WHY WE LOVE THIS KITCHEN
- Bold, rich color.
- Its seamless integration with a furnished room.
- Efficient, streamlined design executed in a classical idiom.
- Clever adaptation of a sunporch into a space that serves multiple functions -- cooking, dining, reading.
- Cabinetry with the elegance of fine furniture. Ingenious space-saving and concealed features.
- Views of the outdoors and terrace framed by elegant doorways and windows.
- A large-scale landscape painting, which adds panache to the room.
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, www.pursleyarchitecture.com; millwork by Goodman Millwork Company, 704/633-2421, www.goodmanmillwork.com; landscape painting by Chas Fagan, 980/321-0532, www.chasfagan.com; paint, Reading Room Red, by Farrow & Ball, www.farrowball.com; 700 series refrigerator by Sub-Zero, 800/222-7820, www.subzero.com; oven by Gaggenau, 800/828-9165, www.gaggenau.com; cooktop by Viking, 888/845-4641, www.vikingrange.com; dishwasher by Bosch, 800/921-9622, www.boschappliances.com; leather chairs from Restoration Hardware, www.restorationhardware.com; custom countertop detail by The Marble & Stone Shop, 704/376-2254, www.marbleandstoneshop.com.
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