Design Excellence Award 2004

Our client travels the world extensively and requested “an unusual kitchen and bath; something different from what I am accustomed to seeing in the United States”. After completing a recent remodel he now requested that we complete the project by furnishing the space. His minimal and contemporary taste was evident in each room of the house. The space includes a stainless steel backsplash in the kitchen and fireplace surround. The cabinetry is a piano finish. His primary focus was to maintain the modern look while providing a comfortable space. Since the focus of the prior remodel was to meld these contemporary finishes with softer materials such as warm travertine and wide plank chocolate stained oak flooring, we used a similar approach to the furnishings.

The breakfast niche was the primary area of use by our homeowner. He enjoyed the light that flooded the space in the mornings and often found himself wanting to read here for extended periods of time. He also found this space to be the meeting place while entertaining, as he was in the kitchen preparing diners. We provided him with a round table large enough to house five comfortable club chairs. Combined with the three stools at the bar he could intimately entertain up to eight guests. The club chairs were covered in a supple black leather to ensure a comfortable sit for an extended stay. The use of the natural fiber shades and chocolate stained maple valances helped soften the hard materials from the kitchen.

The living room was not an area used on a daily basis by the homeowner. He had a very strong desire to only have one piece of furniture in the room to maintain a minimal look. He also wanted to continue seating for eight. We accomplished his requests by designing a large sectional that allowed seating for six and maximized the viewing of the fireplace and yard beyond. The adjacent bar has swiveling stools that would allow additional seating for two. The use of natural cottons and jute again softened the surrounding hard surfaces for a comfortable feel.

The dining room opens up to the entry and living room. Our homeowner wanted to make this space feel intimate without closing up the room. He also had the similar requirement of seating for eight. The size of the room could not support large dining chairs, so we opted to use smaller scaled chairs and upholstered them in supple suede. The large square table was made up of a wood and stainless cube base topped with thick clear glass. This allowed the minimal feel of the rest of the house to show through while maintaining the openness the room needed. We added multiple light sources to gain flexibility in creating different moods. The final touch was the additional of sheers hung from a cable system that could be draw for intimate dinners.