A Bright, Beautiful, Unique Kitchen

I am aghast. How aghast? Well, I am pretty certain that I’ve never used the word “aghast” in a sentence before. That’s how aghast I am.

Why? Well, let’s start from the beginning, shall we?

I met Azima and her husband, a doctor, many years ago when they were putting an addition on the water-facing side of their home. There’s something undeniably appealing about a house on the water, when the water is practically at the back door. The homeowners were remodeling two bathrooms when I first met them. But that’s another story and shall be told at another time.  

Like many families, Azima, her husband, and their family spend most of their time in their kitchen, dining and living areas. So after a few years of living with a floor plan that wasn’t functional for them, they were ready to make big changes to create more connection. That’s when Azima called me at Just Counters & Other Stuff. Are you guys ready for a beautiful kitchen inspiration? Wear a bib, you’ll need it. You’ll be drooling over this kitchen.

The glimpse (see the “before photos”) of the previous kitchen shows why the cramped, closed-off and dated space wasn’t working for the family. The former space had basic cabinetry, outdated appliances, and a tight layout. This combination made for a space that lacked joy, style, and especially function. Azima was willing to go bold in the new kitchen. And I’m not talking about flavors. When I designed their new kitchen layout, I thought it was worth exploring the idea of a free standing island. One of this generation’s trends (not “trendy” trend, but more of a new way of doing things) is to break the peninsula away from the wall to create an island. A peninsula extends out from an existing wall or counter while an island stands alone in the kitchen. I also designed the waterfall countertop material on the island to look like a beautiful piece of sculptural art. A waterfall countertop appears to flow over the sides to the floor, creating a seamless appearance. As you can see in the “after photo,” the white Maldives quartzite waterfall provided the ideal opportunity to show off the natural patterns of a stone slab, in this spectacular kitchen. It was constructed from one humongous chunk of stone that was seamlessly cut for a dramatic effect.

One of the first things you notice in a kitchen is the refrigerator. It’s undoubtedly the biggest and probably the most unsightly appliance in the kitchen. In many homes it usually holds souvenir magnets, calendars, invitations, or To-Do lists. Azima wanted to disguise the appliance by hiding it in plain sight. How’d she do it, you ask? She decided on a seamless wall of cabinetry featuring a refrigerator and freezer built in, to look like cabinetry. Call it a great cover-up. The panel-ready fridge and freezer blend into the adjacent cabinetry, creating a custom look and feel.

Azima didn’t want a “Plain Jane” all white kitchen. She wanted a “coastal-chic” vibe. She chose Shaker-style cabinets from Aspect Cabinetry. The stain finish is called “White Rock.” It’s an alternative to painted cabinetry with the warmth of wood grained undertones. The organic texture of the American poplar wood soaks through the white and gray stains. The existing sandstone tile floor further adds texture, to create a sense of warmth.

Last, but not least, Azima added a dash of the ocean through aqua-colored accents in her tile backsplash and pendant lights.

Enormous shout out to Ben Hanson, Pat Brun and Jeff Reed for getting this kitchen done!  Great work, as always. No room is quite as multifunctional as the kitchen. The hub of the home, this space has evolved from a strictly utilitarian unit, into a versatile room to prepare food, entertain guests and share meals. Hands up if your kitchen is in dire need of a makeover. If so, contact us at Just Counters & Other Stuff.