Project Description
Style: Traditional clean lines, blended with rustic and industrial elements that tell a story. Highlights: Features include: Painted cabinets with Carrara marble countertops and backsplash. A built-in wood-fired pizza oven with a tumbled brick surround is the focal point. It gives it a classic look in keeping with the original home. A U-shaped island features a gas cooktop and was designed for both work space and entertaining. A custom designed copper pipe system with specially milled decorative wood elements for hanging pizza oven tools. Open shelving displays decorative pieces. Additional shelving for cookbook storage and decorative display is found at the bookcase. A pantry with a hidden door features more open shelving, large flour bins, as well as pull out shelving, and has room to store their antique Boos Block. The ceiling over the island features a clerestory that lets in an abundance of natural light during the day and features LED tape lighting that backlights the opening during the evening. We worked with the original red oak hardwood floors and carried that into the new space to maintain continuity with style of the home. Outside a covered pipe deck with a cable rail system and patio heater continues the theme of entertainment. How it responded to client’s wants and needs: Kelly & Jennifer love to cook and entertain together in their home. They wanted a kitchen that made it easy to do what they enjoy. As a child, Jennifer remembered a very customized kitchen in her piano instructor’s home. The idea of a kitchen being designed specifically for the person who uses it was a new concept for her. This influenced the way she designed the U-shape island for baking, but also for entertaining. So many of the little details were thoughtfully planned for the way that Jennifer and Kelly use their kitchen. The pizza oven is the perfect place to gather around for good food that you can assemble and watch bubble and bake to perfection. The island is an inviting place to sidle up to and visit while the chef is busy in the kitchen. Special challenges: The logistics of moving and placing the 2000-pound pizza oven and framing around it was a challenge. Tying in to and matching the existing PVC unvented flat roof system, while meeting local building codes for insulation R-value and clearance for recessed light fixtures. How does this project exemplify the requirements of this award category? A unique and thoughtfully planned kitchen design that is both functional and elegant. The collection of finishes that Jennifer and Kelly selected were carefully curated by them.