Bright, open and airy Knocking through a few rooms to create a large open-plan area, the owners of this sleek kitchen wanted to create a free, fluid space that made the kitchen the unequivocal hub of the home whilst at the same time stylistically linking to the rest of the property. We were tasked with creating a large open-plan kitchen and dining area that also leads through to a cosy snug, ideal for relaxing after a hard afternoon over the Aga!! The owners gave us creative control in the space, so with a loose rein and a clear head we fashioned a faultless kitchen complete with a large central island, a sunken sink and Quooker tap. For optimum storage (and a dash of style) we built a number of large larders, one of which cleverly conceals a television, as well as a false chimney surround to frame the Aga and a bespoke drinks unit. All the units are hand-crafted from Quebec Yellow Timber and hand-painted in Zoffany ‘Smoke’ and ‘Elephant Gray’ Walnut worktops, with Silestone ‘Lagoon’ Worktops around the outside and American Black Walnut on the island. Photo: Chris Ashwin

This bright kitchen features gorgeous white UltraCraft cabinetry and natural wood floors. The island countertop is Mont Blanc honed quartzite with a build-up edge treatment. To contrast, the perimeter countertop is Silver Pearl Leathered granite. All of the elements are tied together in the backsplash which features New Calacatta marble subway tile with a beautiful waterjet mosaic insert over the stove.

Photo: Vicki Bodine

Sleek and contemporary ‪Crown Point Kitchen‬ finished in Ellie Gray. Photo by Crown Point Cabinetry

Flavin Architects collaborated with Ben Wood Studio Shanghai on the design of this modern house overlooking a blueberry farm. A contemporary design that looks at home in a traditional New England landscape, this house features many environmentally sustainable features including passive solar heat and native landscaping. The house is clad in stucco and natural wood in clear and stained finishes and also features a double height dining room with a double-sided fireplace. Photo by: Nat Rea Photography

Wood-Mode Kitchen with Francois & Co Limestone Hood, Wolf & Sub-Zero Appliances Walker Zanger Stone Mosaic Tile with Quartzite counter tops, with Reclaimed Chestnut Flooring, as well as a Franke Pot Filler. Photo credit: Mary Ann Elston

IIiar Rizaj Photography

Interiors by SHOPHOUSE Design Kyle Born Photography

The character maple cabinets give this kitchen a unique rustic feel. The counter tops are a light quartz and the backsplash is a neutral porcelain with a copper mosaic strip. The flooring is also a porcelain tile made to look like wood.

The owners of a charming home in the hills west of Paso Robles recently decided to remodel their not-so-charming kitchen. Referred to San Luis Kitchen by several of their friends, the homeowners visited our showroom and soon decided we were the best people to design a kitchen fitting the style of their home. We were delighted to get to work on the project right away. When we arrived at the house, we found a small, cramped and out-dated kitchen. The ceiling was low, the cabinets old fashioned and painted a stark dead white, and the best view in the house was neglected in a seldom-used breakfast nook (sequestered behind the kitchen peninsula). This kitchen was also handicapped by white tile counters with dark grout, odd-sized and cluttered cabinets, and small ‘desk’ tacked on to the side of the oven cabinet. Due to a marked lack of counter space & inadequate storage the homeowner had resorted to keeping her small appliances on a little cart parked in the corner and the garbage was just sitting by the wall in full view of everything! On the plus side, the kitchen opened into a nice dining room and had beautiful saltillo tile floors. Mrs. Homeowner loves to entertain and often hosts dinner parties for her friends. She enjoys visiting with her guests in the kitchen while putting the finishing touches on the evening’s meal. Sadly, her small kitchen really limited her interactions with her guests – she often felt left out of the mix at her own parties! This savvy homeowner dreamed big – a new kitchen that would accommodate multiple workstations, have space for guests to gather but not be in the way, and maybe a prettier transition from the kitchen to the dining (wine service area or hutch?) – while managing the remodel budget by reusing some of her major appliances and keeping (patching as needed) her existing floors. Responding to the homeowner’s stated wish list and the opportunities presented by the home's setting and existing architecture, the designers at San Luis Kitchen decided to expand the kitchen into the breakfast nook. This change allowed the work area to be reoriented to take advantage of the great view – we replaced the existing window and added another while moving the door to gain space. A second sink and set of refrigerator drawers (housing fresh fruits & veggies) were included for the convenience of this mainly vegetarian cook – her prep station. The clean-up area now boasts a farmhouse style single bowl sink – adding to the ‘cottage’ charm. We located a new gas cook-top between the two workstations for easy access from each. Also tucked in here is a pullout trash/recycle cabinet for convenience and additional drawers for storage. Running parallel to the work counter we added a long butcher-block island with easy-to-access open shelves for the avid cook and seating for friendly guests placed just right to take in the view. A counter-top garage is used to hide excess small appliances. Glass door cabinets and open shelves are now available to display the owners beautiful dishware. The microwave was placed inconspicuously on the end of the island facing the refrigerator – easy access for guests (and extraneous family members) to help themselves to drinks and snacks while staying out of the cook’s way. We also moved the pantry storage away from the dining room (putting it on the far wall and closer to the work triangle) and added a furniture-like hutch in its place allowing the more formal dining area to flow seamlessly into the up-beat work area of the kitchen. This space is now also home (opposite wall) to an under counter wine refrigerator, a liquor cabinet and pretty glass door wall cabinet for stemware storage – meeting Mr. Homeowner’s desire for a bar service area. And then the aesthetic: an old-world style country cottage theme. The homeowners wanted the kitchen to have a warm feel while still loving the look of white cabinetry. San Luis Kitchen melded country-casual knotty pine base cabinets with vintage hand-brushed creamy white wall cabinets to create the desired cottage look. We also added bead board and mullioned glass doors for charm, used an inset doorstyle on the cabinets for authenticity, and mixed stone and wood counters to create an eclectic nuance in the space. All in all, the happy homeowners now boast a charming county cottage kitchen with plenty of space for entertaining their guests while creating gourmet meals to feed them. Credits: Custom cabinetry by Wood-Mode Fine Custom Cabinetry Contracting by Michael Pezzato of Lost Coast Construction Stone counters by Pyramid M.T.M.

www.erikabiermanphotography.com

Paul Pavot