Denver Home Living Huettner Capital Fall 2018 | Page 25

W
ALL THE COMFORTS OF HOME
hen imagining my Monogram kitchen, I
wanted to present a concept that would
inspire homeowners to think about how
they can create their own dream kitchen.
So often we see professional style appliances
presented to homeowners in a commercial style and my
goal was to make everyone feel “at home” in my Monogram
kitchen — and inspired to unleash their inne r chef!
Since my own kitchens are always abuzz with activity and
energy, I’ve designed this kitchen to embrace the functions
of cooking, entertaining and family life. This is my vision of
a casual and comfortable kitchen for creating, collaborating
and celebrating a passion for all things delicious! I envision it
as the ultimate backdrop for dinners with friends, quiet nights
at home and as the everyday hub of the home where everyone
wants to hang out. With a place to sit and chat at the counter,
a spot to work or research new recipes at the desk, a dedicated
bar area for entertaining and plenty of counter space for
prepping gourmet feasts, the layout of my Monogram kitchen
celebrates the modern family lifestyle as it changes and evolves
throughout each hour and day of the week. Today’s kitchen
is a workhorse of multifunctionality and needs to embrace
style and smarts in equal measure to meets the demands of
today’s homeowner. The ever-popular shaker cabinet door
has a slight bevel giving it a polished profile amidst the sleek
lines of the streamlined Monogram appliances I’ve chosen.
The recessed panel speaks to a more traditional home like
so many of the houses in our towns and cities, whereas the
crisp waterfall edge and bright white Caesarstone counters
harness our collective appetite to live in contemporary style.
ADD A DASH OF DRAMA
Kitchens are often light and bright, but so often the time
we spend prepping, relaxing or working in our kitchen
happens during the evening hours, and this is what drew
me to the concept of a rich and dramatic palette. I like
to think of the kitchen cabinetry as an inky blue night sky
backdrop that’s been punctuated and accented with artful
highlights in the form of lighting and soulful, functional
accessories. The lighting showcases my desire to always
blend classic influences with modern innovation. The
eyebrow wall sconces provide a nautical nod to what could
be considered a coastal palette. The brass island pendants
are a clever blend of a classic material expressed in a modern
form, which always appeals to my personal style and my
desire to celebrate fresh ideas and creative concepts.
Condo kitchens often suffer from a lack of natural light
so I’ve embraced a signature trick and installed decorative
antique mirror panels to harness the light and reflect it
back into the work area, and of course the cloudy veining
in the mirror reinforces my night sky inspiration.
TO ACCESSORIZE IS TO STYLIZE
No kitchen is complete without original, elements crafted with
soul by artisans. To that end, I’ve curated a collection of blue
hued images from world travel photographer Tony Koukos
to celebrate the influences of global design in our everyday
world and to highlight the architectural and textural elements
that constantly fuel my creative passion. I believe kitchens
should be lived in, and I always prioritize creating an oasis
of comfort and calm to nourish the spirit and feed the soul.
The lowered counter area serves multiple functions, both as a
desk and as a serving or buffet area for entertaining. Offering
a variety of work and prep and seating options in any kitchen
creates a welcoming environment. The table base is custom
crafted out of solid brass and further reinforces the rich navy
and warm brass palette showcased throughout the kitchen.
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