Before designer Joan Bigg of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y.-based Joan Bigg Design stepped in, the clients of this 1990s-dated home – two professional scientists with a love for the outdoors – were stuck in a disorganized and visually unappealing kitchen.
Instead of traditional white cabinetry and tight quarters, the clients hoped for a modern space that would be simple and fun to cook and entertain in.
After moving a wall 12 inches and moving a bathroom, the kitchen opened up into a significantly more organized and modern space. Gray and white materials – with the relief of a warm bamboo butcher-block top – created a contemporary palette.
“We put a warming drawer beneath that butcher block because the husband wanted to have the microwave near him so he could warm things up in the morning,” said Bigg. “The design was really very personal to them.”
A curved backsplash lends movement to the space.
The door to the right opens to the basement, while the left door leads to a small bathroom. The addition of Houdini glass in the doors makes the space lighter while also giving users a bit of a surprise.
The geometric lighting fixtures refer to Richard Meier, whose love of shapes and lines plays into this design’s linear materials.
The final result is a kitchen with various prepping areas – including by the oven, the cooktop, the sink and on the island – meant for several cooks at once to work side by side.