2004 NARI Coty Award Winner Kitc

This out dated, closed off kitchen is owned by a young family with small children. It was difficult to keep an eye on the children as the view from the kitchen to the yard was limited. Also the owners couldn’t see into the family room. They love to entertain and have large family gatherings and didn’t want to feel closed off from all the activity. The husband loves to cook and wanted a place to cook and still be a part of family life. Both husband & wife wanted more counter space and more efficient storage.

Our idea was to make the kitchen a more open space. We took down the wall from the kitchen to the family room and located the cook top at an angle. This allows the chief to see into the family room and the back yard through the new patio doors and fixed floor to ceiling windows. The large island allows for much needed counter space. There are wide deep drawers under the cook top and to the side for much needed utensil storage. The new large pantry is now accessible from the kitchen so it is handier and gives them plenty of food storage.

Since the owners have small children we wanted to design the area to be kid friendly at all times. Notice how the island isolates the “HOT” areas away from the children. They can be getting a cold drink from the fridge, talking to Mom & Dad or helping themselves to a snack from the pantry and never be in harms way. This same layout works well for those times when they are entertaining. Helpers can help yet not be under foot in the cook’s area.

The Mrs. was concerned about not having enough overhead cabinets for her dishes. So we designed a “Dish Pantry” for all her plates, glasses and bowels. The family just loves this new concept in storage as it is so handy for everyone. And notice how close the main sink, the dish washer and the dish pantry are to one another.

Our home owners tell us that his new kitchen give them everything they had asked for and then some. They may have to host the yearly Christmas feast for many years.