Kitchen & Bath Business/KBIS January/February 2022 - 24

L UXUR Y DE SIGN
Livable Indulgence
A compact condo kitchen
provides a grand feel
AS A PRIMARY OR SECONDARY property, not every client needs a large singlefamily
home to give the functionality and feel of luxury and convenience.
Having a condominium in a metropolitan area is a luxury by itself, but square
footage can be challenging to provide a fully functional kitchen. Despite this,
it can be possible in a smaller space with the right planning.
ANALYZE WHAT YOU'RE WORKING WITH
A NYC kitchen for one of my clients started as a confi ned space with small
appliances in non-functional areas. Priority one was to maximize the square
footage, and the second was to create a functional space for everyday living
and entertaining. Th e original kitchen was blocked off by a wall with a small
doorway entrance to the right. To achieve a grander feel, the new fl oor plan
required a wall removal to open up the space and relocation of the appliances
to give a better workfl ow. Th is new fl oor plan maximized fl oor and counter
space, cabinet storage and options for full-size appliances.
PRIORITIZING THE CHECKLIST
Creating the right kitchen fl oor plan starts with knowing where the appliances
should be best placed and which sizes allow them to live in the space
harmoniously. Th is client really wanted a wine fridge, but before planning
its placement, the major appliance locations needed to be decided fi rst. Th e
original gas stove was lined up next to a wall on the right side and near the
sink located to the left without counter separation, which can be dangerous.
Th e small fridge was where the current gas cooktop is, so reversing the
location of the gas line for the cooktop with the wall oven and refrigerator
made the kitchen a safer environment for cooking and cleaning and
provided a better workfl ow and seamless counter space. Once the wall
was removed and the appliances were positioned, other amenities could
be decided on. A wine fridge, dishwasher and microwave are appliances
that many take for granted in larger homes but are an absolute luxury for
a small condominium.
Whether you are a culinary master or just love to cook, having a full-size
range is defi nitely on the must-have luxury list. Making way for a 30-in. gas
range and a vented convection microwave provides multiple options for cooking.
From gas to convection to induction - to using knobs or digital monitors
and Wi-Fi to save time - ranges provide owners with many options based
on their cooking preferences.
OPTIMIZING SPACE IN A LUXURY CONDO
So where do we fi t a wine fridge when we also need to maximize storage with
cabinetry and prep space with countertops? One area that can be overlooked
is the blind corner. In this case, the corner cabinet of the peninsula had one
by the left wall, which was not enough space to add an appliance without
sacrifi cing storage. Also, that corner did not provide room for an open cabinet
on the inside area of the kitchen. So as not to waste the space, putting the wine
fridge facing the outer side of the kitchen was the best solution, and it was
24
/ JAN.-FEB. 2022
ABOVE Denise Pough created
a luxury kitchen in a tight
space with a glass mosaic
backsplash, custom cabinets,
a slim but deep refrigerator
from Liebherr, a Marvel wine
fridge and sparkly pendants
from Prisma. A Viking cooktop,
Miele dishwasher and
microwave and wall oven from
Dacor round out the ample
appliance list.
also a convenient place to store wine. A cabinet
door panel was added for a seamless, luxury look.
In a small space, optimizing storage while
maintaining function is key. Using a 24-in. by 84in.
refrigerator that took advantage of the vertical
space allowed for the function of a full-sized unit's
cubic feet and enough fl oor space for an 18-in.
dishwasher. A vent is important for cooking, but
having a vented microwave gives dual duty for
additional cooking preferences, as well as for safety.
PULLING IT ALL TOGETHER
With all the appliances harmoniously placed, the
look and layout of the cabinets were developed. To
optimize storage in this project, the upper-cabinet
height went to the ceiling, and the cabinetry provided
amenities for better organization. There
are utensil drawers for silverware, a lazy susan in
the back corner and customized options for cutting
boards - all luxury upgrades that enhance the
functionality of the space. For this client, a cabinet
that strictly housed wine glasses for entertaining
was crucial as well.
Other elements that added the fi nishing touches
of a luxurious kitchen included ebony cabinets
for sophistication, and the white granite countertops,
undercabinet lighting and crystal-like ceiling
fi xtures brighten the space while still giving that
modern vibe of NYC.
When redesigning a smaller, older and lessforgiving
space, working with what you have can
be challenging but also rewarding when all is said
and done. Using every square inch is key to making
a unique space grand and luxurious.
By Denise C. Pough, interior designer and
founder of A-Jay Interiors by Dee LLC
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Kitchen & Bath Business/KBIS January/February 2022

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