by Jill Kirchner Simpson
Produced by Nancy Staab
Photos by Chris Little
Old World Meets Cutting Edge
First in our series of 'kitchens that cook': Today's most stylish examples blend stainless steel, spare cabinetry, and vanguard appliances with traditional touches
Even before designer Rozanne Jackson and her husband, architect Glen Oxford, began drawing plans for an addition to their 1912 Arts and Crafts house in Nashville, they found the perfect table: a 17-foot-long, late 1800s, L-shaped oak table that once held bolts of fabric in a textile factory in France. "We loved that table so much, we designed the kitchen around it," she says. It serves as the cornerstone for the couple's vision of marrying old and new, with antique furnishings set against industrial appliances and sleek, modern cabinetry.

WHAT WE LOVE ABOUT THIS KITCHEN
· High ceilings and open, uncluttered space.
· Abundant natural light, access to the outdoors, and the view.
· It's spare and elegant but nevertheless inviting.
· French doors and floor-to-ceiling windows that add architectural distinction.
· Industrial appliances and European sophistication meld with old-world antiques and artisan touches.
· Muted blue cabinetry that adds a gentle wash of color.
· The long, L-shaped table, which serves not only as a natural gathering place but also as a subtle barrier to keep guests out of the workspace.
The Transformation
The old kitchen was a cramped 12-by-6-foot galley kitchen, originally designed for servants' use. It had neither a view nor access to the lush greenery of the backyard. The remodeled 27-by-15-foot space retains the original 10-foot ceiling height and feels even more expansive thanks to industrial-style floor-to-ceiling windows and French doors. Serene eggshell-white walls with no upper cabinets contribute to the sense of openness. Natural materials -- travertine and marble -- and gray-blue cabinets meld easily with the stainless-steel range and refrigerator, as well as with the antique table and iron chandeliers.

Architectural Elements
· The kitchen plan is simple, with cabinetry and appliances lined up galley fashion along one wall. A pantry, wine storage, and wet bar/coffee station, are tucked into a niche off the main space.
· Though the windows look like commercial metal windows, they are wood, custom-made by Pella, and painted a dark brown-green. They open the kitchen to the outdoors and to a generous two-story porch clad in the same travertine as the kitchen floors.

Materials
· Travertine floors in large 18-by-36-inch tiles are set into a tightly abutted brick pattern for a sleek yet organic look. "They're a breeze to clean and very forgiving," says Jackson.
· Custom European-style flat-panel cabinets of white oak with a steel gray-blue color stain (matched to Porter Paint's Cool Gray) are fitted with long, brushed stainless steel handles. Jackson used drawers instead of traditional cabinets (except below the sink): "It's so much easier to pull them out and see everything at a glance," she says.
· Countertops of polished Colorado White marble extend 19 inches up the wall for a subtle, seamless backsplash. "The only problem with polished marble is that it etches. You have to be careful with acidic things like vinegar and lemons, but I'm pretty neat and tidy, and we keep a huge chopping block to work on," says Jackson.
· A Wolf range with a stainless steel backsplash and Vent-A-Hood, along with a Sub-Zero refrigerator, add industrial efficiency and streamlined modernism. The stainless steel apron-front sink, dishwasher, and a warming drawer all coordinate.
· Two Fisher & Paykel dishwasher drawers, rather than a full-scale dishwasher, suit Jackson and Oxford's lifestyle well, since it's often just the two of them. Decorative Touches
· The old-world iron chandeliers were custom-made by a blacksmith. Recessed, low-voltage halogen lights around the perimeter of the kitchen add task lighting to the abundant natural light.
· Jackson brought art and antiques into the kitchen, such as a painting by artist David Arms and a clock from a European train station.
· Most of the plates and dishes are stored on the lower shelf of the table for easy access, which, combined with the pantry, help eliminate the need for upper cabinets.
· The cabinet drawers are set on soft-close track systems from Blum, so that drawers glide smoothly and gently into place. They work so well that Jackson stores delicate stemware inside them safely.

ROZANNE JACKSON'S TIPS FOR A COUTURE KITCHEN
· In a new or modern kitchen, always add something old. "It balances the new and adds character. Even reproductions don't have quite the same patina. I know I'll never get tired of my antique table -- or see it in someone else's kitchen."
· Add a touch of the hand-crafted. "Incorporating artisan-made pieces, such as cabinetry, light fixtures, or a piece of artwork, make a kitchen personal. It also allows more options. When you're working with a cabinetmaker, you're not limited to a choice of four colors -- you can choose any color."
· Stainless steel is a classic choice. "I'm seeing more color and retro-inspired appliances out there, but stainless is versatile and beautiful."
· For countertops, "I like soapstone and marble, but they both have sensitivities. Soapstone is soft and will chip a bit over time, but it doesn't seem to show rings as easily as marble -- it's a little more forgiving. I also like concrete if it's done well. It offers variations in color, and they've finally perfected the formula, but it has to be installed by someone who really knows what they're doing. Like anything, it's better to do it once correctly, even if it costs a little more."
· "Always keep in mind that the kitchen is a natural gathering place, even if you don't entertain a lot. Kids like to be in the kitchen with you, and it's where guests gravitate to, no matter how nice the rest of the house is."


RESOURCES: Kitchen design by Rozanne Jackson Interiors, The Iron Gate, 615/791-7511, theirongateonline.net; architecture by Glen Oxford, Oxford Architecture, 615/256-3455; windows and French doors by Pella, 800/847-3552, pella.com; travertine flooring from Jones Stone Co., 615/292-4717, jonesstonecompany.com; cabinetry by Kurt McKeithan Design, 615/254-4664; cabinet-drawer track system, Blumotion by Blum, 704/827-1345, blum.com; range by Wolf, 800/222-7820, subzero.com; hood by Vent-A-Hood, 800/331-2492, ventahood.com; dishwasher drawers by Fisher & Paykel, 888/936-7872, fisherpaykel.com; wine refrigerator from Wine Cellar Innovations, 800/229-9813, winecellarinnovations.com; paintings by David Arms, dmsarms@aol.com.
 
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