Kitchens That Cook

From the stark white radiance on Figure 8 Island and the impressive nod to the 1950s in midtown to an eclectic mix of new and old in Wilmingtons downtown historic district this years trio of kitchens holds its own by bringing what is au courant to the forefront.

In the White Room

Step into this Figure 8 Island kitchen and you might expect the lights to go up the sound boom to lower and a camera to zoom in on a TV production set. This is the kind of sleek minimalistic kitchen where renowned chefs are filmed liquefying olives into an appetizer. Its polished and bright with or without the lights.

The light reflectance and clarity of the space is really refreshing and uncluttered ” says interior designer Leslie Stachowicz of Big Sky Design.

But this kitchen isnt a sound stage; its a second home for a couple looking to create a modern contrast to the traditional kitchen in their permanent home.

“I love white kitchens and I wanted this to be clean and contemporary ” says the owner.

Kitchen designer Doranne Phillips Telberg turned a dark wood-paneled space into a dream kitchen for her clients. She kept the original footprint two parallel islands banked by cabinets and countertops but everything else was scrapped and rebuilt.

“In that particular space the two islands work really well with traffic flow and efficiency ” says Telberg owner of Harbourside Kitchens. “When you are cooking you are in the room but in your own space. You can look out the windows at the beautiful views and still enjoy your company.”

The islands were entirely rebuilt and outfitted with a Jenn-Air range and large utility and small prep sinks with Caesarstone quartz countertops. Sheets of white vinyl minimize scuffmarks and a glass tile mosaic adds “an organic look ” Stachowicz says.

Telberg says the owner wanted to remove a sink from the wet bar that was never used. In order to keep the linear clean look Telberg decided to add a second dishwasher to keep dirty dishes out of sight and for the ease of cleaning.

“If you are just having people over for hors doeuvres and drinks then glasses can pile up. The two-drawer dishwasher frees up the other dishwasher ” she says.

LED recessed can lights were installed above the island. A hand-cut crystal fixture illuminates the dining table. Color pops from views of the water just beyond the porch and the owners art collection. Its the kind of canvas for any cook to draw inspiration and maybe even try a hand at liquefying an olive or two.

Resources

Homeowner
Anonymous

Architect
Jay DeChesere AIA LEED AP

Building Contractor
The Smithville Company

Interior Designer
Big Sky Design Inc.

Kitchen Designer
Harbourside Kitchens Inc.

Appliances
Atlantic Appliance & Hardware

Hardware
Top Knobs from Harbourside Kitchens Inc.

Plumbing Fixtures
Ferguson Enterprises Inc.
Plumber Signature Plumbing Inc.

Lighting Fixtures
Bayside Electric
Big Sky Design Inc.

Electrician
Setaro Electric

Hardwood Flooring Installation
Intercoastal Hardwood Floors Inc.

Tile Supplier
Southeastern Tile Connection Inc.

Tile Installation
Shaw and Sons

Cabinet Manufacturer
Rutt Handcrafted Cabinetry

Cabinet Installation
Martin Budnicki Building Services Inc.

Countertops
Little River Marble LLC

Painting
Chavez Painting Services

Wallcoverings
Big Sky Design Inc.

HVAC
Larry Lisk Heating and Air

Furnishings
Homeowners
Big Sky Design Inc.

Both Sides Now

Kris and Dean May were searching for an investment property when they stumbled into a deteriorating home on South Front Street the 1878 Italianate built by Wilmingtons first Jewish mayor Solomon Fishblate. Although the house had character charm and a breathtaking view of the Cape Fear River it was begging for restoration.

The Mays decided it was the perfect spot for a permanent home but it had no kitchen just a microwave in a bedroom. With designer Mindy Heu they mapped out a kitchen that maximized river views through original windows. From heart pine attic planks an oversized heart pine island was built by Mike Powell of Coastal Cabinets.

“I wanted to look out a window and watch the horse and buggies go by and see what people are doing ” says Kris May. “And if you are at a bar stool you can look at the river. It works well.”

Common kitchen appliances such as the microwave coffee maker and a second refrigerator and freezer were placed in the butlers pantry built in a hallway between the main house and the detached servants quarters.

