Dynamic Blue is a powerful stone with intense blue and deep burgundy colors. This kitchen has full granite backsplash and a matching windowsill to tie everything in. It is also sometimes called Brass Blue Granite.

Complete renovation of historic Cow Hollow home. Existing front facade remained for historical purposes. Scope included framing the entire 3 story structure, constructing large concrete retaining walls, and installing a storefront folding door system at family room that opens onto rear stone patio. Rear yard features terraced concrete planters and living wall. Photos: Bruce DaMonte Interior Design: Martha Angus Architect: David Gast

Perfect kitchen for entertaining!

White cabinetry is always classic and this beautiful remodel completed in Durham is no exception. The hardwood floors run throughout the downstairs, tying the formal dining room, breakfast room, and living room all together. The soft cream walls offset the Blue Pearl granite countertops and white cabinets, making the space both inviting and elegant. Double islands allow guests to enjoy a nice glass of wine and a seat right in the kitchen while allowing the homeowners their own prep-island at the same time. The homeowners requested a kitchen built for entertaining for family and friends and this kitchen does not disappoint. copyright 2011 marilyn peryer photography

New light filled kitchen in brownstone addition. Brooklyn Heights brownstone renovation by Ben Herzog, Architect in conjunction with designer Elizabeth Cooke-King. Photo by Michael Lee.

SieMatic Kitchen

Jaclyn Borowski

When Melanie Leakey began thinking of what her dream kitchen would look like, bringing nature indoors and capturing the essence of shinrin-yoku – the Japanese art of forest bathing – was a priority. One of the newest additions to the CRL Quartz collection, Cristallo Azure, helped the team from Milestone Ecodesign fulfil the quite specific brief. The quartz surface, teamed with green paint for a feature wall, bamboo flooring and stone-effect Eco2 cabinets, helps transform the wrap-around extension on the back of a 1960s semi-detached house in the suburbs of Bradford into a zen-like space. “I wanted a really natural look and felt the azure blue would mimic a lake next to the trees, and it worked perfectly,” explains Melanie. CRL Quartz Cristallo Azure work surface, Blue Quartz worktop Cristallo Azure creates a zen-like atmosphere that is striking When Melanie Leakey began thinking of what her dream kitchen would look like, bringing nature indoors and capturing the essence of shinrin-yoku – the Japanese art of forest bathing – was a priority. One of the newest additions to the CRL Quartz collection, Cristallo Azure, helped the team from Milestone Ecodesign fulfil the quite specific brief. The quartz surface, teamed with green paint for a feature wall, bamboo flooring and stone-effect Eco2 cabinets, helps transform the wrap-around extension on the back of a 1960s semi-detached house in the suburbs of Bradford into a zen-like space. “I wanted a really natural look and felt the azure blue would mimic a lake next to the trees, and it worked perfectly,” explains Melanie. CRL Quartz Cristallo Azure kitchen worktop Installed by Select Solid Surfaces in Keighley, Cristallo Azure makes a stunning visual impression, while the durability of the quartz material ensures it will stay looking beautiful with minimal maintenance. The striking intensity of the sea-green colour makes it the perfect choice for this project, where it contrasts so well with the nature-inspired décor around it. “Everyone has either worktops on the black/white/grey spectrum or beige – we wanted to be a little different!” Melanie admits. Entering the newly created space from the existing house, the dining area accommodates a large glass-top table and seating, with bi-fold doors beyond leading out to the patio. To the right of the dining area lies the kitchen, with a long bank of tall units for storage on the rear wall and a kitchen island as a centrepiece. Complete with hob, sink and bar stools and topped with Cristallo Azure surfaces it is this furniture that turns the room into the multi-functional space Melanie was hoping for. “The new kitchen looks out onto our south-facing garden, so we wanted to have a kitchen island that incorporated the hob and sink so we could make the most of the views,” emphasises Melanie. “I also think it’s rude to talk to someone with your back to them because you’re stirring something on the hob!” “We wanted a really social space where we could entertain guests without having to excuse yourself because you need to focus on making a meal, so wanted a couple of bar stools for the island so guests/family could take a seat and talk to the chef whilst they make dinner.” CRL Quartz is the ideal surface for such a multi-functional kitchen area. A practical alternative to natural materials yet with all the beauty that the marble look brings to the kitchen, engineered quartz stone such as Cristallo Azure is scratch, heat and stain resistant and never needs to be sealed. “The island is one of the aspects we are most pleased with. It does exactly what we wanted it to do, and it looks fabulous whilst it does it.” The chosen décor is a brave step away from the often-seen neutral tones of modern kitchen design, but there’s no doubt that the finished space is everything that Melanie and her family hoped for from the new space. As she concludes: “I think it is a combination of the use of natural materials and colours that work so harmoniously together, plus the fact that the kitchen is designed around the home chef – everything you need is either straight in front of you or only a few steps away. Plus, the use of the cabinets means everything can be tidied away leaving us with a clean, streamlined kitchen.”

Such an exciting transformation for this sweet family. A modern take on Southwest design has us swooning over these neutrals with bold and fun pops of color and accents that showcase the gorgeous footprint of this kitchen, dining, and drop zone to expertly tuck away the belonging of a busy family!

Contemporary renovation of a semi-detached house in Castlebar. These images show the kitchen, however, other images to follow will show the entire project completion over 3 months. Re-wiring, plumbing, flooring, painting, Carpentry, fitted furniture and groundworks.

60" custom dual drain workstation stainless steel sink by Rachiele Custom Sinks