Modern European Design for an American home

Their single level Walnut Creek home is in the middle of nature, and they were keen to maintain the indoor-outdoor feel of the space.

At the same time, they had their mind set on handleless fronts: modern and architectural, and a bold design statement. Our task was to create a balanced design that does not feel out of place.

Finding just the right colors for the kitchen was important for Marina and Alec. Among our numerous grays, they settled on a concrete effect, complemented by pops of aqua blue. The combination of finishes gives the space depth and creates visual interest, as does the subtle pattern on the concrete grey.

The stainless steel recess channel detail bounces off light, and creates the sense of durability and strength that metal is associated with. The resulting shadow gap effect is striking and unmistakably modern.

This is a human-scale kitchen: without being huge or overpowering, it still packs in plenty of functionality and storage options. The space between the island and the sink run is designed to work hard: the cooktop, sink and dishwasher are in close proximity to each other. Storage wise, everything is hidden out of sight, making the space a breeze to tidy up and clean. Continuous vertical and horizontal door and drawer lines create a seamless visual effect that makes the space flow.

There are some thoughtful hidden surprises here, such as an upward opening door that conceals a microwave. The wide wall units above the sink run also open upwards.

With this, the airiness of the space is retained, and there are no injury risks while washing up at the sink. Hidden drawers allow for effective organization without creating an overall busy visual effect.

German precision engineering, a defining characteristic 
of FORM kitchens, shines through in the details of this kitchen. Practical accessories include a cutlery insert and a non-slip drawer base mat for pots and pans.