KITCHEN RENOVATION : RANGE WALL
This kitchen is located in a house built in the 1940’s that was in foreclosure. The couple that bought the house saw an opportunity they could not resist. Situated on a restrictive flood plane, the home's footprint could not be changed, but everything else was.
The kitchen was completely redone with all new cabinets, a custom bell-shaped hood with black straps, and Sub-Zero Wolf Appliances. The kitchen feels light and airy, but is designed for heavy cooking! A pot filler faucet over the range makes boiling pasta and breeze, and the commercial kitchen faucet reaches every nook and cranny of the over-sized sink. The homeowner is a big cook, so to make clean up easier, Ceasar Stone Quartz counters were installed as the backsplash material behind the range. The homeowner chose the glass panel in the refrigerator door to eliminate the need to open the door every time someone wants to peek inside.
KITCHEN RENOVATION : ISLAND
The island in the existing kitchen was too tall and over-sized for the room.
The new island is about the same length but built at counter height to make the room feel more open. While most of the house is a neutral color palette, the island's cerulean blue color draws your attention to the center of the house, which is the kitchen (no surprise). Also, the island is designed to pack a lot of function! The farmhouse sink with the commercial faucet is perfect for prep and clean up. The under counter beverage refrigerator is for both daily use and entertaining. At the very end of the island is a built-in bench that doubles as a stool for their toddler and seat for the mudroom cabinet.
DECK ADDITION
One of the most spectacular components of this house is the deck that opens directly into the kitchen and makes it feel twice its size. The existing wood deck was in bad shape, and the sliding doors limited access to it.
To improve views and access, new large french doors were designed to make the new deck feel like it was a continuation of the kitchen. In addition, the doors were painted black to "frame" the views. The homeowners loved the idea of Califonia living and wanted to create an outdoor living room, so a fireplace was added to prolong its use in the winter months. The homeowners report that this has become one of their favorite "rooms" and because of its access to the kitchen, the hub of the family's home.
Luly Bestard Melarti, Designer, Licensed Architect, and Owner of Terracotta Studio, an award-winning residential design company offering INTERIOR and ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN services in New Jersey.