It's not surprising that in one of the most distinctive houses in Rosemary Beach,
Florida -- a jaunty Dutch Colonial -- there would be a kitchen brimming with
personality. Architect Eric Watson and designer Susan Massey collaborated to
create a kitchen for Joe and Dena Malugen that feeds the senses in more ways
than one.
"The town planners at Rosemary Beach encourage a muted palette on the outside, the colors of scrub oats and sand, so we thought that it would be fun to do something more intense inside," says Massey.
Her new shop, opening this spring, borders the chic beachside community on the Florida Panhandle, so she's acquainted with the colors of the area. "The rest of the house is very subdued in color. The kitchen was a chance to add some punch," she says.
The red-lacquer cabinets, which architect and designer agreed would spice up the Asian-flavored interiors, required nine coats of high-gloss exterior paint -- Chanticleer (SW 2912) by Sherwin-Williams, to be exact -- to achieve the right depth of hue. Lacquered braces beneath the upper cabinets reinforce the look. Watson chose an unembellished inset cabinet design that echoes the Zen restraint that characterizes the house.
A wall of windows offers a view of a charming courtyard, and French doors
next to the kitchen open onto the porch. "The Malugens entertain often,"
says Massey, "and they love music, so they play jazz on the stereo, throw
open the doors to the porch, and everybody gathers in the kitchen to help cook.
