USA Kitchen Trends US Kitchen Trends Vol. 30/09 | Page 71
Out of the past
This compact kitchen offers a pre-war look while tucking
modern functionality behind the scenes
Older apartments often celebrate living areas
at the expense of more practical rooms, such as
the kitchen. These were usually under-designed
and allotted only a small share of the footprint.
Such was the scenario when architect Alan
Berman came to renovate this kitchen in a 1920s
condominium. While units in the tower had
been inexpensive at the time of building, today
they are high-end inner-city residences and the
new kitchen had to reflect this, says Berman.
“One tricky aspect was remodeling within
almost the same footprint, as space was limited
by the architecture and services. A bathroom
behind the old kitchen was removed, gaining
some room, but a gap behind the cabinetry was
retained for the original plumbing lines.”
To optimize a sense of space, the new kitchen
is open to the living areas. However, Berman
introduced a short peninsula and a millwork
beam on the ceiling to provide a degree of separation. The hollow beam contains the elaborate
wiring required for IT systems and air conditioning, and the peninsula doubles as a serving
station and breakfast bar, and contains a wine
cooler. Full-height cabinetry maximizes storage
within the constrained space.
Facing page: Wraparound cabinets
stretch floor to ceiling in this
compact kitchen that delivers
maximum function in a limited
space. A peninsula with an undercounter wine cooler acts as a serving
station and breakfast area.
Above: Formwork on the ceil