A remodeled home on a Belvedere, Calif., lagoon needed a kitchen that would allow the clients to supervise their young children playing outside without worries of unfettered access to the water. Of course, they also wanted expansive views of the estuary. San Francisco-based architect Ron Sutton devised a floor plan that places the kitchen in the center of the activity—both inside and out. Family, dining, living, and outdoor rooms radiate around it with varying degrees of connection.
A 20-foot expanse of custom glass doors opens to a lushly landscaped yard with trellised eating area, which has an 8-foot-high stone wall cutting it off from the water. Opposite, a pair of anegre-paneled doors (to match the cabinetry) with laminated glass inserts and architect-designed stainless handles slide apart just above the sink to reveal a dining room with stunning lagoon vistas. Glass corner doors in the adjacent family room slide open to a raised deck that extends the length of the waterfront elevation.
Sea hues and exterior views are both reflected in a steel-and-glass canopy that cantilevers out over an ample island. “The maker can insert color between the laminate and the glass,” explains Sutton. “We chose a soft blue to mimic the lagoon.” The canopy mitigates a soaring ceiling, which reaches 14 feet at its peak, plus it brings island lighting down to a more functional 8-foot height. Polished seafoam granite on the island countertop and French limestone tiles on the floor, which continue seamlessly onto the terrace, strengthen outdoor ties.
Builder: Irelan, Robinson & Hadley, Belvedere, Calif.; Architect: Sutton Suzuki Architects, Mill Valley, Calif.; Size (of kitchen area): 430 square feet; Photographer: Mark Schwartz.
Resources: Doors and windows: Quantum Windows & Doors; Hood: Abbaka; Laminated glass: Pulp Studios; Range: Thermador.