“My kids can come in and get what they need without coming through the actual cooking space. No one is crashing into one another ” May says. Even when she hosted 30 people for Thanksgiving last year the kitchen functioned beautifully with plenty of space.

Producing a meal for 30 isnt hard when you have an Italian Heritage Series Bertazzoni gas range and oven. The stoves black finish compliments the black granite countertops and is offset by a custom-built hood that at first glance looks like copper but is actually wood.

“The cabinet maker made a replica of the one I wanted for about $10 000 less ” May says.

Dark glass tiles add sheen to the backsplash and are echoed in the butlers pantry and desk area. Mercury glass hardware from Anthropologie adorns the distressed cabinetry. Leaded glass panels were added to showcase the owners collection of cookbooks and carnival glass.

The Mays eclectic touches are evident.

“It is a blend of modern and old ” Heu says. “My clients have a lot of personality and that had to show.”

Resources

Homeowners
Dean and Kris May

Architect/Building Contractor
Stephen R. Hallead Renovation Building and Repair

Interior Designer
Mindy Heu Designs

Kitchen Designer
Mindy Heu Designs

Appliances
Atlantic Appliance & Hardware

Hardware
Anthropologie

Plumbing Fixtures
Longely Supply Company

Plumber
J. Miller Plumbing

Lighting Fixtures
Barreveld Lighting
Flambeau Lighting from Mindy Heu Designs

Electrician
American Electrical Construction and Maintenance

Hardwood Floor Restoration
King Custom Hardwoods

Tile Supplier
Tuscany Tile

Tile Installer
Willis Services
Custom Tile and Stone Installation

Cabinet Manufacturer/Installer
Coastal Cabinets

Painting
Pinnacle Finishes

Furnishings
Luna Bella from Mindy Heu Designs

Drapery Fabric
Artee Fabrics

Design/Fabrications
Mindy Heu Designs

Hydrogen Jukebox

Its not everyday you run into a superb example of mid-century modernism in Wilmington but on Gillette Drive the serenely southern azalea-covered road in Highland Hills a hip 1950s home has been updated into the 21st century. Whitney and Joe Finley wanted to stay true to their homes provenance but since the kitchen was boxed in the middle of the house they transformed a linear space for cooking eating and lounging. The result is an open airy and sleek design that Whitney Finley calls “contemporary with a warmth to it.”

With tones of aubergine grays and accents of white and steel the kitchen is daylit by clerestory windows from a second-story addition. The mulberry and arctic white Caesarstone quartz island countertops are durable enough for a
consummate cook.

But the showstopper is not the Finleys choice of purple hues or sleek accouterments; its the continuity of design into the dining room. Framed by a wall full of bookshelves complete with a library ladder the dining room invites the eye at every turn to imagine dinner with elegant food and conversation.

“We are voracious readers and weve always had books everywhere ” Finley says. So they worked with architect David Lisle to incorporate the library into the space with a dramatic chandelier and art gallery.

“I smile every time I look at it ” Finley adds. “Im looking forward to cooking meals and snacks inspired by favorite stories as our daughter Vivian gets older.”

Resources

Homeowners
Joe and Whitney Finley

Architect
Lisle Architecture & Design

Building Contractor
Tongue & Groove

Interior Designer
Lisle Architecture & Design
Tongue & Groove

Kitchen Designer
Shoreline Cabinet Company

Appliances
Atlantic Appliance & Hardware

Hardware
Coastal Glass & Hardware Inc.

Plumbing Fixtures
Ferguson Enterprises Inc.

Plumber
RJP Plumbing Inc.

Lighting Fixtures
Coastal Lighting

Electrician
Blanchard Electric Inc.

Hardwood Floor Restoraion
Rug Runner Inc.

Tile Supplier
Rug Runner Inc.
SouthEastern Tile Connection Inc.

Tile Installation
Rug Runner Inc.

Cabinet Manufacturer/Countertop
Shoreline Cabinet Co.

HVAC
AirMax Heating & Cooling Inc.

Furnishings
Luxe Home Interiors