ARCHITECTURE with People in Mind
The owner, a bachelor in his early forties, wished to add a vertical addition to his 1,200-square-foot house that sits on a 22- by 38-foot lot. After pursuing options for this expansion, it became clear that the politics of the neighborhood would make it impossible for the plans to be realized.
To better accommodate his entertaining lifestyle within the existing square footage, the kitchen and dining room were opened up into one informal space that enables continuous flow between the kitchen and the game room above.
Within the kitchen/dining room the focal point is a split island--half of which is a cooking work area with a range top and the other half a three-inch thick, solid, cantilevered, walnut dining table with bookshelves anchoring the cooktop end.
Parallel walls of walnut cabinetry emphasize the linearity of the space while making it appear longer and therefore larger. The cabinets are held below the ceiling line to provide cove lighting which helps creates the perception of a taller space. A work station was included in the space, near the rear doors and natural light, to accommodate the owner’s need to telecommute.
File storage was provided in the nearby walnut cabinet via three built-in, lateral file drawers. The same cabinet also contains a liquor bar, for easy access, and tall storage for items rarely used.
Photography: JD Peterson