The kitchen as a piece of art
Towering windows, sleek cabinetry and hardware, and variations in color and texture make this Bedford kitchen an airy and distinctive environment. “To this day, I still love walking through the door into our kitchen,” says the homeowner. “The room always feels open and welcoming.”
Modern elegance is the cornerstone of this Bedford kitchen, where sophisticated design is guided by a sense of simplicity and artful punches.
The kitchen is situated in an open-plan, custom-built addition that also includes a dining area and living room. To create a space that worked with the existing home, both in style and tone, the homeowners collaborated with designers Leslie Rifkin of L. Newman Associates/Paul Mansback, Inc. in Manchester and Emily Shakra of Emily Shakra Staging & Design in Bedford. “We gathered a team of very talented professionals,” Shakra says, “and we encouraged each other to look outside the box. Dan and Dave Hughes [of Capital Kitchen & Bath in Concord] executed the construction, and supplied the beautiful custom-built cabinetry and finishes.”
Maintaining the homeowners’ simple but modern aesthetic proved to be the project’s most rewarding challenge. “The design was driven by the owners’ exquisite taste,” Rifkin explains. “We used savvy strategies, modern finishes, and subtle colors and textures to create a fashion-friendly haven for the family,” Shakra says.
Mixing surface materials was a priority. Capital Kitchen & Bath in Concord was open to installing different materials, such as the concrete countertops and the silver travertine-topped island.
Throughout the space, a neutral color palette mingles with pops of orange, modern artwork and textured wall-coverings by Donghia; a mixture of different surface materials, such as concrete countertops and an island topped in silver travertine, adds a sleek touch; and tall ceilings bring in extraordinary volume. “It has a very European look,” Rifkin says.
The stylish kitchen is outfitted with Thermador appliances. “We worked hard at integrating a very cook-friendly kitchen into a space that doesn’t look or feel like a traditional kitchen,” the homeowner says. “I don’t love to cook, but I enjoy it so much more now that I’m in such an aesthetically pleasing environment.”
The five windows—each containing forty-eight panes—are a major reason for this beauty. Natural light floods into the space, giving it a bright, open look with expansive views to the backyard pool and gardens. “It is like a glass conservatory,” Rifkin says.
Base cabinetry and a neighboring pantry offer ample storage, and a wall of flat-paneled cabinets disguise appliances and a breakfast/coffee nook. “It’s a very functional kitchen,” Rifkin says, “and its details are in concert, too. It’s a symphony of blended, beautiful items.”
What Makes This Kitchen Stand Out
Thermador appliances were purchased through Baron’s Major Brands in Manchester
(603) 623-0130
www.baronsmajorbrands.com
Cabinetry supplied by Capital Kitchen & Bath in Concord
(603) 225-8300
www.capitalkitchenandbath.com
Granite was selected through Marble and Granite, Inc. in Westwood, Massachusetts
(877) 397-8663 (39-stone)
www.marbleandgranite.com
Concrete Counters from Zen Stoneworks in Portsmouth
(603) 319-8700
www.zenstoneworks.com
All counters were manufactured through RE Marble & Granite in Temple
(603) 654-7750
www.remarbleandgranite.com
Wall coverings in pantry and behind entertainment console by Donghia
www.donghia.com
The kitchen is situated in an open-plan addition that includes a generous dining area and living room. An eclectic collection of artwork—including a hanging sculpture made entirely of twigs and abstract works by artists Caio Fonseca, Kevin Tolman and Beth Weintraub—makes the space striking.
Orange proved to be the perfect accent color. This hue dazzles in the kitchen’s pantry—a clean-lined space outfitted with beverage refrigerators—and on the chairs’ upholstery in the dining area.
