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Vision leads to eclectic kitchen renovation
From the beginning, it was all about the unique beauty of the ThinkGlass countertops that Frank eyed in a local kitchen showroom. The thick green slabs had the wow factor that both he and his wife Janine were looking for. “We had a dated kitchen with pickled oak, and wanted to modernize it,” explains Janine. “We also had a dining room that was never used, and wanted to knock down walls to incorporate it as an extension of our kitchen.”
Angled design
Frank, a well-known landscape artist, had a concept of what he wanted and worked with Melanie Verbaarschott, CKD, of Cabinet Sales Plus, on the design, renovation and material purchases. “I loved working with them,” says Verbaarschott. “Because of Frank’s creative side, he could visualize the plan, add to it, and participate in the development of this very contemporary kitchen.” Everything in the kitchen was based on a 45-degree angle, which was done to complement the rest of the downstairs.
Distinct cherry cabinets conceal many hidden features. With so many people always moving through the kitchen, the plan was to make it as ergonomic and user friendly as possible. A garage door cabinet rises to the ceiling to uncover a computer, and an appliance cubby has a tea station for Janine. A commercial style coffee bar is a party favorite for Frank, and gets a good workout at parties. The beverage refrigerator was built into the cabinet and is always stocked for entertaining.
Two 10-inch deep sinks were installed—an element Verbaarschott says is a big trend in the kitchen design industry. “They are very modern, and allow me to hide dirty dishes if I have to,” laughs Janine. The extra cubic space helps to expedite cleanup. The sinks also feature Delta Touch2O faucets, which allow the users to tap the faucet head with a hand or wrist to turn the water on and off. “That’s really desirable when you are cooking and have kitchen grease, or cake batter on your hands,” points out Verbaarschott.
No kitchen would be complete without a pot filler positioned over the range. Janine loves the ease of use, and doesn’t miss carting large heavy pots of water to and from the sink.
Cone-shaped pendants dangle over the island, and have been crafted with small holes that throw off a luminous pink glow. With the island being extra long, the glass countertop was used to lighten the overall look and generate a floating illusion. The ThinkGlass top is hemmed in with 5 leather swivel stools. They were selected because of their low backs, which do not obstruct the view of the sleek counter. The wood cabinet base underneath holds a microwave drawer, and built-in steamer.
Eye-catching accessories
Above the sink, an oversized window appears like a wall of light. It carries the outdoors inside, and frames a postcard view of the couple’s backyard pool and immaculate landscape. The windows have all been covered with sheer black sunshades, allowing light to flood in even when they are closed.
A series of 12x12-inch glass tiles create a unique backsplash form, sort of a picture on the backsplash over the jumbo sized range and were a core element to the entire kitchen plan. Looking like water bubbles on the wall, they are hand-blown glass and have been trimmed in the same green as the island top. “They gave us the visual impact that we wanted in the room,” points out Janine.
Also key to the design was the strategic integration of angles. “With so many angles in the space, it was tricky laying the floor,” explains Verbaarschott. “We used a brick style porcelain tile, in egg shell white, and laid it in a herringbone pattern to work with the multiple angles in the room.” A custom oven hood was designed to tie in with the angular scheme of the space. “We also played off the angles in our dining area,” says Janine. The dining table, made of ash with a deep espresso finish, is a favored gathering spot for friends and family.
With modern conveniences at their fingertips, the couple takes great pleasure in cooking and entertaining. “After the coffee bar was installed, Frank went out and bought multiple bags of coffee beans and flavored syrups to experiment with,” says Janine. When company comes over, Frank takes on the role of “coffee barista,” and has been known to make an impressive caramel macchiato. “We’re like a Starbucks,” she laughs. “I don’t think he’s had this much coffee in his life.”
Resources:
Builder: Cordes Homes, Inc.; Kitchen designer: Melanie Verbaarschott, CKD; Contractor: J.C. Landry & Sons Construction; Cabinetry: Cabinet Sales Plus, Inc.; Flooring: Glam Cashmere porcelain, Best Tile; Glass island countertop: ThinkGlass; Perimeter countertops: Hanstone Venetian Avorio; Backsplash: 1x1-inch Rialto Series red glass tile; 12x12-inch custom glass tiles, Tile Collection; Sinks: Elkay Avado; Faucets: Danze; Delta; Appliances: Wolf range and double oven; Sub-Zero refrigerator; Sharp microwave drawer; Bosch dishwasher, supplied by A.K. Nahas; Coffeemaker and steamer: Miele, supplied by Don’s Appliances; Bar stools: Eurostyle Forest Bar Stools; Pendant lights: Apollo, Access Lighting; Lighted shelves: Eluma; Range hood: Modern Aire; Wood table: Grothouse Lumber Co.
To see this article as it appeared in the magazine, please visit our Digital Edition, pages 46-51.
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