Tucker Bayou, WaterSound, Fla.
Grand, kitchen in a single-family detached production home, over 3,000 square feet The open floor plan of this modular (that’s right-modular) idea house puts the kitchen on display-and the kitchen rises to the occasion. A snug bank of built-in taupe cabinets, offset by proportional vertical windows, complements the neutral tones in contiguous living spaces, including a sun-splashed breakfast bay on one side and a utility/hobby/pet area (separated by a Dutch door) on the other.
The linchpin of the design, though, is the kitchen’s multipurpose island, which artfully buffers the cooking area from the rest of the house, while neatly incorporating a dishwasher and microwave on its workhorse side. Its split level configuration-with an upper countertop wrapping around a sunken prep, sink, and clean up area-allows the kitchen to maintain a social connection without putting mess on display. Taupe cabinetry on its galley side aligns with the style of the cooking space, while white paneling on the opposite side matches the millwork in adjacent dining and sitting areas.
Entrant/Architect/Designer: Looney Ricks Kiss Architects, Memphis; Builder: Haven Custom Homes, Ridgeland, S.C.; Developer: The St. Joe Company, Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.
- Dishwasher: GE
- Garbage disposal: GE
- Microwave: GE
- Range/oven: GE
- Range hood: GE
- Refrigerator: GE
- Cabinetry: Kraftmaid
- Countertop: Zodiaq by DuPont
- Faucets/fittings: ShowHouse by Moen
- Flooring: Authentic Pine Flooring, Inc.
- Sinks: ShowHouse by Moen
- Windows: JELD-WEN
- Carpeting: Shaw
- Decorative hardware: Rocky Mountain and Turnstyle
- Interior paneling: Custom by Haven Homes
- Lighting: Graham’s Lighting
- Millwork: Custom by The Meridian Co., St. Joe, Haven Homes, Huff Homes
- Locksets/handlesets: Schlage, Jeld-Wen
- Paint/stain/varnish: Vespar
Paulson Kitchen Remodel, El Cajon, Calif.
Merit, best kitchen in a single-family detached remodeled home, 2,000 to 3,000 square feet
By Nigel F. Maynard
The original 1970s kitchen, described by designer Steve Walton as “compartmentalized and closed off,” was a mess. The owners wanted open spaces and creativity-and while it’s hard to be imaginative in a galley kitchen, Walton managed to pull off some tricks.
First, the designer opened up solid walls to create a seamless physical and visual link to the family room and dining room. To satisfy the clients’ love of the Craftsman style, Walton specified a farm house sink, 1920s-style bridge faucets, and custom cherry kitchen cabinetry. The adjacent spaces were then outfitted with identical cabinet-style built-ins in a painted white finish for an integrated look.
The simplest design move with the biggest payback was arguably a recessed ceiling in the kitchen that adds very little actual space but makes a dramatic visual difference.
Entrant/Builder: Marrokal Construction Co., San Diego
- Dishwasher: Bosch
- Microwave: GE
- Range/oven: Dacor Duel Fuel
- Refrigerator: Monogram by GE
- Cabinetry: Custom by Imperial Custom Cabinets (stained alder)
- Countertop: Golden Wave (granite slab)
- Faucets/fittings: Moen
- Flooring: Brazilian cherry
- Sinks: Kohler
