PROJECT CASE STUDY SPOTLIGHT ON CREATIVE, PROBLEM-SOLVING KITCHENS AND BATHS California Glam Meets Rustic Charm BY KIM BERNDTSON A designer mixes glamorous elements with bursts of rustic charm to give this kitchen the perfect reflection of its home-owners’ personalities. SAN MARCOS, CA – When this couple approached designers at Home Remodeling Center in San Marcos, CA to transform their kitchen, they wanted their new space to reflect a combination of California glam with bursts of rustic charm in a transitional style that would blend the best of traditional details mixed with trending colors and finishes of today. Blending the distinctive design styles seemed appropriate given their own personalities, notes designer Barbara Preston. “This family is charismatic…glittery, yet down to earth and full of positive energy,” says the designer, who worked with her clients to select materials and finishes while co-designer, Nora Bloomfield, CKD, focused on space plan-ning and cabinet layout. “Rustic touches allow the kitchen to be a true workhorse, without the fear of dents and nicks, while the glamorous el-ements shine in a kitchen that is both beautiful and useful.” RUSTIC TOUCHES Open shelves made from reclaimed barn wood – a 100-plus-year-old ‘find’ diligently researched and selected by the homeowner – replace upper cabinets along the outside perimeter of the kitchen for an open, contemporary look that also supports the rustic vibe. Although a relatively short four feet in length, each 50-lb. shelf is supported by hand-forged iron brackets that are securely bolted to the wall. This rustic combination of wood and iron complements dramatic ceiling beams and also ties in with the wide LM Flooring weathered/distressed oak planks that provide a hand-scraped look. Additional rustic touches include a Rohl Fireclay farm sink, accented with an industri-al-style Kohler faucet with pull-down spout that gives a nod to the rustic side as well. “She en-tertains a lot and is always cooking for guests,” Preston says. “A large, open sink – rather than one that is divided into two sections – can ac-commodate the big pots she uses. Plus, she just fell in love with the look of a farm sink.” Opaque gray Qortstone Steel quartz coun-tertops around the kitchen’s perimeter provide a scratch-and heat-resistant surface that can withstand the rigors of food prep. “Quartz also won’t stain, so we wanted to use it for the counters that get the most use,” she adds. As a complement, Preston incorporated Super White Quartzite on the large ‘eating/ entertainment’ island. It serves as a glamorous element while offering a lot of visual move-ment. “Quartzite is beautiful, but it takes a bit more maintenance,” she notes. “It needs to be sealed and isn’t quite the workhorse of quartz so we used it on the eating/entertaining island. It’s the ‘beauty’ while quartz is the ‘beast.’” Photos: Mark Krause SHOW-STOPPING COOKING ALCOVE Provides the ‘wow’ factor RUSTIC OPEN SHELVES Complement dramatic ceiling beams and weathered flooring PENDANT GLOBE LIGHTS Patinaed metal combines with crystals to solidify rustic/glam design style 40 Kitchen & Bath Design News • January 2017
Kitchen & Bath Design News JAN 2017: Page 40
