Engaging character Bright color accents and whimsical detailing bring a welcome informality to this new kitchen Above: Attention to detail characterizes this new kitchen designed by architect John Tittmann. Cabinets have a farmhouse look, which is enhanced by decorative support brackets and legs, creating a furniture look. The refrigerator is integrated into the duck-egg blue cabinet - its rolling-pin handle adds a touch of whimsy. M ost kitchens are designed to reflect the overall look of a home, be it traditional, minimalist or something in between. This kitchen, in a house that pays homage to Greek Revival architecture, is no exception. Designed by architect John Tittmann, the kitchen reinforces the informal grouping of complementary forms and spaces that form the facade of the house. And, like the overall design, the separate spaces flow easily from one to the next, while maintaining their own distinct character. The open-plan layout positions the kitchen in the center of the action - open to a pavilion-style eating alcove and a family room, and close to the mud room, main hallway and formal dining room. "Varied ceiling heights, the shape of the rooms and different floor materials give the separate spaces their own identities without closing them off from one another," says Tittmann. "As the client requested, she can stand at the sink while interacting with family in the next room." The kitchen exudes a confident, somewhat quirky nature - a look that can be attributed to the bold use of color and the farmhouse detailing of the cabinets. While most of the cabinets are painted cream, for example, the pantry is bold red, and the refrigerator is integrated into a duck egg-blue cabinet, complete with an elongated rolling-pin handle. "The bold scale of the beamed ceiling, the decorative brackets that support the overhead cabinets, and the custom butcher's block all reinforce the farmhouse feeling," says Tittmann. The architectural millwork details are complemented by colorful artisan tilework. Bold pendant lights and bar chairs inject further color. To balance the exuberant nature of the kitchen, the eating alcove, with its tented canopy, is positioned to provide a relaxed view of the park-like grounds. And like the overall design of the house, it conveys the sense of a pavilion that is separate yet connected to the rest of the house. 58 See related information at Trendsideas.com/go/6774/info
Left and following pages: Work and casual eating areas are well defined without being closed off from each other. The owners can stand at the sink and interact with family and guests in the adjoining room. A butler's pantry adjoins the kitchen. Above: The bright red pantry cabinet and the graphic pattern of the checkered linoleum make a strong visual statement. 59
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62 See related information at Trendsideas.com/go/6774/info
Architect and kitchen designer: John Tittmann, AIA, Albert, Righter & Tittmann Architects (Boston. MA) Interior decorator: Mary Wellman. Mary Wellman Associates Cabinets: Painted wood Countertops: Black granite with maple butcher block inset Flooring in kitchen, pantry and breakfast room: Forbo Marmoleum in ivory and charcoal checkerboard pattern with walnut wood detail in breakfast room Tiling in kitchen and pantry: Ivory gloss field tiles with assorted pattern and color-gloss accent tiles from A Refined Selection Windows and doors: Marvin Windows & Doors Window and door hardware: Baldwin in satin nickel finish Wallcoverings: Latex paint with eggshell finish to walls, and high-gloss finish to trim and casements Lighting: Aiko; Illuminating Experiences; Iris; LBL; Flos Faucets: Grohe Oven, cooktop and ventilation: Thermador Refrigerators: Sub-Zero Dishwasher: Fisher & Paykel Dish Drawer Photography by Greg Premru Legend for plan: 1 main kitchen work area, 2 butler's pantry, 3 eating alcove, 4 family room, 5 formal dining room. Facing page, lower: The ceiling in the eating alcove resembles a shallow, tented canopy, echoing the charcoal-and-white theme of the flooring. Left: The food preparation area includes a built-in circular butcher's block. 63