At the Intersection of Art, Architecture & Design

This is the 4th article about taking an isolated galley kitchen in an older home and making it the center of the family’s activities.

This is the 3rd article about taking an isolated galley kitchen in an older home and making it the center of today’s activities. The original kitchen had adequate space — including adequate counter space — so we didn’t need to enlarge the kitchen. Instead we removed the wall …

Galley kitchens can be very effective work spaces. The big problem with galley kitchens in older homes is that they are cut off from everything — and often have limited counter space. I’ve yet to find a small galley kitchen that I couldn’t successfully incorporate into an open plan.

My client wanted to create a sophisticated, serene look without too much expense. The original kitchen cabinets were oak with a door pattern and a honey stain seen in far too many homes.

I love concrete counters! I love their flexibility — just look at the inlaid stone in the counter, above. I love the color possibilities. I love their feel. I love their earthiness.

Yesterday’s article covered the major elements that make color palettes work in architecture using a home with a bold, bright color palette. This home uses the same conceptual elements with a more somber palette of grayed-greens, deep wine, and a touch of creamy yellow. This home also features two elements that weren’t as apparent in the other home: The effectivness of Darker Transitions and moving from Dark to Light as daylight increases.

This article explores what makes a color palette work. In this home, I’ve used several bold colors but none overwhelm. Read about the 6 elements I use in color design.

This home uses a bright, energetic palette without being overwhelming. Let’s look at how the use of color sets the stage and creates visual boundaries. The only place red is used is on the column dividing the kitchen from the breakfast area. The column is necessary to hide a structural support, a waste stack and ductwork. The deep red marks the transition between the working Kitchen and the sitting area of the breakfast room.

You don’t think color when you look at this kitchen — the cabinets are an oyster milk paint finish. In this view, only the island cabinet is a cobalt blue milk paint. But look from this angle and cobalt blue is a dominant color. The impact of the cobalt is heightened by its limited and dramatic use.

This kitchen gives a stylist spin to traditional materials. We used glass subway tiles in the same way that period kitchens used ceramic subway tiles — with a running bond pattern and contrasting grout. We paired this tile with a custom concrete countertop in indigo, simple alder cabinets with a honey-colored stain, stainless steel appliances, black nickel cabinet pulls and other black accents.