6 Fresh Takes on Kitchen Design

A great kitchen presentation can help seal the deal with prospective clients. Look to these examples for ways to spice up your own designs and make customers say, “I’ve got to have that!”

Dressed to Impress

Photo: Christopher Mayer

James Bond's kitchen might look something like this. Twin monitors integrated into the cabinetry above the built-in refrigerator provide security camera views of other areas of the house. The kitchen is a model of sophistication, yet it’s designed for a lifetime of fun. Note the woven-glass mosaic backsplash, polished limestone countertops and African mahogany lower cabinets. Stainless steel cabinets with frosted glass panels hang from a suspended beam circling the room. During parties, the trough sink in the island doubles as a wine/beer chiller, and countertop windows open to service the outdoor barbecue and bar. Location: Las Vegas; Builder: Raftery Construction, Las Vegas; Architect: Bridgwater Consulting Group, Los Angeles; Interior Designer: Karen Butera Inc., Corona Del Mar, Calif.

A Catered Affair 

Photo: Mario Novak

When the owners of this home entertain, they do it in a big way. Their "working kitchen" was designed for the use of a full-time staff. It's a caterer's dream, with commercial-grade appliances, a huge island, a pot rack and tall cabinets for china, silver and table linens. Two refrigerators (not shown) stand opposite the island, which is topped with a three-inch-thick slab of mahogany butcher block, done on edge grain. This custom feature was crafted in the builder’s millwork shop along with the cabinetry and has been replicated several times for other clients. Location: Southampton, N.Y.; Builder/Architect: Telemark, Wainscott, N.Y.

Take the Party Outdoors

Photo: Designs by Dawn

Messy charcoal and hockey-puck hamburgers aren’t permitted anywhere near this outdoor kitchen in Michigan. Large enough for a crowd of casual revelers, it offers comfortable seating by the fireplace as well as a dining area. The amenities include a built-in grill with a custom grill surface, two 12-inch cabinets with pullout drawers, a 21-inch storage cabinet and a 24-inch waste and recycling cabinet. It all fits into a framework of locally quarried stone, topped with custom concrete countertops. The fireplace was built by a local mason, who also provided the New York bluestone pavers for the floor.
Location: Petoskey, Mich.; Builder: JR Construction, Petoskey, Mich.; Kitchen Designer: Designs by Dawn, Petoskey, Mich.; Landscaping: Letts Landscape, Harbor Springs, Mich.

Easy to Live With

There's a pleasing symmetry to the kitchen of the New American Home 2009. It reflects the home's contemporary architecture with strong horizontal and vertical elements and materials that both contrast and complement one another. The waterfall countertop treatment frames the cabinetry and creates an interesting focal point. It’s also designed for convenience: the island’s built-in dining table seats six; electrical outlets are concealed under upper cabinets; and two power strips pop up on either side of the island sink. Location: Las Vegas; Builder: Blue Heron Properties, Las Vegas; Architect: Danielian Associates Architecture & Planning, Irvine, Calif.

Into the Open

A lake view isn't much good if you can't see it. The answer here was to tear down an existing dining-room wall, thereby opening up the floor plan and capturing the vista. A four-piece glass wall with a full-height door to the deck was added to the kitchen along with a wet bar, a custom bookshelf unit for cookbooks and a 6-foot, built-in buffet that serves the dining room. We especially like the quarter-sawn oak inset cabinets with hammered amber glass — a perfect complement to the home’s Arts and Crafts style furnishings. Top-of-the-line appliances are the icing on the cake. Location: Reston, Va.; Remodeler/Architect: Sun Design Remodeling Specialists, Burke, Va.

Baker’s Paradise

Ditching this kitchen's old blue laminate countertop and 30-year-old range was the first step to creating the perfect workspace for an avid cook and baker. Staying within the original footprint, the remodeler removed the radiator and continued the countertop around the room, creating an eat-in area, and added two fixed windows with custom muntins to match the existing windows. He also borrowed half of a coat closet and blocked one of the entry points into the kitchen to build a full baking station with a wall oven, ample storage and wine cubbies. Location: Minneapolis; Remodeler/Architect: Otogawa-Anschel Design-Build, Minneapolis