Cream of the Crop

By Kitchen of the Month

What do you do if you want a bigger kitchen but can't change the footprint of the house? Call Jason Landau of Amazing Spaces, LLC, a Briarcliff Manor-based kitchen and bath designer. His challenge was to open up the kitchen in this Briarcliff home, located in the Rosecliff community, without actually enlarging the space.

"The original kitchen layout was quite different," explains Landau. "Even though the former kitchen was the same size, the usable space was considerably smaller. The way we achieved this was to flip the layout."

This space swap was done by moving the sink area, previously was located under a window facing the yard, to make space for a sliding glass door to a new deck out back. The glass doors do double duty, not only providing an easy outlet to the outdoors, but lending the room an airy, open feel and, subsequently, larger look. The Wolf range, Viking microwave, and television are now situated on the inner wall.

The refrigerator, now located on the side wall, is flanked by a cabinet that’s home to the family’s everyday dishes and glasses are. "I call this 'the casual users' kitchen.' Someone can function within the space without interfering with what’s going on in the main preparation and cooking area," Landau explains. "You can pour a drink or make a sandwich on the counter beside the fridge without getting in the way of the chef."

The existing kitchen table and chairs were replaced by a new custom walnut table that can seat up to five. It is built into an island that is much larger and more functional than its predecessor (it houses an under-mounted stainless-steel sink by Kindred, which is flanked on either side by a paneled Miele dishwasher, and waste bins). “Having a built-in table saves a tremendous amount of space because you no longer need 30 inches of clearance space between the table and the island,” Landau says. For larger crowds, meals are served in the dining room.

Another trick to visually inflating the space? "We went up higher with the cabinetry," explains Landau, who took the cabinets to ceiling, elongating the room vertically.

Of course, as with any well-done kitchen redo, fashion doesn’t take a back seat to function. Framed cabinets by Heirloom feature full-overlay doors with raised panels and finished in a creamy paint and glaze, gives the room a sophisticated look that blends seamlessly with the great room beyond. The kitchen was further opened up to the adjacent family area with cabinetry that’s part-pantry, part-buffet server, allowing the rooms to flow into one another. Furniture-like features, such as cabinet "feet" and intricate molding, and sienna-colored granite add further details.

To open up the space, Jason Landau removed all cabinetry and a sink from the outer wall, replacing it with sliding glass doors to a deck. A large island, housing the main sink, a paneled Miele dishwasher, and waste bins, boasts built-in seating, a huge space-saver over a traditional table and chairs, which requires clearance space. On the opposite wall, a side-by-side paneled Sub-Zero refrigerator anchors an area where one can grab a snack or drink without interfering with the chef’s endeavors.

In the center of the inside wall is a six-burner, commercial-style range by Wolf, topped by a mantel-style range hood. A travertine and limestone portrait detail above the range provides visual interest. "We wanted to do something that makes an impact without being overpowering, because the granite is rather busy in terms of its color and texture," Landau explains. The range is flanked by additional cabinetry and a built-in Sony television and Viking microwave.

Glass-fronted cabinets break up the expanse of cream-colored doors and drawers with an interesting twist: their interiors are stained a deep chocolate, which complements the walnut-stained table and cocoa-colored walls. “The glass cabinets are lit from the inside, which gives a great ambiance at night or while entertaining,” says Landau. Furniture-like features, such as complex molding, cabinetry "feet," and hardware with an oil-rubbed bronze finish, give the kitchen the living-room feel the homeowners wanted.

A chocolate brown seating area is one of the most often-used areas of the home for this family with two boys in elementary school. Porcelain tile keep the look light while offering the durability needed for little feet and the big paws of the family dog.

Photographs by Olson Photographic, LLC