HOME & DESIGN SPECIAL SECTION
To enhance this timeless white , transitional kitchen , Flashman Design Inc . added black oak and metal accents along with contemporary edged quartzite countertops .
Flashman ’ s European design mirrors this clean aesthetic and is perhaps one of the most in-demand styles of the moment . “ European design is often quite modular , with very specific materials ,” Flashman says , adding that “ there ’ s no room for error ” with this look .
However , his company also does a lot of transitional projects with American branded products . And Flashman , who works on both remodels and new builds , is expanding to include Americanmade , European-style cabinets in a wide array of materials . While The Hive shopping center has housed his showroom for seven years , he ’ s been designing kitchens for decades and is now diverting his focus to custom cabinetry .
Handleless overlay slab doors in either high-gloss lacquer and acrylics or a super matte finish provide “ flat-looking details ” that hide all appliances , even refrigerators . Barely noticeable sinks can be made to blend into their surroundings . Modern spaces are also devoid of details like crown or trim molding , while reproduction hardwood floors —“ they look and feel like real wood ,” Flashman attests — lend visual appeal . Tip : If you have wood cabinetry , be sure the floor either matches exactly or contrasts entirely , Flashman advises . Also , although you can ’ t hide an oven , you can make a beautiful range the focal point of the room .
Then , set the mood with lighting , which “ can define the character of a space ,” Flashman says .
In a modern minimalist kitchen , consider a linear pendant above an island or dining table ( like Cerno ’ s Virga or Vix 82 fixtures ). Equally important as decorative lighting is task lighting — over , under and even inside cabinets — as well as the color temperature ( Kelvin ) they give off . They should also coordinate — all warm or all cold .
THE UN-KITCHEN As the need for innovative appliances ( think juicer , air fryer and wine fridge ) increases , so does the desire to conceal them . “ My favorite kitchen to design is one that is not identifiable as a kitchen ,” says Claudia Morales , owner of Claudia Interior Design .
“ One way to do this is to use furniture pieces instead of cabinetry ,” she explains , noting the use of a bookcase to store glassware and dishes as one example . This helps blur the line between the kitchen and its surrounding spaces , especially with open-floor concepts .
Another option is to install modern storage — like a larder , which consists of electrical outlets and can house a coffee station , appliances or pantry items — and is hidden behind push-in doors that blend with the cabinetry facade . Surprisingly , such an “ un-kitchen ,” she says , can still function as a great workstation .
Julie Laughton , principal designer of her eponymous Lagunabased firm , Julie Laughton Design Build , says one of her favorite projects incorporated English Smallbone cabinets crafted to resemble furniture .
When it comes to countertops , man-made quartz and Silestone are
ANDREW BRAMASCO ; OPPOSITE PAGE , FROM TOP : HENRY CAI ; COURTESY OF JULIE LAUGHTON DESIGN BUILD
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