The 2017 CTC&G IDA Winners: Kitchen Design

Yes, many families do like to gather in the kitchen, but Sage Design was cognizant of finding a way to make sure this active family of seven could congregate there to cook, dine and entertain. The client wanted to remove most of the upper cabinets, and Sage responded by replacing them with cantilevered stainless-steel shelves positioned on either side of the sink; other shelves appear to float on the wall.

Additional Resources
Builder, Nast Builders. Island countertop, shelving and cabinetry, Sage Design. Faucets, Rohl. Perimeter countertop, Academy Marble & Granite, LLC. Stools, Design Within Reach.

The marble backsplash was continued up and behind the shelves for consistency; puck lights provide ambient lighting at night. An expansive island is composed of hammered stainless steel, a direct echo of the steel cabinets. Meanwhile, sleek glass doors conceal stainless steel appliances.

The traditional and the avant-garde meld seamlessly in this kitchen that was the result of a close collaboration between Wheelock Design and architects from Alisberg Parker. The chief design motif references Scandinavian minimalism through its embrace of natural materials and an emphasis on subtle textures throughout the room.

Additional Resources
Architect, Alisberg Parker Architects. Appliances, Sub-Zero Wolf. Custom hood, Wheelock Design and Alisberg Parker Architects. Cabinets, Wheelock Design. Countertops and backsplash, Caesarstone. Fixtures, Newport Brass.

The open-plan kitchen, which incorporates an inviting breakfast nook, features traditional-fronted cabinetry, a quartz backsplash, panel-fronted appliances, medium-stained hardwood floors, and a handsomely designed waterfall-topped island that is able to seat three. Hanging retro light fixtures, coupled with metallic accents on the hood and faucets, and decorative hardware heighten the prevailing midcentury feel.

Once their three grown children were out of the house, interior designer Carol Flanagan and her husband started their empty-nester phase. Her plans for updating and renovating their Greenwich home, a 1920s-style farmhouse, involved a major re-do of the kitchen.

Additional Resources
Interior design, Carol Flanagan. Architectural design, Two Tall Trees Design. Contractor, Legacy Custom Builders, Inc. Lighting, The Urban Electric Co., Circa Lighting and Vaughan. Wood floors, New England Custom Floors, LLC. Stone, Dushi Marble & Granite. Tile, Greenwich Tile & Marble. Plumbing fixtures, Klaffs.

In conceiving the plans, the couple assessed how the roles of the kitchen and other rooms had changed. Recognizing that natural light and views were among the house’s best attributes, Flanagan and architects from Two Tall Trees fashioned an open-plan kitchen where family members could work and socialize. Windows, doors and rustic beams were added, along with period details to create a new aesthetic.

This kitchen is in a newly constructed guesthouse, part of an open-plan wing comprised of the kitchen, a breakfast area and a family room.

Additional Resources
Architect, Laura Kaehler Architects LLC. Interior Decoration, Eric Roseff Designs. Builder, Sound Beach Partners. Structural Engineer, Edward Stanley Engineers. Audio/Visual, Innerspace Electronics Inc. Cabinets, Crane Woodworking. Appliances, Miele, Sub-Zero, Dornbracht and Julien. Countertop and Fireplace, Everest Marble. Backsplash, Discover Tile. Sofa, Holly Hunt. Ottoman, Edelman Leather. Rug, Merida Studio. Lounge and Dining Chairs, Mitchell Gold Bob Williams. Dining Table, Restoration Hardware. Pendant, Jonathan Browning Studios. Tile, Waterworks and Lee Hanson UK. Butler Pantry Light, John Derian. Textiles, John Robshaw.

Its focal point is a central island with stone waterfall edges and dramatic pendant lighting fixtures. Warmth is conferred by white oak floor finished in a soft gray and by the light that pours in through the oversized windows and the glass doors that step out onto a covered stone porch.

This sleek, modern kitchen offers a crisp contrast to the more traditional exteriors of the owners’ New Canaan Colonial.

Additional Resources
Architect, Matthew R. Dougherty Architect, LLC. Interior Design, Krista Fox Interiors. Builder, V&A Construction. Marble/stone, Dushi Marble and Granite. Dishwashers, Miele. Refrigerators, Sub-Zero. Range/ Microwave Draw, Viking. Faucets, Dornbracht. Ice Machine, Sub-Zero. Hide Rug, Calvin Klein. Table, Lillian August. Table Lighting, Klaffs. Island Lighting, Tom Dixon. Dining Chairs, Dovecote.Bar Backsplash, Westport Glass. Cabinets, V&A Construction.

The judges liked the minimalist island, all-white cabinetry with little visible hardware, and silver globe pendants, which reflect the natural light flooding through the oversized windows.

The kitchen flows seamlessly to the dining area with a modern table and a mix of white and Plexiglass chairs.