The kitchen is regarded as the core of the home, which feels even more true for bustling families. This family of four loves to play host to children and adults within their own neighborhood. “They’re fun, young and love to cook,” says designer Nadia Suburan of the customers. “Their house is definitely hangout central from the area.” But their previous kitchen made it difficult to let everyone remain in precisely the same area.
Together with Fox Architects, Suburan and Aidan Design reconfigured this Maryland kitchen into a warm and open area with a large arched ceiling lined with wood. An eat-in breakfast nook, a butler’s pantry, a desk and a food pantry allow for things to be tucked away, while providing plenty of room for a significant family’s odds and ends. “It pushes modern, but is not so ultramodern that it does not feel warm and comfy,” says Suburan.
Aidan Design
Suburan installed an 11-foot-long island for prep work, eating and doing homework. The beautiful barrel-topped ceiling has been installed within this addition that raised the ceilings. The original kitchen had ceilings which were only 8 ft high, but the family wanted a more open area. So they were increased to over 10 ft, and beautiful paneled fir was added to warm it up. The higher ceilings allow the customers to enjoy the entire view of the stunning woods beyond their dwelling.
Pendants: Thomasville
Countertop: New Cambria Black Granite, White Princess Quartzite
Flooring: oak
Aidan Design
To maintain the kitchen feeling open, Suburan maintained the perimeter of this room as much light as possible and refrained from installing an excessive amount of upper cabinetry. The double-thick quartzite countertop on the island offer a stunning contrast to the darker cherry island. Although the customers wanted light chimney, they opted for a darker wood on the staircase. The dark stain will wear well, and it is particularly important on this particular remodeled island, where children are certain to kick the wood. Large drawer brings prevent sticky fingerprints out of appearing on cabinets.
Sink: Franke
Faucet: Blanco
Oven: Wolf 30-inch E collection
Aidan Design
Two adjacent spaces on both sides of the main kitchen area enabled Suburan to keep the kitchen open while still providing plenty of storage. A butler’s pantry and food pantry shop canned goods, drinks and serving pieces.
The remaining part of the kitchen has been filled up with base cabinets, all especially designed and organized to hold pots, pans and other dishes. Suburan oversize the hood left room for the tile backsplash to go all of the way up into the ceiling — a technique that mechanically draws the eye up and provides the illusion of a higher ceiling.
Backplash: glass subway tile, Best Tile
Range: Wolf 36-inch
Hood: Zephyr
Aidan Design
A convenient breakfast nook with a stunning view of the outdoors has been tucked into the far end of the kitchen. A custom seat seat was upholstered in a wipeable vinyl for simple cleaning after messy meals. Since the kitchen is situated in the middle rear of the house near other main living spaces, Suburan considered traffic flow. The kitchen island has been pulled in to create a galleylike design and boost circulation, and to direct visitors between the island and the breakfast seat.
Table and chairs: Saloom Furniture Company
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