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Oak Park, Illinois, is as well-known for its vibrant community as for its setting for some of Frank Lloyd Wright's most beautiful houses.
His architectural influence, via the Prairie Style, has left a lasting impression in this tranquil suburb just west of Chicago.
The Mission Style is often considered to be a variant, or indeed a proponent, of the Prairie Style, and was, therefore, appropriate for the
renovations to this Kitchen. The existing house was designed in similar fashion, and features lovely millwork details throughout, many of which
were a strong influence on the design, including fumed-oak cabinetry, copper wall tiles, and art-glass windows.
The existing Kitchen, as can be seen below, was a true relic of that era in American culture when the lady of the house was not necessarily the
family cook; everything was built for utility, and nothing for beauty. Not only that, but the space was closed off from the rest of the house,
rendering daily activities cumbersome & difficult.
The clients requested that the Kitchen be opened into the breakfast room & dining room; this was accomplished through a careful insertion of
structural supports, masked by fumed-oak boards, and hiding a new structural column within a glowing shaft of light.
Thank you, Betsy & Cheryl, for all your friendship & support; I am privileged to have worked with you.
His architectural influence, via the Prairie Style, has left a lasting impression in this tranquil suburb just west of Chicago.
The Mission Style is often considered to be a variant, or indeed a proponent, of the Prairie Style, and was, therefore, appropriate for the
renovations to this Kitchen. The existing house was designed in similar fashion, and features lovely millwork details throughout, many of which
were a strong influence on the design, including fumed-oak cabinetry, copper wall tiles, and art-glass windows.
The existing Kitchen, as can be seen below, was a true relic of that era in American culture when the lady of the house was not necessarily the
family cook; everything was built for utility, and nothing for beauty. Not only that, but the space was closed off from the rest of the house,
rendering daily activities cumbersome & difficult.
The clients requested that the Kitchen be opened into the breakfast room & dining room; this was accomplished through a careful insertion of
structural supports, masked by fumed-oak boards, and hiding a new structural column within a glowing shaft of light.
Thank you, Betsy & Cheryl, for all your friendship & support; I am privileged to have worked with you.
Before
The existing Kitchen, as seen in these photographs, was simply fitted,
with plain wooden cabinets, painted over, and little architectural
detail or accent. With numerous doorways, and little natural light, it
was a dark, cheerless space.
Scroll down the page to see what happened next....
with plain wooden cabinets, painted over, and little architectural
detail or accent. With numerous doorways, and little natural light, it
was a dark, cheerless space.
Scroll down the page to see what happened next....
After
Well, hot diggity dog! Would you believe this is the same space?
The new Kitchen glows with colour and light; soft, warm golden
yellows and gentle, mossy greens accent the hand-crafted fumed-oak
cabinets, fitted precisely within the space.
Further accents are provided by art-glass panels on several of the
cabinets, with interior lighting, as seen over the refrigerator.
An additional enhancement was provided by a special bridge cabinet
over the sink, with art-glass fronts on both sides, creating a glowing
enclosure of light where none had been before.
The breakfast bar is surfaced in a mossy green slate, while the counter
surfaces are a warm, yellow granite.
As a special accent, the sink is finished in a deep cobalt-blue
porcelain, with an antiqued copper faucet & handle.
The new Kitchen glows with colour and light; soft, warm golden
yellows and gentle, mossy greens accent the hand-crafted fumed-oak
cabinets, fitted precisely within the space.
Further accents are provided by art-glass panels on several of the
cabinets, with interior lighting, as seen over the refrigerator.
An additional enhancement was provided by a special bridge cabinet
over the sink, with art-glass fronts on both sides, creating a glowing
enclosure of light where none had been before.
The breakfast bar is surfaced in a mossy green slate, while the counter
surfaces are a warm, yellow granite.
As a special accent, the sink is finished in a deep cobalt-blue
porcelain, with an antiqued copper faucet & handle.
At the south wall of the Kitchen, a new stainless-steel range gleams
beneath a fumed-oak canopy, masking a high-capacity hood.
The fascia is highlighted with copper wall tiles, with flanking vertical
cabinets fitted with art-glass panels.
The backsplash, of warm French slate in soft golds, coppers & greens,
is an easily cleaned surface, ideal for a client who enjoys cooking.
There is so much warmth & delight in this Kitchen; it is, really, one
of my personal favourites.
beneath a fumed-oak canopy, masking a high-capacity hood.
The fascia is highlighted with copper wall tiles, with flanking vertical
cabinets fitted with art-glass panels.
The backsplash, of warm French slate in soft golds, coppers & greens,
is an easily cleaned surface, ideal for a client who enjoys cooking.
There is so much warmth & delight in this Kitchen; it is, really, one
of my personal favourites.
Planning
These drawings indicate the levels of complexity involved with the
design of this Kitchen, including the staircase to the back door and the
carefully planned cabinetry, including the breakfast bar.
Additionally, various cabinets were created with art-glass doors, a
hallmark of the Mission style found throughout the house.
Scroll down the page to see how the renovations turned out....
design of this Kitchen, including the staircase to the back door and the
carefully planned cabinetry, including the breakfast bar.
Additionally, various cabinets were created with art-glass doors, a
hallmark of the Mission style found throughout the house.
Scroll down the page to see how the renovations turned out....
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| B |
| C |
| D |
| D |
| A/B |
| C |
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