Friday, May 6, 2011

The Oscar of the kitchen industry

Just home from the awards ceremony and three days stay at the Encore Resort in Las Vegas where we won First Place in the Small Kitchen Catagory with "Julie's Kitchen"  (see former blog) and First Place in the Large Open Plan Kitchen Catagory of the NKBA 2011 Design Contest for our Log Cabin project. But the Oscar moment was winning the Best of the Best Kitchen Award and $15,000. check for the Defiance Log Cabin kitchen project.  That is quite an honor, as the National Kitchen & Bath Association reported over 500 entries in this years' contest. We partnered with interior designer, Emily Castle ASID, on the interior spaces of the home that includes not only the aformentioned kitchen but also a knock your socks off Master Bathroom Suite, Guest Suite with morning kitchen and other bathrooms.
The windows (above) overlook the Missouri River valley bluffs and the historic log cabin can be seen in the far background with what was the outside wall now left exposed inside the kitchen.
Hidden storage under the barstool support accesses a rollaround serving cart.

The Butler's Pantry (above), is located adjacent to the original log cabin dining room. It serves as a beverage center with coffee maker, refrigeration drawers, icemaker, sink, glass door wine cooler and glass, cup and liquor storage.

 "Branches in the Wind" - the name I have given to the seven consecutive custom leaded glass doors on the three sided buffet builtin.  Working with a very talented local glass artist, we conceived the idea of naturalistic leading with copper burnishing that holds the handcut swirled glass inserts creating a beautiful room divider with hidden appliance storage below.
The island prep sink (left) with Kohler's " Karbon" articulating faucet and "Stages" sink. At right, Franke's stainless steel apronfront sink serves as the main cleanup sink.  The countertops are honed Typhoon Green granite and solid walnut, the French range in chocolate brown is by La Canche' and we had the custom hood built in living copper.

A waterfalled countertop pictureframes the dead space mini drawers
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