Kitchens Designed For Living
Don't let the quaint, cozy look of this country kitchen fool you. It has everything you need to entertain dozens quickly and conveniently. Hidden beneath the richness of hickory panels are a separate Sub-Zero freezer and large refrigerator, convenient pullout storage for pots and pans, a roll-out trash bin and a roll-top appliance garage built under a cupboard.
"[The homeowner] likes to keep her appliances handy but doesn't want them to be seen," says designer Rick Glickman, president of Dream Kitchens, Inc., in Skokie Illinois.
A double oven, wide enough to fit six pans of cookies, also helps this avid chef cook for a crowd. Rick designed the kitchen in this newly constructed golf course-community home from a cook's perspective, balancing beauty and function. A grandmother, this homeowner wants her little one's involved when cooking up a meal or baking a batch of muffins. A five-burner gas island cook-top, with plenty of seating on both sides, lets everyone lend a hand. "She likes to talk to [her grandkids] and show them what she's doing." Rick says. A brass fixture hanging over the island adds another touch of country and plenty of task lighting.
Hickory cabinets and oak flooring are offset by the contemporary look of mahogany granite counters and backsplashes that surround the Kohler sink. The surfaces are easily wiped clean, as is the marble table, another must-have for this cook.
A built-in, oversized hutch designed by Rick is another way items in this kitchen are stored while lending beauty to the room. Glass cabinets with Prairie-style mullions flank the hutch to show off some of the family's finer dishes, with plenty of storage underneath to keep tablecloths, place mats and other kitchen items handy.
