MOUNTAIN BLISS

We wanted to know more about "Mountain Bliss," so this is how our conversation went:

What were some of the challenges with the project?

First off, the grand scale of the room required special attention to proportion. So we created new windows that extend nearly to the top of the fifteen-foot ceiling, bringing in natural light and a stronger sense of the outdoors. Then in proportion to the windows, we built a grand modernized ventilation screen above the Wolf 48" range. What you don't see in the photos is that opposite of the range, there's a huge stone fireplace, some twenty feet high. That gives the room a wonderful balance.

What led you to put in the hidden pantry?

We wanted the space to fit the family's relaxed, outdoorsy lifestyle, so we wanted good flow throughout. The disguised pantry entrance eliminates congestion between kitchen, dining and wine storage areas.

It's unusual to see curved lines like that of your island in any of the KDC kitchens.

Everything is usually so clean and angular nowadays, even in most of my kitchens. But as I thought about the way the family would use the space, the way they would relax and entertain, the curved island just began to make sense.

Tell us what you did to bring the outdoors in.

Well, first the windows, which bring in so much natural light, and provide the wonderful view. But the rustic, outdoorsy feel also comes from the finishes we used: rough sawn walnut flooring, brushed rift white oak cabinetry, clean polished White Macaubus stone. In the pantry, we used a European textured laminate that’s super durable and easy to clean, but has a fencepost look to it, so it works well with the other finishes.

Is using organic materials like this a growing trend?

It's becoming more and more popular, as people look for ways to make their kitchens more authentic and more distinctive.

What other kitchen trends do you see?

One interesting one is that the interiors of cabinets are becoming as important as the exteriors. You may have noticed, there are no wall cabinets in the entire "Mountain Bliss" kitchen, which frees up the natural light to flow. So the base cabinets have to provide the most functional storage possible. We have all kinds of customized storage options in our showroom, and they've been very well-received. Each drawer almost becomes like a little jewelry box, in the way it stores and displays its contents.

Mikal, what would a dream project be for you?

What makes a dream project is when a client can articulate what they like and enjoy, then just let you go for it. "Mountain Bliss" was really that kind of project.