Open Invitation—Design Awards 2015 Platinum, Kitchen $50,000 to $100,000

Kitchen $50,000 to $100,000
The Wiese Co., Sherborn, Mass.

Project goals: The view from this kitchen into the living room was obstructed by a large refrigerator and wall. The clients wanted to open up the space and create a modern, warm kitchen with more pantry storage and seating.

Challenges: The removed wall was load-bearing, so the beams had to be beefed up to support the new opening. Without a good stopping or starting point to fir it out, the solution had to live well in the space without shrinking the kitchen.

Solutions: The answer was to encase the beam and posts with wood to create a modern architectural feature that would define the large opening to the kitchen and integrate it with the living area.

The remodeler removed the wall between the kitchen and living room, making the kitchen island more functional for seating, storage and food preparation. A 2¼-inch-thick walnut counter visually separates the food prep and seating areas. The walnut joins the floor with a waterfall edge that grounds the island and supports the rest of the counter.

The existing desk area was replaced with larger pantry cabinets made of cherry to add a warm, embracing backdrop. The rest of the cabinets and the island are white to maintain balance and brightness. A dimensional tile in subtle, warm gray tones adds texture and interest.

What the judges said: “I’m amazed at how high this kitchen feels. From layout, material selection, and overall feel, this is an amazing job for the budget.”