While the kitchen is often considered the heart of the home, this chef ’s oasis was actually inspired by the exterior. The existing design was choppy, with limited views to the landscape, which had recently been reimagined by James Doyle Design Associates. The homeowners (a family with young children) tapped the architecture firm of Shope Reno Wharton and Douglas Graneto Design to renovate the space to include a sliding-glass window that would allow pass-through access to the pool area.
“From the outset, this particular client was really excited about the possibilities for the kitchen,” offers Shope Reno Wharton Principal Michael McClung. “They are serious cooking and entertaining enthusiasts, and some of their early ideas provided the inspiration that everything else evolved from.”
McClung set out to make the window as wide as possible to connect the space with the outdoors. When the homeowner proposed hanging glass shelving in front of the window, the design team jumped onto the opportunity to add a dynamic layer that would tie together the space’s brass elements.
Those elements include standout details like the custom exposed shelving and pot rack by Amuneal, as well as smaller accents along the cabinetry, cooktop and toe kick. Of course, the brass details offer a warm complement to the homeowner’s collection of vintage copper cookware. “These aren’t decorative, they are used. You can see the scorch marks,” notes Douglas Graneto, principal of his eponymous Greenwich firm. “It was function and form, but this is what he actually cooks with, and he wanted them accessible.” (The same goes for the homeowner’s knife collection, which is on display at arm’s length from the countertop.)
For a splash of color, Graneto selected blue Thomas Hayes stools for the lengthy island, topped with Oyster White quartzite with dramatic veining. “The countertop stone has a neutral palette, but it has a lot of movement and activity in the veining,” he adds. Thanks to its length and seating for a crowd, the island is Graneto’s favorite part of the design. “This is the homeowner’s haven, where he likes to spend his time and get his creative juices out,” he adds. “The family entertains in the kitchen a lot, as you can tell from the length of that island. It’s not only a space where the family can be, but cooking and entertaining is part of the process.”
