Some home kitchens go through a good daily workout, with aspiring chefs toiling over hot stoves to perfect and celebrate their culinary skills. Other kitchens just serve as a place for delicious take-out bags to be plunked down on the table, uniting families at the end of the day. Either way, it usually is the room with the greatest gravity, pulling people together to congregate and converse. If the kitchen is the heart of this Bradfordwoods home, then the heart of this kitchen is a grandiose window.
Window is key to new design
Set back on a private and woodsy lot, Scott and Steve’s home overlooks a green valley that is bursting with trees and vegetation. “The original kitchen didn’t get enough light, so when we decided to renovate the goal was to add a window to bring in the sunshine,” tells Scott. “As far as the overall design goes, I had a vision in my mind and plotted the whole thing out.” The couple brought in Liz Krohe, Designer at CopperLeaf Design, to collaborate with and to help them execute the design.
Using the 2020 3D software program, she was able to help her clients plan and visualize their kitchen in real-time. “Their old kitchen was so dark, so we had to bring light to that side of the house by adding a large window over the range,” says Krohe. “We were able to match the architecture and style of the house, so it looks like it has always been there.” In keeping with the natural flow, wood molding around the windows is a stained pine that matches all the other trim work in the house. In addition, they brightened the space by choosing lighter finishes on the cabinets, countertop and backsplash.
Loved working with Liz
The owners loved working with Krohe for her great eye and ability to work with them as a team. “She could inspire us to make a decision when we were struggling with certain things,” says Scott. “We went back and forth on things like cabinet color and whether to have the doors inset within.”
Krohe suggested they remove the doors on the corner wall cabinet and finish the back of it to match the island. “This was a nice breakup of all the white doors and helped to tie in the island color,” she points out. “The subtle brushed glaze on the white cabinets complements the color of the island cabinets.” The island colors are from the same family, except in reverse.
White subway tile was used for the backsplash, with gray grouting used to complement the quartz countertops. “We chose quartz because we wanted to go with a durable surface where we didn’t have to worry as much about cutting or spilling,” points out the owner.
The new island was custom designed and fitted with a different shade of quartz. “I measured out the island with tape and knew exactly the size I wanted it to be,” says Scott. After removing two tall pantries to make way for the large island, this created a challenge for the designer. “We had to find storage space for everything that was in those cabinets,” points out Krohe. “I was able to achieve that by adding 15-inch deep base cabinets on the back of the island and by using organizational components throughout.” Spice drawers, rollouts and a blind corner storage system keep everything accessible, but out of sight.
The couple added a beverage center in the island for any overflow from their refrigerator. Temperature controlled, it allows plenty of space for cold drinks and wine. Also built into the jumbo island is a steam oven. “This time around we went with a steam oven, which is the trending thing to do, because it holds nutrients in the food better than a traditional microwave,” says Scott. “We do entertain, and now we can easily have 15 people just standing around in here and it doesn’t feel crowded.”
Finding the right finishing touches
Their vaulted ceiling was overlooked in the original kitchen, but now is a standout. With the new window, it allows the natural light to flood the room and boosts the spacious feeling. Looking like suspended lanterns, the pendant lighting is something that Scott searched high and low for. “I literally went through thousands of images on websites before finding the right one.”
A mosaic wall plaque was a Christmas gift from Scott’s mom and adds sparkle and a pop of color to the gray walls. Another standout is the hammered nickel farm sink that provides a contemporary but rustic element to the space. Handmade, it’s one of the owner’s favorite new luxuries. “The sink is something that Liz had in her showroom and suggested to us,” tells Scott. “It’s so big, you could bathe a small dog in here.”
Resources: Contractor: CopperLeaf Design; Kitchen designer: Liz Krohe, CopperLeaf Design; Lighting: Progress Lighting; Paint: PPG; Cabinet hardware: Belwith-Keeler; Windows: Pella; Kitchen cabinetry: Showplace, CopperLeaf Design; Kitchen countertops: Cambria quartz, Top Advantage Surfaces; Kitchen backsplash: 3×12 white studio subway tile, Qualis Ceramica; Kitchen sink: Native Trails; Kitchen faucet: Brizo, Ferguson; Appliances: Jenn-Air steam oven, cooktop, refrigerator and dishwasher, Don’s Appliances