INCLUSIONARY ZONING: No one gets voted off the island in this ki…
INCLUSIONARY ZONING: No one gets voted off the island in this kitchen. With its ample girth and durable Silestone countertop, the all-purpose workstation's got room for everyone. Kids can tackle homework, Grandma can roll out a piecrust, and Mom can make a salad for dinner—all with no elbow bumping.
DOUBLE DUTY: The main kitchen doesn't mess around when it comes …
DOUBLE DUTY: The main kitchen doesn't mess around when it comes to functionality. Double ovens topped by an industrial-strength, eight-burner range and a pot filler are designed to accommodate every scenario, from everyday dinners for a big family to fabulous five-course holiday feasts. A distance of 43 inches between the island and the wall counters ensures plenty of room for multiple cooks.
GLASS MENAGERIE: Nothing makes a backsplash come alive like glas…
GLASS MENAGERIE: Nothing makes a backsplash come alive like glass tiles. Crossville’s Illuminessence glass line makes the areas behind the range really pop. The wall is anchored by 3-inch-by-3-inch Prism Glass field tiles with Sea Glass Surf and Icicle listels. The pieces are made from cast translucent glass that contains a percentage of recycled glass. www.crossvilleinc.com
HARD WORKERS: A house such as this one needs hardworking applian…
HARD WORKERS: A house such as this one needs hardworking appliances that can accommodate parties, dinners, and family gatherings. Whirlpool Corp.’s KitchenAid appliances are up to the task. The 48-inch, commercial-style, dual-fuel range has eight burners, including six with 15,000 BTUs, and two 24-inch convection ovens. A custom hood liner ensures grease and odors will be sucked out, while an Energy Star–rated dishwasher with hidden controls, five wash levels, and a hard-food disposer will clean up the mess. www.insideadvantage.com
ELEGANT STORAGE: Every family kitchen needs places to store the …
ELEGANT STORAGE: Every family kitchen needs places to store the electronic gadgets that are a must these days. Said storage also needs to be attractive. The Reality House has both. The kitchen and breakfast room are outfitted with furniture-quality cabinets from Timberlake Cabinet Co. The Mitered Maple Mocha with Derbyshire Seeded Glass features solid wood fronts and drawer boxes, dovetail joinery, and full-access drawers. French Twist knobs and drawer pulls complete the look. www.timberlake.com
ORDER IN THE FORT: Modular shelves by Schulte in the walk-in pan…
ORDER IN THE FORT: Modular shelves by Schulte in the walk-in pantry provide vertical storage for bulk food purchases, backup kitchen staples, and nonrefrigerated produce.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT: The butler’s pantry off the formal din…
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT: The butler’s pantry off the formal dining room includes a wine fridge and storage space for fine china and stemware, plus a KitchenAid drawer dishwasher, so dirty dishes don’t have to travel far.
ROCK STAR: Granite countertops are cool, but they need to be res…
ROCK STAR: Granite countertops are cool, but they need to be resealed and can be susceptible to scratching. Instead, the house features Silestone quartz surfacing by Cosentino. Made with 93 percent quartz and 7 percent resin and pigments, the product is highly resistant to scratches, stains, and acidic liquids. Some colors now come with Microban antimicrobial protection. Capri Limestone from the River Series is used here in the kitchen, and the new Leather line is used in the pool bath. www.silestone.com
KITCHEN UTENSILS: Kohler’s Smart Divide sink brings a new leve…
KITCHEN UTENSILS: Kohler’s Smart Divide sink brings a new level of versatility to the kitchen. The cast iron, double-basin unit consists of a 9-inch-deep bowl and a 4 1/2-inch divider that gives users more clearance between the faucet and the midsection of the sink. It also allows the easy transfer of heavy pots and pans. Complementing the sink, the Vinnata pull-down faucet in brushed nickel has a high-arch spout, durable ceramic valves, and a spray face that resists calcium buildup. www.kohler.com
Don’t let the elegant details fool you. The rich wood Timberlake cabinets and sea glass tile may be easy on the eyes, but the main kitchen is all about business. “The kitchen has taken on a new identity in today’s home,” says Nagle. “People don’t just sit there to talk; they multitask. Mom and Dad may be catching up with each other while they help the kids with homework and the grandparents cook. It’s the center of the family universe.”
The challenge, though, especially in a multigenerational household, is to design a universe where stars don’t collide. In this case, that meant plenty of counter-top space and a good-sized island—one that was conducive to standing activities at one end and sitting at the other end. A custom P-shaped configuration does the trick. The straight edge forms a galley with a parallel wall outfitted with a KitchenAid range with double ovens. The curved side is rounded out with bar stools—the perfect perch for kids doing homework or a neighbor stopping by for coffee.
Traffic congestion may seem like an inevitability in a big family kitchen, but careful floor plan engineering in The Reality House proves it doesn’t have to be. What’s most notable about the main kitchen is what’s not in it—namely, stuff that isn’t used on a daily basis. Holiday platters and dessert plates? Those are stored in a butler’s pantry off the formal dining room. That 24-can skid of canned corn you snagged at Costco? Sashay from the main culinary space into the adjacent prep kitchen and hang a left at the walk-in pantry.
A drawer fridge and ice maker in the prep kitchen make it a go-to place where kids can run in and grab a Coke without being underfoot while dinner’s in the works.
Learn more about markets featured in this article: Orlando, FL.
