Tradition with a Pinch of Panache

Designer Matthew Quinn, with co-collaborators architect Yong Pak and interior designer Lauren DeLoach, ensured this kitchen met the functional requirements of his clients while still having a bit of fun—or “pinch of panache,” as Quinn would say. 

The owners of the 1961-built home wanted to update the kitchen, making it open and family friendly. Quinn set out to seamlessly connect the space with the adjoining breakfast and keeping rooms, achieved by a shallow, coffered ceiling that visually connects the rooms and creates the main and cross axes.

The clients also desired separate zones for cooking and cleanup so the couple could work side by side. The Wolf range anchors the kitchen and cooking area. Appliance garages flank the range, housing mixers and processors, while the island conceals a Wolf warming drawer. The cleaning zone sits under the giant, arched window. Electric-open trash drawers, dishwashers, and deep countertops provide ample space for cleanup.

Quinn’s plan added a wall to the far side of the kitchen, creating a working pantry and the storage space required for dinnerware, countertop appliances, and food. The kitchen wall houses the Sub-Zero refrigerator and breakfast garage, complete with a toaster, coffee maker, and Wolf convection steam oven. Inside the pantry, the Sub-Zero freezer and storage space lie out of sight. 
To create the unique aesthetic, Quinn drew his inspiration from materials that would have been used when the home was built: white marble, brass, and painted, inset cabinetry. The waterfall countertop island adds a modern flair, but the paneling profile in the marble maintains a traditional, elegant look. The Wolf oven handles and range knobs are brass plated, and the brass hood and black splash feature hand-hammered strapping. Quinn used the homeowners favorite color—blue—for the color of the painted cabinetry. Throughout the kitchen, Quinn combines sophisticated, traditional elements with a pinch of modernity for a delightful space.