Laid-back and lovely, this streamlined Atlanta kitchen offers a warm welcome thanks to old-world influences. Windows with thin, dark muntins; dark-stained oak flooring; and shapely iron light fixtures give the new kitchen beenaround-awhile character. 74 kitchen + bath ideas fall 2013
island hopping Separate spaces for work and socializing form the heart of this crowd-friendly kitchen. writer Ann Wilson photographer Emily J. Followill field editor Lisa Mowry
this photo: Crackled ceramic tiles form an artistic backsplash for the range. opposite left: Dark gray window sashes create an industrial look that plays off the room s gray cabinetry. opposite right: Open shelves hold everyday dishware and glassware as well as strategically placed collectibles that personalize the display. 76 kitchen + bath ideas fall 2013
The kitchen island is always a popular hangout, drawing people like a magnet. But folks gathering in the new kitchen of Alyssa and Richard Kopelman and their three sons in Atlanta feel the pull of not one but two islands. I love design and had looked at a ton of design magazines, Alyssa says. I knew I wanted big windows that almost touched the countertop, open shelving, and a few ceiling-high upper cabinets. I also knew I didn t want a massive island. Architect Linda MacArthur brought the vision to fruition, starting with additional square footage for the 1970s Colonial-style home. Alyssa and Richard wanted a better living space and kitchen, so we pushed the existing kitchen out about 5 feet, MacArthur says. Adding just 5 feet really changed how we could lay out the space. The bump-out allowed the architect to raise the kitchen ceiling to 10 feet, place a breakfast room next to the adjacent family room, build an upper-level addition, and make way for the myriad design ideas percolating in Alyssa s imagination. Kitchen designer Jane Hollman centered the plan on two islands, each with its own purpose, and placed other zones outside the work core. Having two islands allows Alyssa to work at the prep island, while the breakfast bar island remains clear and ready for dining or homework, bhg.com/kitchenbath 77
above: Twin hutches, dubbed the beverage center, hold barware and provide drinkmixing space outside the work core. To the left of the paneled refrigerator, a breakfast station equipped with a toaster, microwave, and coffeemaker resides behind cabinet doors. opposite: Distressed hammered knobs on perimeter cabinets and more refined English drop pulls on the hutches and islands further the furnishedroom appeal. Hollman says. We created a compact work triangle for her between the refrigerator, the range, and the prep island sink so she could work without traffic passing through. With that framework in place, Alyssa and Hollman began choosing cabinets, surfaces, and materials that mirror Alyssa s affinity for transitional design and collected character. I m open to everything and love mixing different things, Alyssa says with a grin. My dad was a pilot, and we lived around the world. My mom s decorating style and our family furniture reflected the different places we lived. That same mixing-andmatching idea drives the way I decorate today. Hollman and Alyssa practiced restraint when finishing the kitchen. Clean-lined putty-color perimeter cabinets partner with driftwoodstained hutches and island cabinetry featuring refined details and profiles. Sleekly cool marblelike quartz-surfacing countertops contrast with the warmer, more traditional walnut topping the breakfast bar island. Gallery-white walls spotlight a focal-point range hood, a textural backsplash, and a trio of tall windows. Our new kitchen is the heart of our home, a place where everyone gathers, Alyssa says. Of course, having two islands ensures plenty of space for all. KBI Resources begin on page 136. 78 kitchen + bath ideas fall 2013
Takeaways 1 2 3 4 Staining rather than painting wood cabinets adds color while maintaining the material s natural grain. Packing storage into hardworking islands and pantries frees wall space for large windows. With two islands, one can become the central prep space and work core, while the second remains uncluttered for guests. Placing beverage and breakfast centers and the refrigerator outside the work core allows kids and guests to help themselves without tripping up the chef. bhg.com/kitchenbath 79