When a kitchen easily accommodates meal preparation and large gatherings yet remains a cozy retreat for a family of four in Newtown, the design is a successful one. Among the most conspicuous details in this Deane Inc. kitchen by designer Ingrid Becker is the dark blue cabinetry that is complemented by a graphic concrete floor. Two 11-foot marble-topped islands are aligned within the room and serve not only as prep and cleanup spaces, but also as an informal dining area with an abundance of storage below.
A walnut butcher block prep area is integrated into the main island, which features a pair of wooden lion heads salvaged from the original part of the home and used as countertop supports.
A Lacanche range is situated in its own nook under a custom hood; a brass pot filler is anchored on a limestone backsplash.
The recipe for a completely redesigned kitchen in a bungalow in Westport’s Compo Beach area included many ingredients that might seem difficult to combine. But designer Gara Morse expertly created a kitchen that is not only spacious and organic in feel but that also makes a strong visual statement. The main entrance to the house opens into the kitchen, so the space needed to be especially welcoming.
Cabinetry sports a natural hue that references the gradated shades of bark on the trees outside. Existing rustic beams were incorporated into the modern overall scheme. Pale countertops and a slabbed backsplash work to reflect light back into the room. Morse was also careful to minimize the low ceiling heights by not having an overhead hood. Horn and brass drawer handles punctuate the otherwise neutral space.
Many Colonial-style residences in New Canaan feature a kitchen that references that distinguished, though predictable, architectural type. But this active family wanted their kitchen to open to the other rooms and be a space where they could cook, dine and entertain together.
Andrew Bartolotta answered their wishes by combining a separate family room and kitchen into a unified space. Counter windows ingeniously slide open to create a bar surface on both the inside and outside deck for pool parties. The handsome kitchen cabinetry, whose Shaker-style panels are a stylistic nod to the house’s Colonial roots, was created by Nukitchens. One end of the island, accented by Circa Lighting pendants, features a wood-grain chopping block, while the other end features a casual dining area that opens into the family room.
