By Shelley D. Hutchins
As life becomes more hectic, many homeowners seek custom houses that work efficiently and live casually. Rooms that can entertain 50 one night and feel cozy for a family the next are en vogue. “People are getting more sophisticated and want to use rooms in the best way possible,” says designer Kevin Alter. Kitchens and, yes, even baths are becoming places that encourage interaction when people are doing different things. Read on to see how truncated walls, peek-through passages, and consistent materials create chameleon spaces that serve as social hubs as well as private retreats.
Dining Options
The owners of this Kirkland, Wash., house are “serious cooks who had a lot of hard-working requests for the kitchen.” Architect Jill Lewis adds that they also wanted the kitchen to be the focus of attention so dinner prep could be combined with family time or entertaining. Lewis prefers designing combination spaces like this one. “Volumes that are flexible can be used daily … and done in a higher quality with less square footage,” she says, adding that “it also creates a better family dynamic of everyone being together.”
The elegant-yet-utilitarian result hosts after-school study sessions with the same aplomb as a holiday dinner party. “We kept the palette of materials limited because so many spaces flow into each other,” Lewis explains. Limestone floors segue seamlessly from kitchen to family room and out to a courtyard terrace. A chocolate stain on cabinetry shows up on oak floors in the dining room and throughout the house. Builder Joseph McKinstry repeated the casework's bleached maple in the frame of the 9-by-9-foot sliding glass door he made to screen the dining room.
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The floor plan also works to maintain connections. The kitchen island and cooking station float in the center of the space while ceiling and walls continue unhindered. Six sets of French doors flank one circulation path and offer each area access to the terrace. A storage system lines the opposite wall, but usage changes as it morphs from family room entertainment center to kitchen cabinets to a coffee/wine bar opposite the dining room. To keep kitchen and environs visitor worthy, the dishwasher and large sink are tucked out of sight behind the cooking center but within easy reach of eating areas.
Project Credits: Builder: Joseph McKinstry Construction, Seattle; Architect: Coop 15, Seattle; Cabinetmaker: Cornerstone Fine Woodworking, Woodinville, Wash.; Project size: 900 square feet; Construction cost: $300 a square foot; Photographer: Lara Swimmer.
Resources: Coffee system/dishwasher: Miele; Lighting fixtures: Juno, Lightolier, and Tobias Grau; Plumbing fittings/fixtures: Franke; Range: Viking; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero.
Movable Feast
The kitchen remodel for a pair of Hollywood foodies had to accommodate their high-wattage soirees and give them the means to pursue their passion: cooking and serving the food themselves. Architect Henry Smith-Miller devised a new, cleverly detailed kitchen that stayed within the bounds of the existing 17-by-9-foot space but that can transcend those bounds with a few simple moves. “Everything about this kitchen was designed so these two people could cook for their guests,” Smith-Miller says.
The owners like to converse with their visitors without having crowds in the kitchen, so Smith-Miller made sure the kitchen can go where the crowds are. A folding screen lets the owners open the kitchen to the dining room and turn nearly 5 feet of the kitchen's perimeter counter into a serving center.
More flexibility is designed into the kitchen island. The 2-foot-wide-by-7-foot-long island breaks down into functional pieces that suit the occasion. One end is a rolling, stainless steel serving cart with open shelves that can be moved where needed. The other end of the butcher block slab covers a wheeled trash can that makes cleanup easy. With the trash can gone, the cantilevered counter is available to pull up a stool or two. Because the owners use the island's butcher block top as their only cutting board, a small hole in the center lets them push waste into a drawer-sized bin that slides out from either side.
When the owners entertain outside, a wall of windows over the sink slides open so food can be passed to the terrace where it can be cooked on the built-in grill or chilled in an outdoor fridge. For more formal meals, a rolling glass and aluminum dining table with a large glass lazy Susan serves seated diners inside or out.
Project Credits: Builder: Monet Concept, Los Angeles; Architect: Smith-Miller + Hawkinson Architects, New York City; Project size: 150 square feet; Construction cost: Withheld; Photographer: Tim Street-Porter.
