June 9, 2020

Clarke 2020 Kitchen Design Contest Spotlight: Extraordinary Contemporary Sub-Zero and Wolf Kitchens

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Today we continue our focus on the extraordinary kitchens that won first and second place in Clarke’s 2020 Kitchen Design Contest. Our spotlight now turns to the first and second place winners for Contemporary kitchen featuring Sub-Zero, Wolf, Cove and ASKO appliances. We hope you are as inspired by these kitchens as we are and we encourage you to reach out to these world-class designers with any questions you may have about these projects or your own.

First Place Winner – Contemporary Kitchen: Karen Swanson – New England Design Works

Karen Swanson’s goal for this first place-winning Contemporary Kitchen was to help the homeowners achieve their modern vision while respecting the original 1800s architecture, which included gorgeous plaster crown molding and casings. Since this urban home offered a casual and natural vibe, the task was to reimagine the kitchen space to reflect this aesthetic as well.

 

Karen’s challenge was to redesign the space, which existed as a large dining room and poorly laid out kitchen. The homeowners imagined a “center stage” kitchen, as well as a dining space and a casual lounging area for watching football on Sundays while cooking. Working around two large chimneys was Swanson’s first hurdle. Working with the builder, they were able to scale back the chimney presence and give more space to a 24” Sub-Zero column refrigerator and freezer flanking a Wolf cooktop area.

The kitchen now, indeed, takes center stage, and the surrounding living and dining areas offer a gracious flow and light-filled space that has changed the way the homeowners live in their home. One favorite feature of the new space is the integrated shelving that bridges the pantry area to the main kitchen offering a way for the eye to blend the spaces.

 

Contact Karen Swanson at New England Design Works:
nedesignworks@gmail.com

 

Second Place Winner – Contemporary Kitchen: Paula Accioly – Jewett Farms + Co.

 Paula Accioly took a cramped, dark space from “dated and traditional” to “open and more contemporary.” The homeowners wanted to retain a feeling of craftsmanship and wanted their kitchen to more successfully reflect an air of coastal living, as the home is located on the ocean in New Hampshire. They also wanted the space to feel larger without increasing the square footage and suggested they could lose some of the cabinetry, but none of the storage.

Paula engineered this kitchen around important work areas, such as the cleaning, cooking and prep spaces. Storage solutions were designed for each area to keep all of the tools needed in that space together. This was achieved through details such as drawers with custom inserts for spices, utensils, a knife block and dishes. Built-in shelves were designed for small appliances, as well as coffee and tea supplies. In addition, she eliminated hardware by designing custom cut-outs in the doors and drawers, which gave a more modern, coastal feel.

The homeowners wanted to introduce reclaimed material without it looking too rustic. Paula solved this by designing clean-line vegetable drawers and open shelving of reclaimed oak. The material adds warmth to the design and an organic feel that remains firmly coastal. The homeowners wanted top of the line appliances made in the U.S. that would last a long time and had a “soft spot: for Sub-Zero and Wolf. In fact, they added Wolf Gourmet countertop appliances (toaster and toaster oven) to complete the picture. Sub-Zero and Wolf’s  sleek lines blended well with the new style.

 Contact Paula Accioly at Jewett Farms + Co.:
paula@jewettfarms.com

 

What captured the judges imaginations?

The judges found these designs particularly captivating in the fact that they are completely modern and balanced in every detail. They pay respect to the original details of the home in perfect harmony including the integration of natural materials from Mother Earth.

If you would like to explore the world’s finest appliances, a visit to Clarke, New England’s Official Sub-Zero, Wolf and Cove Showroom, will offer you a unique opportunity to explore full-scale kitchens, talk to experts and actually cook on the appliances to help you make your selections before buying.