This kitchen, for a new home, was designed with the owners’ passions in mind; a passion for cooking and entertaining; a passion for sailing; and an orchid-growing hobby. The island design with ‘sail’ shaped back panel would not normally fit into the room that is not quite ten feet wide. However, the generous opening to the adjacent dining and a great room ‘borrows’ the required clearances around the island. A concentration of large volume items at the end of the window gives rise to the separation of non-essential functions in the adjacent pantry and orchid kitchen. Joining tall items at ninety degrees creates a void space, which was re-claimed for brooms behind. The line of demi-tall appliance and pantry section continued around the room to cover the dish pantries next to the window. Here the designer gave a nod to the architectural window selection. The aluminum frame doors open as an L-shaped door, keeping the form of the pantries pure, and maximizing storage, while minimizing impact with transparency. An intimate bistro table with river views completes the picture at the window. The large tumbled travertine floor tile is installed askew to match the hardwood in adjacent dining room, and continues into the pantry. The same tiles were installed as ‘bricks’ on the walls to create the effect of installating a contemporary kitchen in an old room.
