Andersen Residence, Huntington Beach, Calif.
Merit, kitchen in a single-family detached remodeled home, less than 2,000 square feet
From the looks of its open, arty interiors, you’d never suspect this
house was built in 1971 in a suburban tract development. The
clients-both associated with the surf fashion industry-had no qualms
about blowing it out and doing away with a stodgy brick fireplace that
blocked the view of the backyard. The ethereal realm that now stands in
its place, courtesy of Adam Wheeler Design, does a complete 180. Flanked
by a sculptural fireplace wedged between two load-bearing walls (one
clad in stone), the new kitchen makes bold choices and wears them well.
On the island, a CaesarStone countertop wraps around macasa ebony
cabinets and runs flush to the floor. Soffits inlaid with redwood
paneling take the ceiling from stark to organic. And there’s no stopping
the view-not even on the kitchen’s main storage wall. An elongated span
of windows bisects the upper and lower cabinets and complements the
horizontal orientation of the floating island.
Entrant/Architect/Designer: Adam Wheeler Design, Santa Monica, Calif.; Builder: Greg Breuer Construction, Big Bear Lakes, Calif.
- Garbage disposal: InSinkErator
- Microwave: GE Profile Spacemaker
- Range/oven: Thermador
- Range hood: Thermador (downdraft)
- Island undercounter fridge: Echelon Series by U-Line
- Cabinetry: Custom by Dean Daniel Designs
- Countertop: CaesarStone
- Faucets/fittings: Grohe
- Sinks: Blanco
- Lighting: Con-Tech
- Windows: Window Master/Jeld-Wen
- Fireplace: Custom by Greg Breuer Construction
- Decorative hardware: Mockett + Co.
- Lighting: Decora
- Manufactured stone: Art Masonry
- Millwork: Dean Daniel Designs
- Sliding door: Fleetwood Telescoping Doors
Mo Residence, Menlo Park, Calif.
Merit, kitchen in a single-family detached custom home, less than 3,000 square feet
Simplicity was the name of the game in this casual chic, eat-in kitchen,
which emphasizes clean lines and rich textures. Stainless steel and
cast concrete countertops are offset by an Italian ceramic tile
backsplash, bamboo flooring, mocha-stained oak veneer cabinets, and
light box accessory panels showcasing knife and utensil racks. To offset
the angularity of the space, designer Fu-Tung Cheng specified an oval
island of ebony cast concrete (fitted with a wedge of poplar cutting
block), which segues into a maple table extension.
Emphasizing the horizontal, a soffit plane extends from kitchen into living space, and a built-in band of mahogany shelving becomes a unifying element (at one point doubling as the sill for a stretch of windows). To maintain a feeling of openness, Cheng eliminated upper cabinets, relegating storage to an adjacent walk-in pantry.
Entrant/Designer: Cheng Design, Berkeley, Calif.; Builder: D. Carlson Construction, Los Gatos, Calif.
- Dishwasher: Miele
- Garbage disposal: InSinkErator
- Microwave: Sharp
- Cooktop: Gaggenau
- Oven: Wolf Appliance
- Range hood: Fu Tung Cheng Padova by Zephyr
- Refrigerator: Sub-Zero
- Wine fridge: Sub-Zero
- Cabinetry: Alno
- Countertops: Geocrete and stainless steel
- Faucets/fittings: KWL
- Flooring: Plyboo
- Sinks: Elkay (main sink) and Franke (prep island)
- Potfiller: Danze
