delray Beach at an NKBA Chapter event last week. Marcello, of the Trend Group USA is a scholar and lecturer within the building materials industry.

Trend is a manufacturer of all types of mosaic tiles with an emphasis on being Green. One type of material they manufacture is referred to as engineered stone. What is that, you ask? It is any material, used mostly for counter tops, floors and walls comprised of an agglomerate of crushed up glass, granite or quartz with a resin to hold it all together. Marcello has a reverence for the original engineered stone, terrazzo (flashback to childhood home before floor was covered with green carpet). Terrazzo is simply a mixture of cement and glass, marble, granite etc.The most common type of engineered stone that you would recognize today are quartz materials such as Silestone and Caesarstone. We all know how indestructible these surfaces are to work on but that is just one advantage. As we deplete the world’s natural resources we need to pay attention to methods and products that minimize the impact on our environment. Engineered stone does that and here’s how: Typically only three out of ten slabs of granite are useable, however, the other seven “imperfect” slabs can be used to create engineered stone! Making a “green” decision often seems to be a more costly option but “green” choices are typically longer lasting and more durable. As Marcello says, “whatever costs more in the beginning costs least in the end.”

Ceramic Matrix is a wonderland of tile, full of custom unique tile treasures composed of glass, porcelain, marble,ceramics and whatever else anyone has thought to embed in tile. If you don’t live in Delray, don’t worry. There are six Ceramic Matrix showrooms in Florida. (If you don't live in Florida you can go ahead and worry.)

Showroom Tile Diva, Susan Serino, solemnly promises they will work with your budget. “There are ways to incorporate the affordable with a touch of bling for impact. “It’s not about a focal point”, she says, it’s about everything working together as an incredible whole.” One thing you can do if you don’t want to leave a “hole” in your pocket, is save the exotic expensive tiles to use sparingly as accents. This is a great example of less equals more in your wallet! 

 

ONE FLORIDA KITCHEN WITH A TWIST

I can’t believe I’ve been back a week already!  I guess it’s time to refocus on Florida.  What better way than to share this kitchen from my portfolio? Yes, it is the quintessential “Florida” kitchen but you don’t have to live in Florida to have one.  If you have a yearning for the tropics year-round, this could be the perfect storm (poor choice of words) solution for you.   This combination of white, stainless and shades of blue green that call to mind the ocean make this a Florida dream kitchen that you can apply to your own home.I always say the best projects are the result of great collaboration and this beautiful kitchen was certainly the result of that.  The house is located in a new development and came with a builder-grade offering of unremarkable cabinetry.  The new design includes a few tweaks.   One priority for this young mom was to have a very open feel to her kitchen.  We even wanted to remove the wall between the kitchen and butler’s pantry.  That was not to be as it turned out to be structural.  Plan two was to open it up so that you could at least see through it.  I think you’ll agree it worked really well.

 The cabinetry is by Holiday Kitchens, Inc.  The door style is called Seattle and it is wood with white paint.  Counter tops are white quartz and the dramatic backsplash is penny tile.  A penny tile is a round penny-sized mosaic tile that comes in sheets for easy installation.  Appliances include a full sized 36” refrigerator and freezer by SubZero, a built-in wall oven and a handy microwave drawer by Sharp.  Now all you need is a sturdy pair of flip flops and a stylin pair of  shades to complete the ensemble.

TILE STYLE

Today I thought I'd continue with the eye candy theme.  You see I'm actually helping you.  I parade all types of enticement across my blog so you can formulate your own kitchen creation strategy. So take note!  Today's yumminess comes in the form of Ann Sacks Tile, one of  the most cutting edge and innovative suppliers of tile, stone and plumbing fixtures today.  It all began in 1980 when Ann Sacks discovered a box of Mexican Talavera tiles being sold as trivets.  These inspired her to start her own company and open her first showroom in the living room of her home!  The rest is history.

The Kiss by Gustav Klimt

Fritza by Ann Sacks

Inspired by the art of Gustav Klimt, Ann Sacks has recently introduced Fritza, a colorful mosaic run between strips of tetra slate and black granite. This is a great way to add a little art to your kitchen.  What a great backsplash this would make!

Another one of my favorites is this tile from the Forms collection by Angela Adams (left).  This is perfect if you're going for a mid-century modern appeal. 
 
Erin Adam's Facet Mosaic features a circle design in tones that blend beautifully with just about any wood grain

The stainless steel look is another interesting backsplash treatment for your kitchen.

ART IN THE KITCHEN?

If you’re looking for a way to personalize your kitchen  why not consider art?  Most of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen and the view is pretty much the same, refrigerator, stove, sink etc.  So where do we add our own unique signature?  The possibilities are numerous.  How about your backsplash, the area between your countertop and upper cabinets?  This is a project you can usually attempt without disrupting your cabinets or counter top.  For example I have a client who decided to tile the area.  She added art by inserting her own artwork in the form of handpainted tiles. 

If you are planning a new kitchen remember that sometimes less is more IF you have adequate storage you might consider leaving some open space for framed art. A single piece of art in a simple kitchen can become a compelling focal point. Not only does this save you money on cabinets but it allows you to change the look and theme of your kitchen when the spirit moves you.

Show off your collection, if you have one.  This homeowner was the proud collector of cookie jars so we designed a space to feature them.  But you could show Fiestaware or handmade pottery.

Colorful paint along with many handmade touches makes this kitchen pop with whimsy and a generally good to be alive vibe!  Photo courtesy of paula@pavelkadesign.com

These colorful handpainted African tiles add a unique touch. 

What creative touches have you used in your kitchen?  I would love to hear from you!  Leave comments.  Tomorrow I leave for New Orleans. I'm going to take lots of pictures and I'll see you when I get back!