KBB - September 2011 - (Page 42)

Striking a Balance Modern and traditional marry and make it work in this tropical kitchen By Lee Ann Murphy For those who think the art of compromise is dead, this kitchen in Hawaii is proof that a little give and take can still garner spectacular results. Designed for a couple with a growing son, it replaces a poorly planned kitchen that had never functioned well for the wife, who is an avid cook. The mahogany Shaker-style cabinets and bulky appliances didn’t fit in with her more modern, European aesthetic. And six years after moving in, she decided it was time to make the kitchen hers. The only thing standing in the way was the rest of the house. The kitchen is part of an open-plan great room that reflects a more traditional style, complete with dark millwork and a thatched interior roof that encompasses the entire space. Designer Kristen Totah, asid, owner of Studio K Kitchens and Design, had to walk a fine line, incorporating the modern feel the homeowner wanted without creating a space that imposed its will on the rest of the home with catastrophic aesthetic consequences. Totah achieved the right balance by starting with sleek European cabinets—score one for modernity—but chose a textured matte finish. She also warmed up the cabinets with a dark rosewood veneer that blended in with the darker woods in the rest of the home.Thus, harmony was achieved. “We chose a door style that wasn’t so slick,” Totah said.“It wasn’t high-gloss so it brought everything a little closer to the style of the existing structure.” Next, she customized a standard piece of door hardware to give it an Asian-inspired look that works well with the Hawaiian elements of the home, such as the thatched roof. The eating table is wenge, which ties in with the Brazilian cherry flooring throughout the home. When it came to appliances, settling was not an option. The homeowner insisted on a European look, but Totah found wiggle room when it came to placement. She warmed them up by placing them all on one wall and blending them with the textured cabinets, dark wood and lighting to effect a subtle confluence of modern and traditional. Dual refrigerators, a wine cooler, steam oven, convection oven, microwave and warming drawer, as well as pantry storage, were all located on this core wall. Totah centered the refrigerators, flanked them with pullout pantries and covered them in the rosewood veneer, creating a handsome centerpiece. The microwave, warming drawer and refrigerator drawers are also concealed and include touch-latch hardware to keep a clean look. The work area of the kitchen is the most modern part of the space, complete with flush-overhang stainless-steel countertops with integrated sink bowls and an uninterrupted stretch of lacquer cabinets, albeit with 42 + K BB September 2011 / www.kbbonline.com / The Official Sponsor of KBIS www.kbis.com http://www.kbbonline.com http://www.kbis.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of KBB - September 2011

KBB - September 2011
Table of Contents
Online Contents
Online News
Editorial
Show Director’s Note
Trends
Products
Design
Meet the Judges
Top Projects
Merit Projects
Honorable Mentions
Modern Classic: An eclectic bath with timeless appeal
Ad Index
Favorites

KBB - September 2011