Simple Omega cabinetry in Maple Autumn with Cherry Mandarin accents and custom designed stained glass, combined with textured materials and natural wood ceilings, form a wonderful kitchen that blends into the vast forest surrounding this Illinois home.
"We were enlisted to completely revamp the kitchen, tying it into the rest of the nature-inspired home," says Rick Glickman of Dream Kitchens, Skokie, IL, of himself and his designer Karen Feldheim.
"It was rather challenging to work around the existing beam ceilings and duct work that needed to remain in place," adds Glickman. One way they solved the issue was to custom fit cabinetry and shelving around the irregular areas. "The open, arched cabinet on the right side of the sink wall is notched to accommodate a non-moveable vent, and the slate backsplash pattern was continued across the uneven area so it just faded away," Glickman points out.
"Another goal was to create an open, more inviting kitchen, while giving the client the most effective use of space, and to make the kitchen flow seamlessly into the rest of the home," says Glickman. To do this, they raised the ceilings by eliminating soffets and used natural wood for a true outdoor feeling. Feldheim used open shelving in several locations and added eye-catching custom stained glass door fronts. Both options allow the homeowners to show off their favorite china and glassware while giving an open airy feel. They also reconfigured the island by rotating it 90 degrees, which also made the kitchen's workspace more efficient. Details such as the antique satin bronze hardware add a touch of personality to the design.
Natural hues add serenity and warmth to this kitchen while tactile materials like wood floors, natural slate backsplash and concrete countertops help the home fuse with its wooded surroundings, which are visible from every room in the house.
