When Gus and Rineke Van Loveren were downsizing for the second time in nine years, from a three-level house in Armonk to a condo on one floor, two things were on their must-have list: a Long Island Sound location and a modern, convenient kitchen. “We wanted to live on the water,” says Gus, who loves boating and can now walk to his yacht club, which is right up the street.
To transform the condo to suit their lifestyle, Gus turned to his architect son, Roger Van Loveren, AIA, who had designed the grand, custom, Bedford family home that predated the Armonk house. For the sleek cabinetry and state-of-the-art appliances, Gus turned to Leicht Kitchens in Mount Kisco.
The Van Loveren’s new kitchen takes full advantage of the views of the Sound, with an L-shaped breakfast bar where the couple, who are retired, like to sit with their morning coffee and read the paper on their iPads while looking out on the water. Rineke has back problems, and that was a factor in the placement of the cabinetry, counters, and appliances. “With our design, it was important to accommodate her comfort level,” says Leicht’s Leah Diamond. “We made sure everything she needed to get was easily accessible. The ovens were set at a height where she could comfortably put things in and [pull them] out.” No knee bending needed, Gus adds.
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For cabinetry, they opted for the contemporary Avance line in a mix of white lacquer and darker greige tones. Instead of handles, the cabinets and drawers have a beveled front edge that facilitates opening; some of the glass-front cabinets have shelves with built-in LED lighting, which uses very little electricity and illuminates some of the colorful pieces the couple likes to display. All of the appliances in the kitchen, including a wine fridge built into the island, are Miele, a line that’s available through Leicht.
In keeping with the clean lines of the space, the couple selected glass backsplash tile from The Tile Gallery in Mount Kisco. For the countertops, they sourced a quartz Caesarstone called Calacatta Nuvo, a surface that mimics marble but is easier to clean and maintain.
The kitchen’s easy-to-live-with design gives the couple more time for cooking and relaxing while taking in those terrific views—and for getting out on the water.
