- Kitchen Photos
Kitchen Platform Designs & Ideas
A simple and clean kitchen design with the added very personal touch of having the splashback match the intense blue of the household's teenager's eyes!
Photo: Becki Peckham © 2013 Houzz
Located at the top of a brownstone on Manhattan's Upper West Side, this apartment had a tiny footprint of just 425 feet, but the space stretched vertically for approximately 25 feet, and had access to a roof terrace.
Our solution created four separate "living platforms" inserted within the space that provide room for all the essentials and still allow the apartment to feel open and light-filled. The lowest level is an entry and kitchen space, and a few steps up is the main living area. Above the living area is a cantilevered bed pavilion that projects out into the main space, supported on steel beams. A final stair leads up to a roof garden. All the spaces flow into one another, and the idea of distinct "rooms" dissolved.
Given the miniscule size of the apartment, every inch of space is put to use. Stairs are not merely for circulation through the apartment, but feature built-in storage cabinetry and drawers below. The main bath and shower, in fact, are also built below the primary staircase. The kitchen features fully concealed appliances, flip up high storage units for easy access, and a countertop that wraps into the main living space, becoming a virtual 'hearth' with built-in entertainment system. There are no traditional closets in the entire apartment.
Materials throughout are selected to emphasize the spatial characteristics of the project. The perimeter is light, with painted (existing) brick, glass backsplashes and shelving, and white lacquered kitchen cabinets, stair cabinets, and fittings. The cantilevered bed pavilion is clad in dark wood, and anchors the space - a central object around which everything revolves. A dark wood floor and wood stair treads lead through and around the apartment, spiraling up onto the wood deck at the room. Given the number of built-in features, furnishings are minimal in number, with only a couch, coffee table, bed, and a side chair necessary.
Design Team: Scott Specht, Louise Harpman, Amy Lopez-Cepero, Sheryl Jordan, Devin Keyes
Photography: Taggart Sorenson
Press and Awards
AIA Design Award
Architizer A+ Award
The New York Times
"Tiny Homes Hunting" on DIY TV
Interior Design "Best of Year"
Located in the one of the most sought after streets in Gold Coast this holiday home conveys a nautical feel and boasts spectacular views of the Gold Coast hinterland. The clients have always had a strong desire to create a holiday home that encouraged a sense of relaxed living where by the days would be gentle and slow.
After residing in the US for several years the clients became admirers of homes in the New England region and in particular the Hamptons. They loved the American take on modern English country, and of equal appeal was the classic Hampton beach lifestyle of carefree summers spent sailing, swimming, boating and fishing.
When deciding to renovate their family beach house on the gold coast they knew they wanted to recreate that same effortless elegance and style they were drawn to in the Hamptons and combine it with the relaxed familiarity of Australian living. In their words they wanted to create a home that was “luxurious but never too perfect”.
Central to the brief was also the need to satisfy their enthusiastic and demanding gourmands. Not only do they enjoy everything about cooking but also love entertaining
especially during the holiday seasons with Christmas and Thanksgiving (an American tradition they quickly became accustomed to) being their favourite times to celebrate.
Whether it’s a casual meal with family and friends or a more formal gathering, the kitchen had to function and withstand a great deal of activity.
Our challenge was to bring to fruition the clients very definite vision for their home and this thereby presenting us with an ambitious design and renovation project encompassing a large portion of the home. With the kitchen such being such a focal point in the house our
task was to orchestrate a space that would be elegant yet comfortable and that required the successful marriage of the design elements for their desired style of interior.
Transforming the space. Small, cramped and unbalanced the original kitchen was positioned on a platform - along
with the dinning and master bedroom. The original galley kitchen consisted of a full wall of tall cabinetry which boxed in what was already a narrow kitchen.
