February 22, 2010
When it came time for Mariette Barsoum, CKD, owner of Divine Kitchens in Westborough and Wellesley, MA, to renovate the kitchen of a family living in a rural Sutton, MA, home, the first step to a more functional space was a major reconfiguration. In addition to straightening the
pitched-in ceiling of what was once a solarium, “we swapped the locations of the kitchen and the dining room,” said Barsoum. “By doing so, I was able to get a lot more space for the kitchen.”
Now measuring 15 1/4 ft. long and 17 1/2 ft. wide, the kitchen—whose length totals 35 ft. with the attached dining area—has more than enough room for everything on the clients’ wish list. As well as lots of storage, they requested a baking area; an island that could seat five people (the couple has three children); a space for organizing and managing paperwork; a place from which they could look out onto the lake, visible from the kitchen’s large windows; and high-end appliances. Barsoum’s goal? To incorporate it all.
In order to do so, Barsoum first tackled the kitchen’s layout, dividing the space into sections designated for baking, cooking, prep, cleanup and organization, and designing an island the family could sit around (versus along) that didn’t overwhelm the space. To capitalize on the lake view and fulfill one of the homeowners’ desires, she situated the cooktop on the island, facing the kitchen’s large windows so the chef can enjoy the scenery while cooking. Directly behind, there’s a prep sink for convenience and a refrigerator that is concealed behind paneling clad in chalkboard paint.
On the right-hand side of the L-shaped perimeter countertop is the baking station, which is located within easy reach of the appliance garage,
the microwave—which is concealed behind a pull-up cabinet (shown below)—two wall ovens, a warming drawer and the pantry, which is
nestled between the refrigerator and the two wall ovens. Also, noted Barsoum, the clients “can use the island countertop directly opposite
for preparation.” Under the windows is the cleanup area, where two paneled dishwashers flank a large, single-bowl sink. Here, separated
from the refrigerator is the freezer, which is integrated into the cabinetry and caps the expanse of cleanup surface next to the sink. As
Barsoum said, “They don’t use the freezer as much as the refrigerator, so it worked out best to have the refrigerator closer to the cooking
area.” Finally, on the other side of the kitchen, to the right of the prep sink and under a flat-screen television, is the organization
station, enclosed behind pocket doors, chosen for their ability to remain open yet unseen.
One may not notice the thoughtful layout upon entering the kitchen, but the color palette—devised by Barsoum and her colleague Heidi Marika-Perez—is another story entirely. In the middle of the room, the island is topped with a vivid 1 1/2-in.-thick custom concrete countertop in bright turquoise, while the perimeter countertops (also concrete) are slightly more subdued in a bluish gray. Complementing both surfaces are blue glass-tile backsplashes that the designers extended to the ceiling to give the illusion of added height. “The clients love color, especially blue,” Barsoum explained. “They didn’t want anything boring, so we livened up the space a little bit.” Additionally, open shelving and glass-fronted cabinetry showcase the homeowners’ assortment of brightly colored cookware, which brings a sense of cheer to the room.
Adding even more color and interest is the flooring—a wide-plank tigerwood—and the cabinetry. While Barsoum chose natural cherry for the majority of the cabinets, she also incorporated stained cherry cabinetry and detailing to highlight certain areas of the kitchen, such as the column
of cabinetry that houses the appliance garage and the microwave and, below, includes a wine refrigerator. “Incorporating a trim around the
appliances makes them stand out like units,” she explained. Barsoum also used a stained cherry countertop for the seating area attached to
the island in order to break up the expansive surface. She noted, “Using wood in the seating area brings warmth and also, when you look
at the island, it doesn’t look like a bowling alley.”
In the end, Barsoum was able to give her happy clients everything on their list…and then some. “I wanted to make the space as useful and as
functional as possible,” she said, “but I also wanted that the homeowners could look at each wall and see beauty.” Mission
accomplished.
SOURCES
Designers: Mariette Barsoum and Heidi Marika-Perez—Divine Kitchens, Westborough & Wellesley, MA; www.divinekitchens.com
Manufacturers: Cabinetry: Prevo Custom Cabinetry; Countertops: Stone Soup Concrete; Sinks: Houzer; Faucets: Dornbracht; Refrigerator, freezer and wine refrigerator: Gaggenau; Ovens, cooktop, warming drawer and ventilation hood: Gaggenau; Microwave: GE; Dishwashers: Gaggenau; Tile: Mirage Glass; Hardware: Dekkor; Lighting: WAC Lighting (pendant)
Photography: © Loretta Berardinell
