A Kitchen & bath to Write Home About

In the kitchen, a family gathers to prepare holiday feasts and treats, the resident cook experiments with new cake batters, and well-intentioned chefs-in-training prepare messy pancake breakfasts for Mother's Day.

In recent years, the kitchen has also turned into a spot for much more than food-related activities. People congregate here to visit with friends and family, complete homework and talk on the phone.

In the kitchen, an island workstation with a durable, colorful Wilsonart counter lets helping hands join in meal preparation. Numerous Wellborn cabinets hold unlimited cooking supplies, while a handy appliance garage by the ovens conceals the coffee maker or toaster oven. The cook will love the oversized sink by American Standard and the top-notch Whirlpool appliances.

Families also now demand much more from their homes' baths. A bath provides a quiet place to relax (preferably in a bubbling whirlpool tub), to primp for a special night on the town or to wash up after a muddy soccer game. A well-planned bath will comfortably accommodate two harried people who slept through the alarm.

A home's kitchen and baths need to stand up to these high demands, both on a daily basis and throughout years and generations of family living.

This showcase home, built in 1995 outside of Houston by HomeStyles, the nation's leading provider of pre-designed blueprints for new homes, exemplifies the emphasis now placed on these important rooms.

Settle down at the kitchen's planning center to figure out the week's menus, pay the bills or jot down a grocery list. The Wellborn cabinets provide plenty of storage space for pens and note pads, while the durable Wilsonart countertop adds a splash of color. The Marvel grotto underneath preserves and displays the finest wine collections.

At the rear of the home, the kitchen serves as the heart of the casual living area, which also includes a sun-filled breakfast nook and a good-sized family room.

The kitchen opens to both spaces, allowing parents cooking dinner in the kitchen to visit with the kids watching a movie or finishing up homework in the family room.

A handy snack bar between the kitchen and the breakfast nook provides an easy spot to grab a quick bite to eat or to place drinks, dishes and utensils when serving busy family meals. An island cooktop in the kitchen gives helping hands a place to chop, knead and mix.

The kitchen's efficient layout allows for easy workflow between the room's hot spotsÑthe refrigerator, the stacked ovens, the cooktop, the double sink and counter work space. Plenty of cabinets overhead store even the most elaborate collection of cooking supplies.

After a harried day or a strenuous workout, the whirlpool tub from American Standard serves as a refreshing--and romantic!--treat. Cheerful sunshine pours in through the beautiful Weather Shield window, which includes shutters from the Design Shutter Shop for extra privacy. Rich wallcoverings by Imperial add a glamorous touch.

To the right of the oven, a corner cabinet, called an appliance garage, keeps small appliances like a toaster oven or coffee maker out of sight. When you're ready to brew up a pot of coffee or toast some bagels, the door slides up like a garage door, revealing the appliances.

Adjacent to the kitchen, a built-in desk serves as a hub of activity. This is the perfect spot to plan menus, grab a phone call or pay the bills. Tucked into one corner, a built-in grotto stores fine wines at the ideal temperature.

Across the home, a deluxe private bath in the master suite serves as an oasis of calm. When the day calls for some personal time, the refreshing whirlpool tub will revive even the most tired spirit. A glass-block window draws a warm, exhilirating light into the separate shower.

For the early morning rush, the dual-sink vanity accommodates two people with ease. Ample cabinet space holds hand towels and sundries.

In the bath near the secondary bedrooms, a beautiful window made with Pittsburgh Corning's PC GlassBlock draws natural sunshine into the room. The sink and other American Standard plumbing fixtures withstand years of daily wear and tear. Wallcoverings and a shower curtain from Imperial, and a beautiful marble countertop from Colours of the Rainbow lend an easy style to the room.

Between the home's two secondary bedrooms, another bath doubles as a guest bath and a kids' bath. Here, the marble countertop serves as an elegant backdrop, while providing a durable surface that will stand up to the inevitable abuses inflicted by years of use by kids.

When choosing a home, pay extra attention to the kitchen and baths. If you're like most people, that's where you'll spend your time.

Photos by Mark Englund/HomeStyles

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