RAISED OCEANS APART
How would you reconcile the lives of a couple who had grown up in entirely different worlds? He was raised on the East Coast, wears bow ties -- in Seattle, no less, had pictures of him from his days as a member of the rowing team at an Ivy League school, and had half-shells of boats on the walls of his office. She was raised on the beaches of Hawaii, the daughter of a military man. Her world of lush greenery was seen through wide-open doors and was full of the colors and textures of the beach--sand and tumbled glass. His world was formal, hers, relaxed. He loved the stained, rich colors of cherry; she wanted the painted cabinets of her childhood.

We reconciled their worlds by using elements from each. For her, we opened up the outside wall completely to their backyard greenery, used painted cabinets to anchor the perimeter and engineered stone for counters, adding in touches of tumbled marble and glass accents in the backsplash. For him, Landon first suggested a keyhole shape for the island -- a powerfully evocative shape -- all the more when he realized it was the shape below every door knob of every door in his childhood home. Then, Landon proposed this shape be made of solid FEQ walnut (First European Quality -- not typically available on the West Coast). The connection to his life was complete!
Notice how glass was used to create a sense of connection between various design elements: ovens, wine refrigerator, cabinets, and window wall.
When we toasted the finished kitchen, the husband lifted his glass with a grin and playfully summed up his appreciation:
"This is the first time in 40 years of marriage that I feel like I live in this house, too!"


Back to the last stop on the "Photo Tour"

On to the next stop on the "Photo Tour"

  Back to the "Thumbnail Tour" 

prev1.gifTo the "Home Page" prev1.gifTo "Credentials . . ."   To the "Designed by L.I.F.E." process   To the "Reading Tour"