To pave the way for a larger and more spacious design sought after by the clients the southern end of the existing platform was extended in length, walls adjoining the hallway
were modified and the opening in the opposing wall closed off. The original laundry on the lower platform which backed onto the kitchen via a hallway was completely redesigned to make way for a new butlers pantry and as requested by the client to house the large Eline
Electrolux fridges (required for entertaining). On the lower platform the original opening to the old laundry (no longer required) was also closed off and a new cavity slider entry was cut into the pantry from the kitchen to provide easy and functional access. A new landing was built to bring the storage area of the pantry up to the same level as the kitchen. A “pass through” was created to connect the pantry to the kitchen and dining room, providing easy
and functional access to the utility room. The exposed rafters and existing ceiling in both the new kitchen and pantry areas were sheeted in to allow for a new and more effective and functional lighting layout.
The conversion of the laundry to allow for a separate pantry and to house the new large fridges (a specific request from the client) was a key aspect to the design as this allowed us to maximise the feeling of space and include large open bench space either side of what
was already a narrow galley kitchen. Here the Calacutta marble benchtops selected for their character look lavish and add clean lines to the design. In keeping with the desire to create a sense of calm, elements of balance and symmetry were incorporated into the design and on
the cooking (western) wall a large induction cooktop and custom made rangehood cladded in Queensland Cedar veneer was centred and is a key architectural element.
The protruded moulding ‘shaker door’ cabinetry further enhance the rooms character and glass front overhead cabinets amplify light and bring the coastal aesthetics into play. All overhead doors are fitted with Blum HF Aventos Servo Drive to ensure functional and ergonomic use in this narrow space.
To store the households extensive collection of kitchen utensils, large platters and crockery, generous storage by way of drawers was incorporated in to the kitchen. With the large fridges placed in the pantry as per the clients request, an under bench integrated fridge was positioned in the main kitchen to allow for the storage of everyday
necessities.
On the opposing (eastern) wall the white ceramic butlers sink is another focal point for the Hampton style kitchen and the ‘Provence’ tap balances with the scale of the kitchen and complements the overall design. A convenient custom made ‘built in’ butchers block was a must have for the client and provides the ideal prep area. The mixed Australian hardwood complements the other natural timber elements including the new Tasmanian oak solid timber flooring and provides textural balance in this timeless interior.
Below the butchers block, two Queensland Cedar solid timber trays boast the family emblem and Initials to mark the kitchens exclusivity and further personalises the kitchen.
Interest and texture.
The earth and sea colour scheme is in keeping with the neutral pallet and softness in the rest of the home and mimic the hues from both the seaside and the views beyond. Careful attention was given to the layering of these earthy shades, tones and textures to ensure the
space had unity and depth – a necessary consideration for such a neutral pallet. An example of this is the marbled tiled splashback. Two variations of the tiles (honed and antique brushed) were sourced and cut to size and randomly placed in a brickwork pattern to create
visual interest and be less predictable at eye level.
The end result.
The resulting kitchen is certainly one of the most show stopping features of the home with its bespoke fit out entirely geared to delivering a functional workspace dedicated to the sheer enjoyment of entertaining and cooking. The effortlessly stylish design and timeless finish
transcends to fit this Australian home and the relaxed vibe this family was so eager to create for their holiday beach house.
The central point of the space, the kitchen and cantilevered stainless steel countertop on the first floor, are defined by a transparent acrylic stair and walkway leading to the loft level above. Photography: George Cott
Interiors: Susan Taggart Design
Photo: Mark Weinberg
Sittings for dinning - raman_gupta38
Photographer - Jonathan Gooch
Interior Designer - Jeanette Seabrook
Kitchen - kurien_thomas65
9. A contrasting, ornamented island brings an artistic depth to the otherwise modern scheme of this kitchen. The patterned base of the island is framed by a simple, white, glossy counter with waterfall edge on either side. A similar look can be achieved through back-lit screens, wallpaper or paint with a Corian or Marble worktop.Check out ways to modernise your kitchen - falgunirak