A Look Into Thoughtful Cabinetry Design
Words by: Dori Mundt
During a home remodel, we often see kitchens as the investment piece. It’s the center of the home where family and friends gather, and we find it’s the most utilized space. Therefore, when we design a custom kitchen, we design with intention through collaboration with our clients. It is of utmost importance that we take into consideration what pieces of their existing kitchen function well, and what needs to be adjusted. Once the new plan is formed, we use our expertise to select cabinetry that is bespoke to the client creating a thoughtful design that encourages connection. Kim has years of experience designing custom cabinetry, so who better to explore the craftsmanship of tailor-made cabinetry design than with Kim’s kitchen?
One detail you will notice when you first step foot into her kitchen is the number of drawers versus doors. Even some of the lower doored cabinets have pull-outs inside. The reasoning is that doored cabinets consume a lot of valuable real estate. Have you ever found yourself digging into the deep, and often terrifying, depths of a corner cabinet? Especially one without a lazy susan? The horror, but it’s not a problem in this kitchen. Every cabinet door and drawer has a purpose: to function solely for Kim and her family’s lifestyle.
Inside the drawers, you will find custom inserts and attachments that go as far as matching the interior drawer finish, bringing form and function to a new level. Why shouldn’t the interiors of your cabinetry be as beautiful as the exteriors? Inserts ensure that everything has a place and that every necessary item fits. Think of them as the blueprints for your utensils, pots and pans, and other essential kitchen items. Bonus: your family members will know where everything belongs 😉
At the center of the kitchen lies the matriarch, Rosa. “What the heck are you talking about?” you ask. The oven was selected with thought and care, as cooking is one of Kim’s passions. She wanted to be intentional with the kitchen’s design down to the appliances. “But who is Rosa?” Rosa is the oven named fondly after Kim’s grandmother, who was known to cook with lots of love. An homage to Rosa is one of the many pieces that bring warmth and personality to this beautiful and uniquely personal kitchen.
Flanked on either side of Rosa are the pull-out spice racks. Rather than having one spice rack, Kim wanted to have all her most used measuring tools and small dishes accessible while cooking. Everything is always within arms reach, making meal prep a breeze.
Rather than adding more traditional upper cabinets with doors, Kim opted for open shelving. This gives the appearance of a larger kitchen with additional breathing room, by creating vertical lines that draw your eyes up. It also adds a sophisticated style to the space, with brass brackets and stained tops to match the rest of the cabinetry. Open shelving allows you to add more personality to a space. Since the kitchen has maximized the amount of storage space with drawers for the lower cabinets, she could use the upper portion to showcase more of her design style.
Kim has always been inspired by traditional European kitchens and homes. There’s a warmth to them that emanates a timelessness. They’re purposeful yet personal, which played a part in many of the selections in her kitchen, including the open shelving mentioned above. In traditional European kitchens, you will often see “curiosity cupboards.” Whether developed from an existing piece of furniture or built-in to match the rest of the cabinetry, a curiosity cupboard houses interesting and “curious” objects. In this case, Kim’s cupboard showcases her favorite china up top, followed by the most used glassware and plates on the shelves below. This creates an easily accessible storage space that incorporates yet another element of thoughtful design.
Above: Kim is featured with her mother Diane, and her dog, Hazel in her bespoke kitchen.
The main intention in the design of Kim’s kitchen was to create a central place to gather. Entertaining and fostering a connection with family and friends are deeply woven into her personal and familial lifestyle. Therefore, Kim wanted the center of the kitchen to feature a large island that provides sufficient space for her to prepare thoughtful meals while entertaining guests. With large, comfortable counter stools, guests can sidle up and converse while the chef creates her magic.
If you ever have the opportunity to be a guest in Kim’s kitchen, you can bet it will be an experience that rivals most five-star restaurants. There’s a warmth that can’t be bought and an aura that will leave you saying, “I can’t wait to do that again.” She measures with her heart and remains attentive to her guests. The kitchen just happens to be the cherry on top, and that’s her intention in helping her clients design their kitchens and home: to develop a deeply personal space that embraces the hearts and souls of the people that live in them.