Kitchen Showcase: Marrying Art and Efficiency
It’s challenging to live in a home when a space as essential as the kitchen is under construction. But having that room reflect who you are and meet your needs is worth the inconvenience. Such was the goal and the impetus for one couple to take the plunge. While the rest of their home reflected their unique style and world travels, the kitchen had an awkward layout, clunky cabinets with peeling paint, and a peninsula that dominated the space.
“Because of how the kitchen was positioned within the home, the couple had to bring groceries around the house and then into the kitchen; there was no direct access,” says Marcia Fletcher of Thread and Timber LLC in Concord. “Nothing about this kitchen worked for them.”
Fletcher immediately got rid of the peninsula — a move that created an easy flow among the kitchen, dining and living areas. New, creamy white cabinets that wrap the walls top and bottom make for efficient storage, and the white is picked up by the gleaming, handcrafted Zellige tiles of the backsplash. Cherry cabinets at each end of the room offer a rich counterpoint to the white.
Appliances are paneled for a seamless look. To solve the garage/grocery problem, Fletcher had a custom wood screen made and installed in the wall adjacent to the garage. A hidden touch mechanism allows the screen to open so groceries can easily be passed through from the garage. When closed, the screen acts as a piece of art, which, being carved in the Shoji style, appealed to the couple’s love of Asian artifacts.
The homeowners wanted a kitchen that could accommodate two or more cooks, and Fletcher’s addition of a large central island fills the bill. The hard-working, cherry-paneled island is located right across from the stove and features a dish sink, dishwasher, storage and seating that helps connect the kitchen to the entertainment areas. The kitchen’s cabinets hide other assets, such as a coffee station and a baking station.
Dramatic black accents are found in the hardware, fixtures and countertops, which are made of natural stone in jet mist granite that has the feel of soapstone but is more durable. Above the island, Vermont-made lighting fixtures continue the theme with black metal and opal glass. The chairs, in cherry and black, were made by a local craftsman.
The dark tones echo the dramatic black fireplace surround in the adjacent seating area. Displayed on cherry shelving in the kitchen, and in the seating section are gorgeous art pieces from Taiwan and other parts of Asia.
“The kitchen is now both beautiful and useful and showcases the clients’ tastes and interests,” says Fletcher. “It feels like part of their home now.”
