Best Professional Kitchen of the Year    

Oak Never Looked So Good

June 2008 issue of San Diego Home/Garden Lifestlyes                   Photography by Larny J. Mack

A Hillcrest family of five wanted their kitchen to fit both their active lifestyle and their Craftsman-style home. Prior remodels had stripped the home of many of its Craftsman details, which the homeowners wanted to restore. An early '90s kitchen remodel failed to effectively use the expansive space and did not complement the style of the home. Natural light was lacking and there was no direct link to the backyard.

"One of the main goals for the kitchen was to create more of an open feeling that would flow from one room to the next, and to connect to the backyard," says Architect Ione Stiegler, who was called in to fix the kitchen's many flaws. "By enlarging the narrow opening between the kitchen and the dining room, a more inviting feel was created and there was a closer relationship between the two rooms.

"Now, when entering the home, you have a more direct view into the kitchen, which is the hub of the house, and can see out to the backyard. Double French doors with sidelights make up most of the east wall of the kitchen and bring in a dramatic amount of light; the doors open out to the backyard, which the homeowners use everyday."

Stiegler blended modern appliances for the family's cooks with design elements that honor the home's heritage. Traditional Shaker-style stained oak cabinetry was used throughout the kitchen. The slate floors, granite countertops, and mosaic backsplash tiles borrow colors from the Craftsman era.

The homeowners chose a Verde Bamboo granite for the island. Three pendant lights spotlight the granite's remarkable patterning. The island cabinetry was painted a soft white while stained oak legs give the island a furniture appearance.

The kitchen flows freely into the home office, which is used by all members of the family and has become an extension of the kitchen.

Additional photos of this home can be viewed here.

Project Manager: Joseph M. Reid