Untangle a rectangle

Architectural details such as alcoves, art display cubes and soffits soften the strong rectangular lines of this kitchen. These homeowners wanted a more functional and modern kitchen that was simple and clean, but warm in feeling. They also wanted a pleasant cooking space with more functional work centers and a user-friendly eating area.

The designers divided the entire area into three rectangular sections: the kitchen on the right, the center with a grand entrance, and the family sitting and playing space to the left. They eliminated angled entrance wing walls, changed the facade of the fireplace and replaced a window with a sliding door.

New cleanup, cooking, cold storage, dry storage and built-in eating area zones, as well as a small desk area, create a functional space where three or more cooks can work comfortably.

Light maple and bamboo create a warm backdrop for dark granite countertops. Sandblasted glass doors, backlit to glow and create a soft feel, and a checkerboard glass backsplash provide additional relief. The end result is a design mastering the simplicity of straight lines.

This kitchen earned a second-place award in the open-design kitchen category of the National Kitchen and Bath Association's 2003 Design Competition.

Designer(s): Tim Scott, Erica Westeroth, XTC Design Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Photography: Nancy Griffith Photography