For a design industry filled with white and gray, colorful appliances have certainly been taking the spotlight. In her winning kitchen design for BlueStar’s second-annual competition, designer Jill Calo of Payne & Payne Builders in Moreland Hills, Ohio, highlighted a red range to make her submission stand out.
View a gallery of all the winning projects here.
Calo’s grand–prize kitchen was inspired by the bright red color of a 48-in. gas range with a 12-in. charbroiler, showing how a simple pop of color can completely transform a space. The kitchen cabinets are painted in a high-gloss white and accented with understated, modest hardware. One kitchen island features waterfall countertops with a walnut back, while the red backsplash by the bar area complements the red range. The remaining backsplash was created using a simple 3-in. by 6-in. subway tile.
KBB spoke with Calo to find out more about the design.
KBB: What was your goal in this design?
JC: The goal of the design was to have two workstations in a clean, modern environment. The couple loved to cook together, but their existing kitchen was too small and cramped to do that. They now have their own workstations.
KBB: Did you face any challenges in particular?
JC: Yes, in renovations you frequently find things once demo is complete. For example, the stove wall had ductwork and plumbing that needed to be relocated. The floor also was uneven, and to lay a 24-in. by 24-in. tile it needed to be leveled.
KBB: Why did you choose the red range?
JC: The clients chose the red color because they both love super-bright primary colors and wanted the stove to be the feature of the kitchen. Part of the reason we choose Bluestar was because we knew we could custom color the stove, and that was a big draw for us.
KBB: What did you choose for cabinetry and countertops and why?
JC: The cabinets were custom high-gloss paint in Sherwin Williams 7005 Pure White. The countertop is quartz. I chose these neutral white elements because I wanted these areas to be a place for your eye to rest. If you have too many focal points in a room, then your eye does not know where to look and it’s too distracting. The bar area backsplash is a ruby red, which we chose to relate to the red range. I also love how the curves break up all the straight lines in a kitchen.
KBB: Why this particular lighting?
JC: The client wanted something whimsical and playful. The rope multi-light fixture also ties in the colors of the wallcovering right outside the kitchen. We designed a metal rod and brackets to hang the cords from and we draped the cords on it.
KBB: What was your favorite part of this project?
JC: The red range is my favorite part because your eye is drawn to it immediately. Also, the natural elements are a great juxtaposition to the modern elements in the kitchen. The live-edge tabletop that extends off the middle island was from a local Amish company, and the client personally picked out the tree slab. I love how it shows the beauty of the natural wood. Another natural wood element is showcased on the outside side of the island with the waterfall countertop – we used wood planks placed horizontally to break up all the vertical lines in the kitchen.
The 2018 competition is open for entries from March 31, 2017, through January 20, 2018. The kitchen design entry can be any style kitchen. A minimum of one BlueStar cooking appliance as the primary cooking appliance is required. Ranges, rangetops, refrigerators, gas and electric ovens and cooktops meet this requirement. Official rules and entry criteria can be found at http://www.bluestarcooking.com/inspiration/kitchen-design-contest/.
