The recipe for this kitchen came with very specific instructions: The room needed to be a highly functional space for a serious cook and baker while providing sufficient areas for dining, communal cooking, and relaxing by the fireplace. According to the architects, “This kitchen is designed to be a space that inspired the creativity of the cooks who live and work in it.” One of the most intriguing details is a rectangular window that runs beneath the upper cabinetry, affording the owners views of the driveway and arriving guests. “The long slot of a window gets me every time,” says judge Tom Scheerer.
According to Fawn Galli’s design team, the goal for the kitchen of this Amagansett beach house was to create “a modern interpretation of traditional nautical design.” That idea proved to be smooth sailing with the use of navy-blue and white tiles, cabinets, and window treatments. The large, vaulted space—“spare and simple,” according to judge Milly de Cabrol—reflects a balance of modern with the artisanal, evidenced in the pendants hanging over the island and, in the adjacent breakfast area, decorative fireplace tiles and Mexican throw pillows.
The most noticeable achievements in this kitchen renovation include a dramatic raising of the roof and a series of stacked open glass shelves that add airy appeal. From a center-placed window over the sink, there are direct views to the dunes, while an adjacent porch area “creates an attractive indoor/outdoor vibe,” comments judge Tim Street-Porter.
