Kitchen Design Idea : Space, Storage, Informality

Space, Storage, Informality -- That's what the owner of Birmingham Michigan home were seeking when they asked designer Christine Ramaekers to renovate their kitchen. 'The existing kitchen was extremely small and not conducive to hosting large gatherings', Ramaekers says, 'The homeowners are not formal people, but they wanted space to entertain their big extended family and groups of friends.' 

Although the home was only 10 years old, its busiest room didn't match the size and grandeur of the rest of the structure. 'The overall design intent was to expand the space and create a timeless kitchen that would feel original to this architecturally significant home,' Ramaekers says. She added 8 feet to the back of the house, creating room for multiple cooks at the meal prep areas, while leaving enough space for seating area at the enlarged island, a dinning table and chairs, and a charming window seat nook near the backdoor.

The 275-square-foot kitchen addition also includes a walk-in pantry for much-needed storage. A wall of cabinetry keeps one side of the pantry organized, while the opposite side houses a furniture-style piece with open shelving-the perfect spot for a coffe and breakfast bar. Light stream into the pantry through an undressed window and the glass-pane door that connects it to the kitchen.

Increasing natural light was the impetus behind the wide window over the perimeter sink and the tall window on either side of the French doors leading to the back porch. 'The pantry allowed us the luxury of minimizing wall cabinets,' Ramaekers says. However, that meant the other cabinets had to pull their weight.

Base cabinets include rollout trays; spice racks are fifted into cabinet by the cooktop; cutlery dividers are built into drawners near the dishwater; and tray dividers organize cabinets above the ovens.'Each cabinet has a very spesific purpose,' she says.

Inspired by stucco, copper and natural stone on the exterior of the home, Ramaekers chose a French-inspired pallete and aesthetic for the kitchen. Muted, earthly colors and inviting surfaces lend a warm, old-world atmosphere to the new space. 'Using two complementary granites (on the island and the perimeter) softened the look of the massive island and gave the kitchen an older feel,' she says. 'And the white glazed cabinets around the perimeter of the room keep the focus on the interesting textures of the backsplash, hood, countertops, and contrasting cherry island.'

The room's crown jewel is the limestone-and-copper range hood. Ramaekers made the cooktop area for the local point by pairing the distinctive hood with a stunning tile treatment. 'The tile is one of my favorite elements of this kitchen,' she says. 'The slate harlequin pattern ranged so much in color that it gave the backsplash a unique depth that felt right at home with the casual French theme.