At Clarke, we are truly thrilled when we see an extraordinary kitchen, so you can only imagine our delight at the dozens of magnificent designs we received to showcase in 2017. Innovative, artful, creative, functional, comfortable, stunning…the list of adjectives can go on and on. We’re taking this opportunity, as we turn the page to a new year, to share our Top 10 favorites of 2017. It was very difficult paring down to this selection, so if you’d like to review all of them, simply click the “Top 10” keywords at the end of this blog post (listed beside “Topics”) and you’ll find every 2017 blogpost that focused our Top 10 featured kitchens.
We invite architects, kitchen designers and interior designers to submit your recent Sub-Zero and Wolf kitchen projects. It’s a fast and easy process and we’d love to feature your work in 2018, showcasing your talent to thousands of homeowners to visit our site every month.
Beautiful Use of Color
In this traditional kitchen from MaryAnne Reynolds of Homestead Kitchens of Littleton, Massachusetts, The flow with the surrounding rooms was incredibly important, and by removing a wall between the existing dining room and an existing sun porch, three rooms were combined into one for the new kitchen. This let in natural light from the front and the back of the house. The new Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances were perfect for the client’s style of entertainment, which includes hosting regular book clubs where the food is almost as important as the book! The prep sink on the island and separate baking counter allows for multiple cooks to help in the kitchen at once. The resulting kitchen is perfect for entertaining large groups, but cozy enough for two to enjoy casual dinner at the new table height seating on the island.
Extraordinary Outdoor Kitchen
Who says a kitchen has to be indoors in New England? While the photo seems like a trick of the eye, this custom kitchen is actually open to the elements and outfitted with a Wolf Outdoor Grill. Samantha Elfland of Metropolitan Cabinets & Countertops created this spectacular entertainment space and reflected the Nantucket waterfront aesthetic with Fantasy Brown countertops and full-height backsplash. An exquisite space for entertaining groups large and small.
Stately and Yet Comfortable
“We wanted to down size without down-grading,” were the words of Rebecca Firdaus’ Nu Kitchen clients when they moved from a 14,000-square-foot Georgian Mansion in Greenwich, Connecticut, and chosen to build in downtown, within walking distance to restaurants and all the amenities. They selected beautiful walnut cabinetry for their island and tall units and Rebecca designed a unique sliding marble backsplash to hide spices and house a pot-filler for this home cook. Ten-foot-high ceilings allowed the height for transoms to let the light wash into this grand kitchen.
Creating Big Presence in a Small Space
Lee Kimball has a unique reputation for getting jobs done well (and beautifully) in downtown Boston, where regulations and delivery of building materials can be a challenge. This condo transformation, updating areas that hadn’t been touched in 30 years, included a stunning kitchen that is open to the classic living room and a city view that is magnificent. The statement is transitional, bringing in classic white, stainless steel, understated lighting and beautiful quartzite countertops that add movement reminiscent of the water view beyond.
Contemporary Flair Without Pretense
This kitchen is a collaborative design from Motif Designers Martha Gargano, Karen Sciascia, Sandy Kennedy, and Linda Sciascia. The homeowners were looking for a clean, transitional feel for the kitchen in their new construction home. The space needed to function for everyday cooking, as well as a space for caterers, as the couple has a great love of entertaining. An elegant dark stained wood was chosen for cabinetry. Calacatta Gold Marble counters compliment the cabinetry and stainless Wolf appliances. Integrated Sub-Zero Freezer and Refrigeration flank the entrance into the pantry. The pantry doors were painted “stainless” to match the appliances. The island features Sub-Zero Integrated Drawers, along with a two-burner Wolf Induction Cooktop. The kitchen lives up to Motif’s claim of providing style without pretense.
Furniture Detailing Creates a Feeling of Comfort
Haddad Hakansson Design Studio, located in Watertown, MA is known for its award-winning interior design with a keen interest in kitchens and baths. When a young suburban family wanted to maximize space in their kitchen without moving walls or bumping out into the backyard, they relied on the talents of Mark Haddad. Their new kitchen has a feeling of openness and light, while complementing their love of antiques, which are incorporated throughout their home. Storage solutions include a wall of tall cabinets, including an appliance garage with a lift up door and a fully integrated Sub-Zero refrigerator, a newly framed pantry closet and a dry bar – located in a previously empty space – that looks like one of the homeowners’ antique pieces. While the Wolf Induction Range is sleek and ultra modern, it also recedes, allowing the dramatic antiqued hood in a blackened steel finish to serve as a focal point.
Contemporary Gem
This simple and sleek kitchen from Scandia Kitchens is a great combination of function and beauty. The rift ash cabinets create soothing horizontal lines throughout, which tie in perfectly with the beautiful backsplash. The majority of the appliances are combined on one wall to leave the kitchen, which is open to a simple-all window family room, open and airy The dark cabinets are complemented by a stainless Wolf Rangetop, Wall Oven, Microwave and Coffee Stem. The Sub-Zero Refrigeration melds seamlessless into the cabinets. The handsome island stands out with its distinct look, stunning for the space, while the separate butler’s and food pantry are designed to create an enviable amount of storage.
Simplicity + Interesting Finishes = Bright Cook’s Kitchen
Karen Swanson of New England Design Works created a dream kitchen for a newly married professional couple, on the second floor of their double decker in Arlington. They love to cook and entertain their large extended family, so Swanson removed walls, a fireplace and pantry to open the space for their gatherings. Their Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances went in via a crane through the second-floor deck. They couldn’t be happier with the results!
Light and Openness Transformed This Space
Linda Kochman from Kochman Reidt + Haigh describes the journey she took with her client as “from dark and gloomy to open and airy.” She helped them transform a space where nobody wanted to be into the family gathering place they imagined. They introduced five key design elements: light (from expansive new windows), a walk-in pantry, glass shelving, Moroccan tiles with a soft-white reflective glaze and simple surfaces. The simple cabinet design increased the openness without changing the dimension of the kitchen. The stainless steel Wolf Range and Hood are a handsome focal point in this open and airy space.
Details Make the Difference
Thanks to Jill Muldoon of Kitchen & Bath Details for sharing this beautiful kitchen, which was part of a full-scale waterfront home renovation. Muldoon’s team took the original land-locked kitchen and created an open floor plan by removing a few view-impeding walls. This new design works perfectly to connect the kitchen to the dining area and full water views beyond. Gleaming white with light grey tile (and a magnificent mosaic tile feature over the Wolf Range), this kitchen offers incredible views both inside and out.