BILTMORE
REMINISCENT

Submitted for the 2019-2021 Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove Kitchen Design Contest (KDC)

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Client profile:

The homeowners, Patrick and Rebecca Finch, have bought Rebecca's childhood home and are remodeling. Their top three design goals are: 1. To create an open kitchen that is warm and inviting, perfect for entertaining; 2. A kitchen with lots of storage space, as they both love to cook and bake; and 3. A kitchen that is transitional, keeping elements of the prior traditional kitchen, while giving it a modern twist.

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Project goal:

The top goal was to keep the kitchen area open while also creating an inviting and intimate atmosphere for guests. Another goal was to create a space that brought in nature and light. Both of these were achieved through the use of warm, neutral colors, soft textures, and an open design that allowed for light to flow through and hit all areas of the kitchen.

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Challenges:

One challenge with this project was that the kitchen was quite large, with tall ceilings. This could mean lost space on the upper cabinets. To combat this issue, doors with glass panels were placed above the upper cabinets, and in turn, allowed Patrick and Rebecca to display items that were dear to them, and mixing traditional and modern elements.

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Another challenge was preserving traditional elements while adding more modern ones. Some ways to overcome this challenge was by using the prior cabinetry's hardware and by using a stain on the lower cabinets that was similar to that of the prior kitchen. We changed the previous raised-panel cabinetry with more modern, flat panel doors and added cream upper cabinets as well.

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Why were these products chosen? (see below)

The range was specifically placed on the island to allow the Finch's to connect with their guests, rather than facing a wall like the traditional stove; the range allows Patrick and Rebecca to be able to make eye contact with their guests and to call out to anyone in the adjacent living room. Furthermore, the down draft vent was used to keep the space open; a traditional hood would have created an awkward division in the space. The double oven was chosen to allow the Finch's to cook for a large number of guests, and keeps the range and sink area cleared, so multiple tasks can be done at once. Lastly, the refrigerator was chosen due to its size, allowing for more storage and to potentially be paneled later, should the Finch's decide to do so. With these appliances, the space was designed to surround the island as a sort of hub for guests, conversation, cooking, and eating; the perimeter helps to elevate the island, making it the focus of the kitchen area.

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​​​​​​​Sub-Zero products used:

1BI-36UID 36" Over-and-Under with Internal Dispenser

 

Wolf products used: 

1DD36 36" Downdraft, 

1DO30PM/S/PH 30" Professional Double Oven, 

1SRT366 36" Sealed Burner - 6 Burners

 

Cove products used: 

1DW2450 24" Dishwasher