Miner's Point

Iron and wood inform a kitchen fit for a gourmet chef in the spectacular backdrop of the Rocky's Wasatch Mountains.

When kitchen designer David Berkowitz was asked to add energy and spice to a spec home kitchen in Park City, Utah, he was thrilled to tap into his restaurant and design backgrounds. "This is the first time," he says, "that I had client who said, Go for it—create something that you would want to work in." Cornerstone pieces like the mobile tray storage rack with butcher-block top offer modularity and flexibility. "I believe you need to go vertical in kitchens," says Berkowitz. "This rack allows counters to keep from getting cluttered with trays." There is also a mobile trash cart, and moveable island with three stools that can double as bar or plating area. "The Wolf 48-inch range with four burners, griddle and grill also provides a lot of flexibility," Berkowitz continues. "You can use the griddle for pancakes, potato cakes, bacon, bain-maries and hotel pans."

Inspired by the area's historic mineral mines, the focal point is a trussed ceiling with a rustic ventilation hood designed to recall the area's historic miner's carts and hangs by custom chain link. "Park City was a silver mining town back in the day," says Berkowitz, explaining how he came up with the concept. "I borrowed the framework: the steel around the edges, the big rivets, and the copper inside the panels."

Reclaimed chestnut earmarked for cabinets was inconsistent in grain and color, so Berkowitz created slats from it, to balance out imperfections. Finger joints lock them together like puzzle pieces. He also designed the island as a farmhouse table with green granite top, then deconstructed it in order to slide more cabinetry inside. His wife painted the table's legs and skirt, to give it a fitting patina. "Every surface tells a story," says Berkowitz. "You can do some very nontraditional things by having a couple pieces be traditional—enough for cohesion—and then surrounding them with items that have more individuality."