“I think the most important thing you can do is reuse,” says architect Barbara Brown. “It doesn’t go into a landfill, it keeps the house from getting too big, and it’s more economical for the client.” Transforming an existing cramped kitchen was a priority for the owner of this Sausalito, Calif., house, who often cooks with her visiting kids and grandkids. Enlarging the space and connecting it to living and dining areas enlivened the entire floor. Knocking down walls meant designing cleverly compact storage. A second oven allows for multiple cooks while a microwave tucked beneath the stainless steel island lets kids get into the act. A long built-in bench next to the fridge offers extra storage and an out-of-the-way spot to sip a juice box. The architect controlled views of the garden and distant bay with a row of slender windows at eye level. “Those low windows wrap around onto the countertop,” adds Brown, “so you have natural light right where you need it.”
A new front entry along the street elevation gives guests an immediate view of the kitchen, so materials were chosen for style as well as sustainability. Wide-grain bamboo flooring and narrow-grain bamboo cabinet fronts lighten the mood. Recycled-glass tiles emit a sheen that changes throughout the day. Recyclable stainless steel tops the island while natural marble counter-tops are a must for rolling piecrust.
Builder: Peregrine Construction, Sebastopol, Calif.; Architect: Barbara Brown Associates, Sausalito, Calif.; Project manager: Laura Hamlin, Barbara Brown Associates, Sausalito; Photographer: Erik Tiemens
