Wall of Silver In 2008, high-end kitchens are updated with silver. Here, a wall of subway tile puts an edge on white. But the classic English kitchen with its Victorian roots remains: 4-light soffit cabinets, bin pulls, specialty drawers, fireclay farm sink, fireplace hood, carrara-top island. The armoire refrigerator/freezer and cargo pendant lights are current must-have embellishments, along with java-toned wood counters and accent bins that put a little flavor in the milk.
Peacock Steel Stainless steel as a thematic color is a bold move by designer Christopher Peacock. The stunning stainless-gray subway tile over the chimney hood mixed with metal tiles behnd the range elaborates the cool scheme. Refinements include twin glass-door refrigerators, and a wall sandwich of soffit cabinets, glass-panel upper cabinets and drawers. Dual surfaces -- end-cut butcher block and marble--on the wood-tone island help warms things up. (Source:www.peacockcabinetry.com)
Driftwood Modern elements plus an unusual color crank up the impact of a busy kitchen packed with traditional cabinets. On the conservative side are beaded doors enhanced with black glaze, crown molding, granite counters, conventional faucets, and glass-panel doors flanking an open shelf. The angled ceiling, sleek pendant lights, and glass-mosaic back- splash move it forward. The lighting and appliances (crowned by a big TV) bespeak sophisticated design. (Source:www.adelphikitchens.com).
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Gunmetal Island Is gray a color? Here it acts like one. The richness of the hue, in concert with the stone counter, makes the island stand out. Yet it still coordinates well with the big range and neutral hues of the stone tile range guard. Turned posts on the end of the island provide a traditional twist and link it to the bun feet of the Welsh cupboard (right) and the Victorian bracket feet on the base cupboard next to the stove. (Source:bluebellkitchens.com)
French Gray Island Kitchen
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View from Great Room A copper and reclaimed pine hood (Vent-a-Hood liner) sets the rustic tone for this cooking space, which opens into the family room and two adjacent pantry areas. An antique iron seal from a New York bridge handsomely decorates the tiled range guard (Frosted Soda 4” from Status Tiles), creating a focal point behind the GE Monogram dual-fuel stove.
Looking Across The kitchen takes its theme from the paint color on the English-style island. Inspired by the British bespoke firm, Chalon, the island has an open pot-shelf on each end. The cabinets were custom made in England, painted with Farrow & Ball’s French Gray, and glazed. Pine base cabinets flanking the range are also glazed, and topped by h oned Golden Leaf granite. Panels on the 48” GE Monogram fridge are glazed Farrow’s Cream.
Sink Side Antique pine gives the top of the island the mellow quality of a farm table -- the Rohl faucet is the big clue to its true function. Adjacent to the double-bowl Villeroy & Boch fireclay apron sink is a set of Fisher & Paykel dish drawers which look like regular storage. The floor is travertine.
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Island Base The ends of the island have great English detail often found in Victorian kitchens: slatted pot shelves, drawers with contrasting wooden knobs, and table legs with tapered block feet. In contrast, note the bracket feet on range-wall cabinets.
(Source all photos: Allison A.)
Main Hutch This pine beauty has ample storage and heaps of charm. Adjacent to the refrigerator, it visually relates to the cabinets flanking the stove: the same granite counter (making it durable as a buffet) and a copper midriff that matches the hood. The center of the top has a two- tier plate rack. Upper cabinet doors are inset with chicken wire.
Black Hutch Lurking in the side pantry is a dramatic, pine-backed Farrow & Ball black hutch that serves as a “coffee station.” A bar sink, installed under the pine counter top, has a Newform faucet. Glass-front upper doors are piggy-backed on a pair of horizontal cabinets with chicken wire fronts -- home to the mugs and other crockery.
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Mixed Wood-and-Dove Shaker Wow! That’s the apt description of this stunner based on Shaker hutches and tables. There are four different dresser (hutch) configurations, each in a different color. The dove gray paint emphasizes the simple lines of the island with its open end and clean, tapered legs. A beautifully proportioned grand hutch not only houses the range and condiment storage but make the hood look like part of the furniture. The antique pine floor and elegant Oriental rugs heighten the overall elegance. (Source: Sheetmoss)
Open-Platerack Pearl Bead board has been a favorite cabinet material for for more than a century and suits this cottage-style, pearl gray-walled kitchen by Scandinavian designer Lene Bjerre. We especially love one feature: the open plate rack that allows wet dishes to drip right into the farm sink. Additional moments of charm are found in brackets holding up the shelf, the retro look of the faucet mounted into the wall, and the chicly utilitarian 4 x 4” tile backsplash. (Source: Sheetmoss)
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Stone and Maroon This 1950s-inspired beauty boasts clean, modernist surfaces and details in additional to an unusual retro color scheme composed of stone gray and maroon played out in the cabinet walls. Casement windows and ceiling beams soften the no-radius appeal to make this feel a little bit like the country -- but on fast-forward. It's also easy to miss the very refined two-tone floor pattern that echos the two-tone ceiling beams. (Source: www.hutkerarchitects.com)
Cloud Gray Foursquare
Sending out a Mission vibe is easy when foursquare cabinets are splashed along the soffit of a galley kitchen and the island is clad in repeated vertical panels. Curved brackets supporting the island’s serving shelf pull the look in a softer direction that marries well with the cool monochrome neutral. Note the built-in refrigerator, also with panels. (Source: www.cottagewoodpartners.com)
