Frankenstein's Kitchen

I have a dream kitchen that has been forming in my mind.  This is not just a kitchen, but a "great room" of sorts, even though I don't really like the term Great Room because it seems too McMansionish!  It would be kitchen, dining room, library, and a cozy sitting area around a fireplace. I call it "Frankenstein's Kitchen" because the vision has been pieced together from  all over the place:  kitchens I've seen, magazine kitchens, memories and materials that speak to some part of my soul.  It all starts with a south facing wall of steel and glass french doors.

photo: William Heffner's Kitchen, House Beautiful

I am obsessed with carrera marble counter tops. The stove is La Cornue, the wood is whitewashed, distressed white oak. Professional, pull-down faucet, farmhouse sink, Traulsen Fridge.  The idea of this kitchen is very clean and contemporary, but with old world, romantic finishes and details. The foundation is more masculine and the styling adds the femininity.

photo;housebeautiful.com

photo: Susan Dosseter, housebeautiful.com



photo: Susan Dossetter designed kitchen

Here's the layout. The entire north side of the room is the living area, with a fireplace against the north wall. The south side of the room ts divided between the kitchen to the east and dining room / library to the west.

The kitchen has the sink under a steel window against the exterior wall, centered on a counter between the refrigerator in the south corner, and an armoire type cabinet for dishes. there would be two dishwashers from Australia on either side of the sink, because I have heard their dishwashers are superior, to the ones we have in the US. We all know we have to wash our dishes before they can go in the dishwasher!

Opposite the sink counter, would be a rather massive island, with the stove set into it and a hood above. There would be a pot rack hung from the ceiling to the right of the hood.


photo: google images

photo :google images

photo:housebeautiful.com, Windsor Smith Kitchen

photo:housebeautiful.com

photo:atuncontractors.com

The entire west wall of the dining room is floor to ceiling oak bookcases with classical details and a cerused finish.  These book cases are where loads and loads of books can be stored, and where I can store and display my collections of vintage silver, glass vases, and Chinese blue and white porcelain.

photo;stylebeat.blogspot.com

photo: Martha Stewart Living

photo:googleimages

                           

photo:housebeautiful.com

The table is some kind of a distressed farmhouse table with slip covered wing chairs at either end.  The look is glamorous library and cozy farmhouse at the same time.  There is an amazing, elegant chandelier over the table to make everything glitter and sparkle.  The palette is warm whites, lots of dark and light grays, a few taupes and tans.  Brass, silver, greyed wood, linen, burlap, silk shantung, limited color with tons of texture. 


photo:eloquenceinc.com



photo:distinctivedesignbygina.blogspot.com

The living area centers around a sandstone fireplace with a Louis Phillipe, gold leaf mirror above it.  A tuxedo sofa and a chaise on each side of it, and a generously sized round coffee table between them.  On the west wall next to the dining room bookcases are two french chairs, with a small, round table in between.  Think of this as the library reading nook.  An urn-shaped lamp on the table, and large-scale Rick Garcia agave painting behind the chairs and table.


photo:waterhousegallery.com

photo: www.frenchantiques.blogspot.com

This space has become so real in my mind, I almost can feel what it is like to cook in the kitchen, and sit by the fireplace on a cozy evening.  I am just waiting for my opportunity to make it a reality!