The kitchen has grown—a LOT. In 1973, the average kitchen was less than 200 square feet; by 1988, it had increased to 229 square feet. Today, the kitchen occupies about 12 percent of the floor area of new homes, according to Stephen Melman, the director of economic services for the National Association of Home Builders. In Westchester one can easily find a newly built 3,000-square-foot house with a 360-square-foot kitchen. “The typical home keeps growing larger, so kitchens grow larger, too,” Melman says.
These large and often versatile spaces (with workspaces for multipe cooks, home office, multimedia entertainment center, etc.) don’t lend themselves to matchy-matchy décor. Designers are avoiding the vast sea of sameness by combining a variety of finishes and materials. “People are more adventurous about mixing colors and even styles of cabinets,” says Annmarie McCarthy, an architect and partner in Fivecat Studio in Pleasantville.
Here’s a look at some daring kitchen designs.
After looking at some daring kitchen designs (below), check out our web exclusive on the latest trends in modern kitchens.
beachy keen
The owners of this sunny Scarsdale kitchen wanted a cheerful room that would bring to mind being at the beach. The glossy blue finish on the Artcraft cabinets is a custom color devised to ensure a seashorestate of mind, with a high gloss lacquer finish. IceStone counters and toe-kicks beneath the cabinets are reminiscent of a shell-scattered beach, and glass tiles on the backsplash contain surf and sky colors.
The counter extends over the rounded stainless steel side of the island, creating a place for casual dining. Frosted glass panels on the upper doors contribute to an open feeling, without totally exposing the contents of the cabinets. The owners chose the pendant lights that contribute to the overall cheery, whimsical feel. Designer Linda Daniele of Bilotta Kitchens in Mamaroneck worked closely with architect Cal Petrescu on this 500-square-foot kitchen.
contemporary charm
“Sleek” and “contemporary” were the design mandates, with a goal of maintaining a consistent design flow throughout this modern Scarsdale home. The owners’ detailed kitchen wish list included cabinets that would match the dark wood in their adjoining family room. These Artcraft cabinets fit the bill, featuring dark-stained, quarter-sawn walnut veneer, with an interesting grain pattern achieved by cutting the wood perpendicular to the tree rings. CaesarStone countertops were chosen for their consistent color. There’s no need to bend over to check what’s cooking in the nearby double wall ovens. The family also wanted an efficient ventilating system to keep cooking smells from wafting through their open floor plan, but they were turned off by the appearance of big and bulky range hoods. The solution was a custom-designed stainless-steel hood that is as strong as it is sexy. The homeowners worked closely with designer Jeff Eakley of Bilotta Kitchens in Mamaroneck to make their kitchen dreams come true.
To avoid the overtly commercial look of a large stainless-steel range, the homeowners opted for a four-burner Wolf cooktop with a double-wide center grill. The tiles forming the scene-stealing backsplash were custom-designed by Ann Sacks of Greenwich, Connecticut.
pewter perfect
The owner of this kitchen in Larchmont fell in love with a magazine photo of a luxurious pewter countertop, but it took almost two years from conception to installation to get one for her
kitchen island. No local firms were able to fabricate the ornate edge treatment that the homeowner preferred, and a French company that could do the job (to the tune of roughly $30,000) needed a template from which to work. And no one wanted the responsibility of possibly misreading a tape measure with the finicky fit of such a pricey product on the line. Finally, a Seattle fabricator stepped up to the plate, flew to Larchmont to take the measurements, and later, to install it. The cherry-wood island and hearth-style hood have an “Oxford” finish, while the brushed-on “Vintage” glaze adds depth to the off-white perimeter cabinets. All the cabinetry is from Wood-Mode’s 42 line of framed inset cabinets. The ceiling light fixtures are supplied by Klaff’s of Norwalk, Connecticut. The kitchen was designed by Samuel Owen and Maria N. Tanzi of Garth Custom Kitchens in Scarsdale.
Avoiding the “same old, same old” was a design goal in this Rye kitchen remodeling. The owners found this unique chandelier, by Bleu Nature, and had it shipped from France. The natural driftwood used in the lamp brings the outside in, in this sunlight-flooded dining area.
Designer Jimi Napoli of Ceramic Design in Greenwich had carte blanche to use materials of his choice, as long as he worked with Elkay’s stainless-steel Wave sink, which was the homeowners’ chosen design starting point. They pack the sink with ice to keep beverages cool and convenient for parties. The full-size wine refrigerator to the right of the island has dual controls to keep reds and whites at the right temperature.
light and lively
The original kitchen was only about one third of the size of the almost 500-square-foot finished project. Designer Napoli steered away from using upper cabinets on the window wall, to ensure that the rectangular room didn’t look too long and narrow. The kitchen has a light and airy feel, with naturally finished cherry Wood-Mode cabinets; some of the cabinets around the range have frosted-glass fronts to add a different texture and contribute to the light feel. “Green Reef” marble countertops and “Rustic Yellow” slate floors have an organic look that contrasts with the stainless steel appliances. The coffee station (inset, left) has a plumbed-in Miele coffee system; a drawer for demitasse and coffee cups solves the problem of navigating the kitchen looking for china before the caffeine kicks in.
(Inset) A pot-filler faucet above the stove is convenient for filling a teakettle or deglazing a pan. (Below) The wet bar with bead-board backsplash echoes the island’s finish and details. All cabinetry is by Wm Ohs, the kitchen design is by Marilyn Pacileo and Rachel Park of Today’s Kitchens in Hartsdale.
old world, new charm
To create this Bronxville kitchen, two walls were knocked down to combine a small kitchen, hallway, and pantry into a gracious, child-friendly room where family and friends can gather. The homeowners had European roots and wanted furniture-look cabinetry with an Old World feel, which would blend with the extensive woodwork and moldings in their home. And they felt the glazed aspen-wood island, with its knots and aged look, would stand up nicely to the wear and tear that goes with the territory in a child-filled home. The contrasting maple perimeter cabinets are painted and glazed.
photography by Alec Marshall