Flow and functionality were top of the list for a young family embarking on a kitchen renovation. Anne Marie Boedges, president and designer at Anne Marie Design Studio, joined forces with the couple shortly after they took ownership of the home. The goal was to make the kitchen reflective of their personalities while keeping the design functional, warm and tasteful. “The only thing they didn’t want was a white-and-gray kitchen,” Boedges says.
The husband and wife were opposites when it came to color preferences, with the husband drawn to warm, earthy colors and the wife to color and pattern. Boedges suggested a warm, creamy white for the main color for a fresh look. Additional color was added through the stained island, countertop, refridgerator and built-in bar area.
The designer’s intent was to create focal points on each wall in the space starting with the range wall. “The homeowner wanted the biggest range we could fit,” Boedges says. So she designed a 60” double range from Wolf. Stone was installed up the columns to a new wood beam, and the wall is capped off with a grand custom metal hood. Custom-built wood-stained spice shelves are tucked into the stone columns for easy access.
The sink area already had the sink placed under the window, but the base was oversized and bumped out. Wall cabinets were all glass so the homeowners couldn’t store everyday kid’s items. Boedges chose to design the far left and right cabinetry in the sink area shallower to give more walk space at the doorways outside. She added a secondary dishwasher and created symmetry around the window by adding gold sconces to the side of the enclosed wall cabinets. A coffee station with pocket doors is to the right side of the sink, and a special base cabinet houses all the kid’s dishes.
Walnut-stained beams complement the newly installed hardwood floors. The beams were symmetrically placed perpendicular to the quartersawn white oak double islands in the center of the kitchen. Boedges loves to create a double island for a family whenever possible, with one “working” island and one “gathering” island. These particular homeowners did not want a table in the kitchen, so the gathering island was designed to seat six diners across from one another with storage on each end. The working island features a prep sink, trash can, microwave drawer and storage for pots and pans. The island is stained a natural griege and is topped with two clear glass pendants that were chosen to not distract from the kitchen’s focal points. The Cambria countertops are cream with a grayish/coffee tones in the veining for added color.
Flanked panel-ready Sub-Zero refrigeration units provide ample cold food storage and were an opportunity for Boedges to elevate the design. She created a custom armoire-look by blending a jewel tone green paint with antique mirrors between columns housing matte gold sconces. “The tasteful color choice exceeded the expectation from the client,” Boedges explains. “It adds everything!”
The green color is carried into the client’s bar, which is fully viewable from the kitchen, and Boedges selected Silestone Eternal Marquina for the countertop and full-height backsplash. The bar houses a pull-out cabinet for liquor, ice maker and beverage refrigeration drawers.
Warm and upscale, this newly designed kitchen has everything the young homeowners could desire, plus the design/build was completely turnkey. “I love that it’s such a large kitchen, but inside it feels cozy and warm…like a hot chocolate and a hug,” Boedges exclaims.
