Wanting the feeling of a suburban home within an urban townhouse, the homeowner approached Zach Hayes of Chicago-based Zach Hayes Design asking for a kitchen that was open to the rest of the space. It needed to be comfortable for her and her two children to use every day as well as being suited for elegant entertaining.
Hayes had to contend with several restrictive site conditions. The space is bordered on two sides by concrete block walls that couldn’t be altered, a stairwell leading to the lower level garage on the opposite side and a 10-inch-thick concrete slab that was considered common property for the row of ten town homes. To create a new, open layout, he had to relocate the sink to a center island – but the plumbing lines could only be brought up in one 18-inch by 18-inch area, dictating the placement of the sink and island. “This is why the sink is at the end of the island rather than in the center,” said the designer. “The entire kitchen was planned around that location.”
A structural engineer was consulted to gain approval to core the slab for the plumbing lines. A portion of the wall to the lower level was removed to gain additional inches for a walkway and a decorative steel and walnut railing was adding, giving the illusion of a fully finished lower level.
Again, because of the concrete block walls, the design team could only shift the range and refrigerator/freezer in small, specific increments. “Being hemmed in on all sides by the space’s limitations, we had to rebalance the envelope of the kitchen. This meant being very thoughtful about cabinet sizes, island dimensions and the like,” said Hayes.
White Meets Walnut
With the layout of the room resolved, the designer was able to focus on the aesthetics of the space. While the client requested an all-white kitchen, Hayes knew it would be important to break up the long, expansive area of cabinets on the west wall; as a solution, he added some bespoke walnut cabinets to the mix. Combining a more industrial, “handsome” cabinetry with the walnut island and appliance area balanced the transitional quality of the white kitchen and anchored the space. “Mixing styles also keeps a project timeless and classic versus adhering to today’s latest trends,” said Hayes. “We wanted this kitchen to feel fresh ten years from now.”
Asked about his favorite elements of the design, Hayes said, “I love the combination of styles in this kitchen. We used a more traditional cabinet design for the white perimeter but punctuating it with the dark walnut appliance wall and island made it come alive for me. It wasn’t just a white kitchen anymore. Also, the mirrored toe-kick in the island is another detail that not only looks beautiful, but it is a clever way to conceal the water and drain lines running to the sink. It gives the island the feeling of being a piece of furniture in the space, rather than just a block of cabinetry.”
Sources
Design: Zach Hayes Design; Photography: Marcel Page Photography; Cabinets: Zach Hayes Design; Cabinet Hardware: Hamilton Sinkler; Cabinet Inserts: Rev-A-Shelf; Countertops: Mystery White Marble in honed finish – Blue Pearl Stone; Dishwasher: Miele; Faucets: AXOR; Flooring: Zach Hayes Design – custom wide plank solid American Walnut; Lighting: Niche Modern; Microwave: Samsung; Range, Vent Hood: Wolf; Refrigerator, Wine Cooler: Sub-Zero; Seating: Hickory Chair; Sinks: Kallista; Wallcovering: Stroheim
