For some, the word "subdivision" may conjure up visions of Stepford neighborhoods where rows upon rows of cookie-cutter houses are neatly trimmed with manicured lawns and the occasional sapling that has yet to realize (and may never grow into) its full verdant splendor. But not all subdivisions are created equal. Cobblestone Woods, in Mequon, WI, for example, is an exclusive, 65-acre development featuring some 13 upscale homes, tranquil ponds and conservation areas lush with vegetation. The homes are the work of different builders in the metro-Milwaukee area and vary in size, style and amenities. In fact, so distinctive are they that six were showcased in a local builders association's annual Parade of Homes.

One such home was James Craig Builders' The Retreat, a 2,917-sq.-ft., ranch-style house that was designed specifically for the occasion. According to personal design consultant Judy Garvey, who was responsible for choosing all of the home's interior furnishings, including those in the kitchen, designing for a parade can be a liberating experience. "You can be very fluid and change things mid-stream," she said. "At James Craig, we usually design kitchens with the clients in mind. But when it's a parade, you want to bring an element of something new and unexpected."

For The Retreat's 272-sq.-ft. kitchen, this meant applying a deft mix of old and new. "Because we're located in southeastern Wisconsin, people are drawn to a more traditional look," Garvey said, "so we wanted to keep that in the kitchen, yet also bring in an element of urban contemporary." Garvey achieves this, in part, through her choice of cabinetry. Although the custom units are cherry, a popular wood for traditional-style kitchens, the selection of a flat-panel door style with 3-in. mitered stiles and rails offers a decidedly modern twist. Cross-reeded glass inserts in some of the doors reinforce the subtle eclecticism, while breaking up the mass of the cabinets.

Although some of the appliances are integrated into the cabinetry with matching overlay panels, those that are not enhance the kitchen's contemporary edge with their stainless finish and pro-style looks. In the cooking area, a sculptural ventilation hood and a decorative patchwork of coppery glass tiles, set against a creamy porcelain backsplash, create a focal point for the room. Above, a decoupaged tree branch handcrafted from medical tubing and pliable wire helps visually bridge the distance between the hood and the 13-ft.-tall ceiling.

Dramatic in height, the pitched ceiling imparts a spaciousness to the room, but needed to be counterbalanced for an atmosphere more conducive to socializing, a key function in Garvey's original concept. She noted, "We wanted the kitchen to be a space where you can entertain and work at the same time." To this end, a 12-ft.-long central island, outfitted with a three-bowl sink on one side and bar stools on the other, is situated directly under the apex of the ceiling, anchoring the room and lending it a more human scale. A trio of oversized pendants with glowing cylindrical shades punctuates the space and infuses it with a sense of intimacy, while overhead, recessed downlights ensure sufficient ambient light.

For baking enthusiasts, the island drops down at one end to form a pastry prep station that is located near the ovens for convenient access and is topped with marble for rolling dough. At the opposite end, the kitchen opens onto a dinette where 10-ft.-tall windows offer picturesque views of a conservation area. Because the home is designed to accommodate entertaining on a grand scale, as well as smaller gatherings, the dinette adjoins a sunken sunroom on one side and a great room on the other, providing guests with ample space to mingle in comfort. The openness of the layout and the close proximity of the kitchen also allow food and beverages to circulate with ease.

Another highlight of the kitchen that may not be immediately apparent is a walk-in pantry discreetly tucked behind a wall of cabinetry. At 5 ft. deep, the space offers plenty of storage room for anything from canned goods to small appliances, but its entrance is artfully camouflaged by two tall, flat-panel doors that match the surrounding cabinetry. The "secret" room not only takes advantage of leftover space from a stairwell that would have otherwise gone unused, but it's also "a fun element to showcase" in a parade, noted Garvey.

An earthy palette of stone and wood surfaces help tie the room together and enhance its warm appeal. Honey-toned granite countertops complement the cherry cabinets, which are in turn offset by maple flooring stained a rich, dark espresso. According to Garvey, achieving the depth of color required that the floor undergo "water popping," a process that "essentially opens the pores of the wood to absorb the stain. Otherwise maple will not stain that dark."

Since the parade, The Retreat has become home to a family relocated from Omaha, NE. While the husband and wife claimed the home during construction, they told Garvey to go ahead with her original vision, which, in the end, was a boon for everyone. Upon seeing their completed house for the first time, "the husband was overcome," Garvey said.

SOURCES

Designer: Judy Garvey—James Craig Builders, Inc.,
Wauwatosa, WI; www.jamescraigbuilders.com
Manufacturers
Cabinetry: Collins Woodwork
Sink & faucets: Kohler
Dishwasher: GE
Cooktop & ovens: GE
Ventilation hood: GE
Refrigerator: GE
Backsplash: Back Bay, Oceanside Glasstile
Lighting: Forecast Lighting
Photographer: © Erol Reyal


Custom cabinets by Collins Woodwork help set the tone for this showhouse kitchen. Because local tastes run to the traditional, the cabinets are made of cherry wood but feature a flat-panel door style with 3-in. mitered stiles and rails, which give the space its contemporary urban touch.







With only one sink in the kitchen, Garvey was careful to choose a model that would provide maximum functionality. Equipped with three basins, Kohler’s Undertone undercounter D-bowl sink fits the bill. Formed from 18-gauge stainless steel, the sink’s left and right basins measure 91/2 in. deep, while the center bowl is 51/2 in. deep.









Adding to the mix of old and new, a GE Monogram 36-in. European-style wallmounted vent hood takes center stage in the cooking area. Appropriate for 30- to 36-in. cooktops, the ventilation hood has a vertical exhaust blower with a 360-cfm rating, electronic touchpad controls, four halogen lamps and an automatic delayed fan shut-off feature.







Forecast Lighting’s Urban Oasis pendants are suspended over the island to help create a more intimate scale in the 13-ft.-tall space. At 211/2 in. in diameter, the pendants are dramatically oversized, and when lit, their paper shades and etched glass bottoms emit a soft glow. Each pendant takes four incandescent lamps.









For visual interest, the backsplash in the cooking area sports a decorative square formed of glass mosaics from Oceanside Glasstile’s Tessera collection. The collection offers a variety of colors and blends, including the Coppertone blend, which was chosen for this kitchen. The mosaics are framed by the company’s Casa California bar liners.