Resources: Refrigerator: Traulsen; Stove: Viking.
Moving Parts
The homeowners of this Austin, Texas, remodel wanted every room to foster family togetherness, even the master bath. “They aren't totally immodest,” says Kevin Alter, “but they like the idea of communication within the bath.” In addition to an open feeling, Alter had a lot of other requests to pack into 125 square feet of space, like separating the shower and bathtub, a double vanity plus a seated makeup counter, and a concealed toilet—all features that permit the whole family to use the room simultaneously, but for various activities.
Alter also had his own requirement for good bathroom design: plenty of windows. “Bathrooms should have lots of views and light, but windows are usually small or not included because you need so many mirrors and cabinets for pills and potions.” He worked light and views into the plan, too.
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Alter fit in all of the function (along with a little luxury) by assigning more than one purpose to each element. Fixed glass runs nearly the length of the room framing leafy views and letting light pour in. Movable mirrored medicine cabinets slide along the length of that window on aluminum tracks, letting the owners choose between a view of the surrounding live oaks or contemplating their morning bedhead. A freestanding wall doubles as makeup station and a screen for the bathing area. The wall stops short of the window so that the mirrored cabinets can also serve the bathing area. And because the tub and shower are separate yet together, Mom can shower within reach of the little one taking a bath. Alter's inclusion of ample light plus a feeling of openness makes the compact bathroom feel downright lavish. “The thing that architecture does really well is resolve things that seem contrary to each other,” he says.
Project Credits: Builder: Melde Specialty Construction, Austin, Texas; Architect: Alterstudio Architects, Austin; Project size: 125 square feet; Construction cost: $270 a square foot; Photographer: Thomas McConnell.
Resources: Plumbing fittings/fixtures: Danze, Dornbracht, and Duravit.
Activity Center
Vacation homes are often designed with simple living in mind, and this Washington state retreat is no exception. The homeowners asked architect Scott Allen to create “a common area that supports a wide range of activities.” They also wanted the capacious room to “make a visually seamless connection to the outdoors,” and materials that would be impervious to wear and tear inflicted by their two teenagers. “The real challenge,” Allen says, “was making the space work like a kitchen but relate to the overall architecture.”
The kitchen/dining/living/music room acts as one cohesive area thanks to consistency in scale and finishes. Ceilings soar above the space, but a dropped soffit encircles the room for a more intimate feel. Recessed cans mixed with architect-designed pendants give occupants various options for bright or subdued lighting. And two spacious islands attract family members finishing homework as well as guests coming to refill their wineglass. Hardy materials get refined finishes for a room that Allen designed to improve with age. Polished concrete floors hold up to constant movement between inside and out. Honed granite countertops yield a softer look but more forgiving surface. Solid wood cabinets add texture throughout the space and can withstand a slammed door or two. “The owners didn't want any veneers or casework because they didn't think it would stand up to the rigors of their family,” explains Allen. A minute gap separates each oak plank on cabinet doors to accommodate expansion and contraction without cracking. Allen stacked the boards horizontally within their frames because he feels “horizontal lines tend to be somewhat quieter.” An apt choice for such a multifaceted kitchen.
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Project Credits: Builder: Schultz Miller, Seattle; Architect: Olson Sundberg Kundig Allen Architects, Seattle; Project size: 672 square feet; Construction cost: Withheld; Photographer: Eduardo Calderon.
Resources: Cabinets: Seattle Custom Cabinets; Countertops: Richlite; Dishwasher: Fisher Paykel; Glass tile: Ann Sacks; Oven: Miele; Patio doors/windows: Quantum; Plumbing fittings/fixtures: Franke and Hansgrohe; Range: Dynasty; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero.
2007 Kitchen and Bath Trends
Five trends that are reshaping the most important rooms in the house.
Shapes and Textures
Strategic Storage
Outdoor Connections
Flex Spaces
Spa Style
