Witt Construction, Saratoga Springs, N.Y. “Kitchens are more and more the hub of the house,” says John Witt. “We’re now designing the house around the kitchen.” He’s currently building a “big Victorian” in which the kitchen shares space with the home’s living and dining areas. “We keep opening up the kitchen, but also closing it down with some separation to control noise.” Witt uses partial walls, bookshelves, kneewalls with columns, and in the case of the Victorian, multiple islands for this purpose.
Custom clients in his upstate New York market want a command center with a computer hook-up, desk, and storage near but not in the kitchen. The command center in the Victorian he’s building is in a loft above the kitchen. But Witt will often design a niche for this purpose off the kitchen, with pocket doors that let the owners shut the little work space out of sight.
Granite or soapstone countertops are standard client choices, but today’s homeowners want them with a honed surface for a softer, more natural look. Witt often combines them with an exotic wood, like zebrawood or teak. Favorite appliances include a wine refrigerator and an undercounter refrigerator drawer near the prep area where the cook can easily get what she needs.
The shower is dominating the bath in his market, Witt says. Walk-in showers with windows high on the wall for privacy and steam showers are finding their way into his recent homes. He likes shower towers with multiple jets and showerheads for their ease of installation. Vessel sinks seem to be cooling off a little; most home buyers opt for a vessel sink, but not in the master bath. Witt says they are now used almost exclusively in the powder room.
