These wonderful homeowners were fed up with their dated, dysfunctional kitchen. Stuck in the 1980’s, this U shaped kitchen only had one entrance — and no space for two cooks. The open shelving looked messy and the style had no relationship to this gorgeous 1910 downtown craftsman.
Cooking and dining together was important for these empty nesters, so we built a furniture island, with a hidden downdraft vent for the gas cooktop and an attached table. The sturdy square legs of the island are echoed in the pendant lights, while the openness created under the island allows the kitchen to feel expansive.
Custom storage was also key, including a tall cabinet to conceal a stacking washer and dryer, and a special deep cabinet to accommodate the clients’ large format sheet music.
The natural cherry wood plays well with the red tones of the old growth redwood trim on the windows and doors of the home. The mix of woods and style notes allow this hardworking kitchen to feel fresh and modern, while right at home in its historic setting.
“[Kirsten] was a good listener, knowledgeable about the sustainability concerns we had. She was pleasant, flexible and reliable. The whole design experience was easy and straightforward, deadlines were met and decisions were clarified ahead of time. I still get a little thrill of pleasure walking into my handsome, well-organized space these few years later.”
Leslie, Palo Alto, CA
