This article first appeared in the PB July 2013
issue of Pro Builder.
According to virtually every home buyer survey, the kitchen remains the most important room in the house. That’s not surprising since this space is where we really live. As a result, the kitchen must be carefully arranged to not only function as a food preparation area, but also as a gathering place for family and friends. Typically, the idea of a grand kitchen involves a huge area with a massive amount of cabinets, granite countertops, and high-end appliances.
However, a truly grand kitchen can actually be created by paying strict attention to the overall layout and functionality, while creating one or two grand details or focal points. As you’ll see in the following examples, a really outstanding kitchen design simply doesn’t have to be grand in scale or overall cost.
Grand Kitchen
English Manor
The Chandler
The Walker Residence
Gardner Avenue
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Grand Kitchen
ArchitectDonald F. Evans, AIAThe Evans Group407.650.8770
A grand kitchen is a great kitchen that works for today’s family. It isn’t the largest or the flashiest room. It is the heart of the home with design creativity and ingenuity that takes the family into consideration. From the garage, there is a bulk storage closet in the hall, a Florida basement room, a home studio/laundry, kids’ study area, pantry, breakfast café, gathering room, and a dining salon all with the large gourmet kitchen as its hub.
A. Florida basement for all those things that don’t fit in the garage but stuff we Floridians can’t put in the basement.
B. Bulk storage closet is just steps from the SUV and the perfect storage spot for a case of vegetables, 24 rolls of toilet tissue, and the giant box of cereal.
C. The home studio/laundry is perfectly suited for doing laundry, but isn’t confined by one singular task. The space can be used for various arts and crafts from scrapbooking to flower arranging.
D. A kids study area close to mom but still private is the perfect solution for younger children.
E. Pantry for storage
F. Breakfast café overlooking the lanai and pool environment beyond.
G. Adjacent gathering room with seating at the grazing bar
H. Formal dining salon conveniently located next to the kitchen for ease of serving.
I. Gourmet kitchen at the heart of this family oriented home
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English Manor
ArchitectTodd Hallett, AIA, CAPSTK Design and Architecture248.446.1960Plan sizeHouse living area: 5,800 sfPorches: rear 292 sf; front 127 sfGarage: 1,260 sfWidth: 97 feet, 6 inchesDepth: 80 feet, 2 inches
Are grand kitchens just about surfaces and materials? How about, quality, color, and finish? No. Those are elements of a grand kitchen, but in order to truly make a kitchen grand the room has to be properly planned. I travel regularly all over the country to work with builders, and I see far too many kitchens that have great features with wonderful color palettes but simply do not work. If a kitchen’s floor plan is not functional, dramatic, and the core of the design, there will be no way to decorate grandness into it. The kitchen demonstrated today is a current kitchen, designed for today’s higher-end buyer that takes advantage of many satellite spaces to become a cornerstone of the home.
A. The sunroom off the dining creates a retreat space that brings the outdoors in.
B. With three walls of cabinetry, this kitchen has an abundance of storage.
C. The walk-in pantry goes beyond a Costco pantry and contains a fridge, with all of the appliances plugged in and ready to go, as well as mega storage space.
D. The family entrance has all the goodies, cubbies/bench lockers, and huge walk-in family closet, as well as front-loading washer and dryer for incidentals (the workhorse laundry room is on the second floor).
E. The kitchen has two islands, an 8-foot working island and a 12-foot serving island.
F. The kitchen is wide open to a massive informal dining and great room space.
G. A nice-sized office is located directly off the kitchen for a convenient place to keep bills, paperwork, etc. This space can be closed off when entertaining.
Start with planning first. Look at how supporting functions such as a pocket office or a large pantry will relate to the core functions. Think through the relationships to larger spaces such as dining and living. Only when these items have been established and planned carefully is it time to rock the finishes.
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The Chandler
ArchitectGMD Design GroupScott Gardner, 919.320.3022Donnie McGrath, 770.375.7351Plan sizeTotal: 4,500 sf
The kitchen is a place for family, friends, and the gourmet chef in all of us to enjoy our everyday lives and special occasions. Today’s busy world has a family coming and going in all directions at all times. This grand kitchen, with its pivotal location to all other living spaces and its something-for-everyone features, is designed to naturally draw the family together.
The hearth room with fireplace and abundant natural light is a great space for casual family interaction. From this kitchen you can access the outdoors from multiple locations and directly access the upper or lower level via the conveniently located stairs. A generously sized mudroom provides a stackable washer-dryer, an office area, access to the driveway, powder room, and ample storage to help keep the living spaces clean and clutter free. The kitchen itself provides generous counter space, expansive views, multiple workstations, and a variety of eating areas.
A. Screened porch
B. Double doors to screened porch
C. Hearth room with fireplace
D. Secondary entrance to rear yard
E. Informal stairs to upper and lower floors
F. Door to two-car garage
G. Friends and family side porch
H. Additional stackable washer and dryer
I. Valet area for jackets, shoes, storage
J. Door to one-car garage
K. Mudroom
L. Powder room
M. Study/office area
N. Walk-in pantry
O. Dining room
P. Butler’s pantry
Q. Multiple islands
R. Breakfast area
S. Covered porch
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The Walker Residence
DesignerLarry Garnett, FAIBD254.897.3518Plan sizeMain house living area: 3,345 sf
Often the relationship to the family room, dining area, and outdoor living space is what actually defines a grand kitchen. Although not overly large, this kitchen offers plenty of counter space for food preparation and casual dining along the island. While the cabinetry and finishes are exceptional, the focal point becomes the finely detailed vent hood and tile backsplash.
The meticulous attention to detail is evident with the handcrafted corbels and gently curved paneling on the island. Using the same stained wood for the island and the family room cabinetry provides two key elements: contrast with the painted cabinets, and a perfect transition to the family room since the island really looks like a fine piece of furniture. Thoughtful design and quality materials, along with proper space planning, result in a truly grand kitchen.
A. There’s plenty of counter space and cabinetry along each side of the finely detailed cooking area.
B. Family area with a fireplace and flat-screen TV
C. Note that traffic flows between the family room and the kitchen.
D. Single large dining area for the family and entertaining
E. Large pantry that includes space for a freezer.
F. Conveniently located utility room
G. Outdoor dining and living area are accessed through double French doors.
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Gardner Avenue
ArchitectRick GarzaRPGA Design Group Inc.817.332.9477Plan sizeTotal: 4,933 sfGarage: 525 sfPorches: 402 sfDecks terrace: 223 sf
The most used space in a home is by far the kitchen, and when you spend most of your time in this room, it should be grand. Typical kitchens are equipped with a stove and oven combo, a double sink, and a refrigerator. The grand kitchen at Gardner Avenue was well thought-out with entertaining in mind. Stacked double ovens, a triple sink, stove top, and large island with dry visible storage are a few of the luxury amenities in this grand kitchen. Doors open up into the family room to stay in tune with guests while the cook is preparing the meal. A large entertaining dining room opens up to the terrace, while a warming room opens up to the deck and backyard.
A. Double doors open the kitchen to family room
B. Triple sink
C. Large island with visible storage underneath
D. Double ovens
E. Butler’s pantry with sit-in desk
F. Warming room with fireplace
G. Dining room with terrace
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