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 Creature Comfort
An award-winning kitchen welcomes humans and felines alike
By Lee Ann Murphy
May 01, 2007 - This seaside home built in the late 1920s had all the
amenities of that era, including a large butler's pantry off the
dining room that led to a kitchen meant to be seen and used by
servants only. Although this setup was probably much coveted 80
years ago, the current homeowners wanted a kitchen that was part of
the home, not separated from it. So designer Ronna Duffy and the
team from North Shore Kitchens Plus, Inc. in Marblehead, MA, set out
to create a warm, beautiful environment with a European flair that
this busy professional couple could use for all kinds of everyday
activities, from cooking the evening meal, to catching up on the
news or curling up with a book. Far from being a place to toil, this
space was to be the comfort zone of the home. In the process,
Duffy's team also created K+BB's 2007 Kitchen of the Year.
 Putting together this award-winning space had
its challenges. Although the kitchen is large, it has multiple
entrances along one wall and large windows on the other three. As a
result, the refrigerator and freezer in the existing floor plan were
inconveniently located in the butler's pantry. Because of the home's
brick facade and the kitchen's location in a front corner of the
house, the homeowners chose not to change any windows, creating the
challenge of working around them.
So, to create a better flow between the kitchen and butler's pantry,
the door between them was removed and the doorway widened. The
refrigerator/freezer was kept in the butler's pantry but was rotated
so that it opens into the kitchen.
The rest of the butler's pantry is outfitted to facilitate
entertaining, with ample storage for china, crystal and silver, a
coffee service area with a built-in coffee/espresso maker and
under counter refrigerator/freezer drawers for drinks and cold
snacks.
The flow from the butler's pantry to the kitchen proper, where most
of the food prep occurs, is greatly improved. Here, in the main
area, a large island and highly functional cooking center work
together to make preparing meals a breeze. A hand-carved wooden hood
above the range combines with the decorative backsplash of
handcrafted glass, ceramic and copper tiles to create a dramatic
focal point. Columns on either side conceal pullout storage for
spices and oils. The extra-large, farm-style sink is custom-crafted
of slate and paired with a commercial-style faucet for a heavy-duty
cleaning and prep station that is also right in line with the
Old-World, European style of the space.
On the island, a convection microwave, countertop knife holder and
warming drawer contribute to this kitchen's ease of use. An
additional food pantry was fitted with decorative glass doors,
keeping the open feel of the room without having to sacrifice
storage. Adjustable shelves and a rolling ladder make all provisions
easily accessible.
 But this kitchen isn't only about efficient workflow. It's also
about aesthetics. Beautifully crafted pine cabinets in a warm,
glowing hue with hand-carved, raised-panel doors and drawers are
paired with cream-painted and glazed cabinets in the island and
butler's pantry. Golden granite countertops complement the pine,
while lustrous, dark-stained teak adds contrast to the cream-colored
cabinets. A tray ceiling lined with hammered copper finishes off the
traditional feel without taking away from the warmth and comfort of
the space.
A cozy dining area with a custom-built table
and upholstered bench makes it hard not to linger in this
comfortable kitchen. A television is mounted on a nearby wall for
easy viewing and a gas fireplace installed in a countertop cabinet
adds charm as well as warmth on chilly days.
And it's not just humans who are enjoying the cushy seating and
crackling fire. The homeowners also wanted the kitchen to be
alluring to their three beloved cats. A cushioned window seat is
made for them. And tribute is paid to them on the front of the
custom slate farmhouse sink, with their likenesses etched into the
stone.
In the end, this award-winning space became much more than a
kitchen. It's a haven.
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