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| The Disappearing Kitchen |
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Special Features
· Pursley chose appliances that could be truly
concealed, with no visible hinges or vents. The Sub-Zero 700 Series
refrigerator, here with two freezer drawers, fits the bill. It was
partially recessed into the wall, which helps make its mass less
intimidating. A pantry cabinet and microwave at the other end of the wall
provides a vertical bookend to the refrigerator.
· The Gaggenau oven is concealed behind cabinet
doors that recess to the sides, with a Viking cooktop set into the counter
above. The Bosch dishwasher, a trash pull-out, and a flat-panel television
are all camouflaged behind cabinet fronts. (Pursley designed the dishwasher
front to look like two drawers, for visual variety.)
· Counters of Sarrancolin marble are luxurious
yet blend in well with the red cabinetry. A custom edge detail on the
marble, crafted by The Marble & Stone Shop, provides a softer
transition in a compact space.
| ARCHITECT KEN PURSLEY'S KITCHEN WISDOM |
| · Cabinets should be informed by the architecture of the house and should be as diverse as the projects themselves. |
| · When choosing colors for a kitchen, begin with the elements that are known. An old beam or a stone countertop can be a great starting point for color selections. This approach helps create a cohesive aesthetic. |
| · I find many "special appliances" to be an architect's worst nightmare: Over time they tend to fall victim to the next trend, and their integration into the kitchen design can upset an otherwise beautiful plan. |
| · I like to mix countertop materials, for example, Calcutta Gold marble on an island and stainless steel or copper on the side cabinets. |
| · For floors, I sometimes use an exterior material in the kitchen, particularly if it lies directly off a terrace. Random ashlar bluestone in brown/green tones works well. The kitchen begins to feel more akin to the garden than the house. |
| · In larger kitchens, you can still conceal the more utilitarian aspects by creating a good front stage/backstage relationship. Front stage accommodates the theater of the kitchen -- cooking, conversation, cocktails, and serving food. The backstage should accommodate the necessities of the kitchen -- storage and cleanup. |
| · One of the biggest mistakes people make during a kitchen renovation is trying to live in the house during the renovation. If at all possible, move out. Another mistake: getting impatient and starting construction before all design aspects, including cost, have been thoroughly considered. |
RESOURCES: Architecture by Ken Pursley, Pursley
Architecture, 704/334-6500, pursleyarchitecture.com; millwork by Goodman
Millwork Company, 704/633-2421, goodmanmillwork.com; landscape painting by
Chas Fagan, 980/321-0532, chasfagan.com; paint, Reading Room Red, by Farrow
& Ball, farrowball.com; 700 series refrigerator by Sub-Zero,
800/222-7820, subzero.com; oven by Gaggenau, 800/828-9165, gaggenau.com;
cooktop by Viking, 888/845-4641, vikingrange.com; dishwasher by Bosch,
800/921-9622, boschappliances.com; leather chairs from Restoration
Hardware, restorationhardware.com; custom countertop detail by The Marble
& Stone Shop, 704/376-2254, marbleandstoneshop.com.
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