April 22, 2010

Eclecticism can be a tricky proposition. When handled poorly, the melding of disparate elements and styles never completely gels and the
effect is disjointed and chaotic. But if executed well, the result can be stunning. Such was the case with this merit-winning solution by
Cheryl Kees Clendenon, of In Detail. Created for a client who “loves modern design” yet still desired a hint of the traditional infused
throughout her home, this 220-sq.-ft. kitchen artfully blends a host of rich materials, elegant details and luxe finishes to produce a setting
where high function meets high style.

The project, however, was not without its challenges. The most critical was a lofty, 14-ft.-high ceiling, which demanded a kitchen that could
visually hold its own. Establishing an appropriate sense of scale and weight was also important as the kitchen is part of a larger, open
floor plan that also encompasses a dining room and a great room. As Clendenon noted, “Large kitchens are not always easy to make work and
need a good balance between aesthetics and function.”

But this kitchen does work, thanks in part to a dark walnut wood enclosure that frames the entire cooking area and, at 5 in. deep, lends heft and
definition to offset the tall ceiling and open space. Contained within it are a 36-in. range, a large ventilation hood and walnut cabinetry
that is finished in espresso brown for a more integrated appearance. Formed of cold-rolled steel, the hood measures 60 in. wide to “provide
more presence in the cooking center,” noted Clendenon, and in the backsplash, a small cutout shelf is tiled in mirrored glass for a bit
of sparkle.

Mirrored glass also adorns the upper cabinets where it serves as a background to a triple-ring design element crafted from
iron. Repeated throughout, the metal and glass inserts help unify the room and lighten the volumes of dark wood cabinetry. Similarly, a
custom iron table containing a microwave is topped with end-grain cherry and walnut in a checkerboard pattern, and for the refrigerator
panels, Clendenon chose burled walnut veneers to “echo the browns and blacks used in much of the furnishings.”

Completing the look are twin chandeliers whose dangling glass beads dance with reflected light, and Calcutta gold countertops and backsplashes, which counterbalance the dark finishes and offer “a nod to a traditional use of materials.” A bevy of appliances—some concealed, some not—easily accommodate all of the client’s cooking and entertaining needs, as does the abundant storage in both the cooking and pantry areas.

Exquisitely outfitted and seamlessly pulled together, this hipster of a kitchen offers much in the way of convenience and functionality, and perhaps
even more in its sleek artistry.

SOURCES
Designer: Cheryl Kees Clendenon—In Detail, Pensacola, FL; www.indetailkitchenandbath.com
Additional member of the design team: Stacy Miller Snowden
Manufacturers: Custom cabinetry: In Detail; Countertops: In Detail; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero; Range and warming drawer: Wolf; Microwave drawer: Sharp; Sinks: Oliveri
Photography: © Greg Riegler