Photography by Alise O'Brien
Homeowners Lisa and Paul Boyer have lived in their Oakland home for 17 years. They’ve always loved the house, but the original small, galley-style kitchen never worked for them. To help them devise a space that’s inviting and functional, the couple hired kitchen-design consultant Ken Henry of Alspaugh Kitchen & Bath. Working alongside an architect and contractor, he repositioned the original kitchen into the existing family room, which opens up into a hearth room. The homeowners credit Henry with making the most of a kitchen space that’s less than 200 square feet. “We often think about Ken while we cook,” says Lisa. “There’s a logical flow to our kitchen.”
- Let it sink in: The Elkay kitchen sink is centered in the former family room’s existing bay window.
- Modern marble: Mountain White Danby marble runs throughout the kitchen. “This is low-maintenance because it comes already honed,” says the designer.
- All angles: An arch valance over the sink connects the right and left sides. The crown moldings’ 90-degree turns are a focal point.
- Top shelf: Kitchen cabinets feature patterned glass on the exterior; interior glass shelves allow built-in lighting to flow through from top to bottom.
- Exposed ends: The cabinetry’s perimeter includes 3-inch bead board.
- Home on the range: The Wolf range includes burners, a griddle and grill, and two ovens. A separate HVAC system was required to handle the exhaust. “You don’t want oil or grease deposits on the cabinets,” says Henry.
- On the island: The gray hue plays off the frosted tile. Built-in drawers provide more storage, and a microwave drawer is strate- gically placed near the range.
- Spice of life: Pullouts on both sides of the range contain spices and oils.
