Kitchens That Cook

Bahama Drive Wrightsville Beach

With an atypical look from most beach-house kitchens this clean and bright space was a contemporary new construction project designed by Chrissy Bonney at Plantation Building Corp.

The Vent-A-Hood range is a showstopper with alternating chrome and glossy white lines following a curve. White cabinets on the perimeter of the kitchen demonstrate a striking use of white-on-white with a farm sink and quartzite countertops. A gray ceramic geometric tile backsplash provides contrast above the Thermador appliances.

While chrome finishes and clean lines represent contemporary design farmhouse details are also used including the farm sink wood texture of the island countertop and X motif on both ends of the island. A large island accents the stark perimeter with a bowed front and a gray-washed oak butcher-block top.

Down below a furniture leg detail takes the place of the toe kick. Up above double upper cabinets add height and storage. Cove molding finishes off the top while a swinging arm light hangs above the sink and clear glass pendants hang above the island.

Appliances stay hidden including an icemaker disguised in the island cabinetry. A unique detail is the pull-up cabinet doors with outlets inside allowing a home for a blender or toaster while freeing up counter space.

Shore Drive Harbor Island

Homeowner Angelo Medici remodeled the interior of his Harbor Island home with the desire to create a white black and gray contemporary interior using glass and wood. Schmidt Custom Builders was responsible for the remodel with design help from Ayla Scharesof Big Sky Design.

A sleek waterfall island makes this Wrightsville Beach kitchen functional and aesthetically appealing. White quartz wraps the surface and spills over the edge to the floor also rising up in an L-shaped counter for the five barstools. The large island allows friends to hang out in the kitchen while still seeing the view of the water out the dining room window.

A hidden pop-up vent for the island’s Jenn-Air cooktop range keeps with the sleek design providing a compromise between design and function.

“With the island wrapping around edges you see what you want to see. No matter where you stand the island offers interest ” Scharessays.

The monochromatic color scheme is warmed with darker wood floors. Depth of the wood is pulled up into a soffit that hangs above the white island providing a juxtaposition to the clean and stark layers of the waterfall island. Hand-blown glass LED pendants hang from the wood planks in the soffit showing a seamless transition between glass and wood.

The custom cabinets were finished with a gray undertone to blend with the gray walls. Shaker doors with large brushed-nickel pulls were used on the perimeter of the kitchen while a sleeker flat slab door was used on the island.

The white quartz countertops wrap up the wall taking the place of the backsplash. On the same cabinet wall a sliding barn door with stainless hardware conceals the pantry.

Beach Road South Figure Eight Island

Homeowners Janie and Ken Budd incorporated the coastal motif into their second home on Figure Eight Island choosing eco-friendly quartz countertops that contain sea glass and seashells.

This kitchen goes for height. After completing the new construction project Jeremy Sterling Bishop of Sterling Custom Construction wrapped structural beams to show off a tongue-and-groove vaulted ceiling. The rich and warm texture in the dark wood floors offsets the white cabinetry and wood detail in the ceiling.

Janie Budd worked closely with Jeff Fuchs of FFT Cabinetry to design custom features including the leaded seeded glass doors and the distressed robin’s-egg-blue island. An X motif on the leaded glass doors is replicated on both ends of the island that features a custom glazed finish for a farmhouse look.

Oil-rubbed bronze industrial pendant lights hang over the peninsula while large pulls in the dark metal finish stand out on the white cabinetry that wraps the perimeter. A power strip with outlets and under-cabinet lights hangs below while the lights shine through the sea glass in the countertops.

A white farm sink allows for symmetry between two built-in dishwashers that are concealed by cabinetry. A prep sink sits in the island across from the Thermador range and antique mirror backsplash. The statement hood has a shelf above that can display personal pieces as the Budds spend their summers on Figure Eight.

WHAT’S HOT 2017

Mixing Metals

Go ahead and mix metals don’t resist the urge. Beautiful kitchens feature brushed nickel plumbing fixtures with oil-rubbed bronze pendant lights. The eyes naturally see contrast first and a large black metal pull on white cabinetry adds emphasis with no cost difference. � Chrome and brushed nickel are also a complementary mixed-metal pair with different lusters. Switch up the hardware on your island or have your pendant lights shimmer with a champagne gold finish.

Waterfall Effect

A waterfall island provides a seamless transition from countertop to floor with a countertop surface that spills over the edge and extends to the floor. This clean and sleek look is commonly seen in quartz and most commonly in white quartz. � Another seamless trend is a countertop that wraps up a wall and acts as a backsplash replacing the typical tile splash. Waterfall counters help to hide appliances and electrical outlets and they also protect wood cabinets.

Farmhouse Influences

Farmhouse sinks are still in this year but it doesn’t end there. Two blended styles are showing prominence. Modern farmhouse and industrial farmhouse are taking 2017 by storm with plumbing fixtures pendant lights ceiling beams and barn doors. � A light and bright kitchen may call for the classic look of a white farm sink and a connected chrome faucet and handle. A warmer and more rustic feel may feature metal pendant lights contrasting against worn and weathered woods.

X marks the Spot

This year cabinet doors pendant lights and islands are marked with an x. With the farmhouse look seeping through this motif most likely originated from actual barn doors. This is a simple way to dress up a door whether it is wood or glass. A leaded x detail on a glass door could be a replacement to the textured glass panel of years past. Be on the lookout for x marking the spot in 2017.