Kitchen Design
Kitchen of the Week
Kitchen of the Week: Black-and-White Elegance for 7
Carefully Planned Layout Creates a Family-Friendly Kitchen Built for Entertaining
Creating a stylish kitchen for a family of 7 that's easy to use and keep clean sounds next to impossible. But for Houzz user Patty Corn, it just required a bit more planning.
This chic black-and-white New Jersey kitchen is all about family. Super-sized appliances, durable and easy-to-clean materials, a big kitchen island, and a living space at the end of the room combine to create a functional, comfortable kitchen that encourages entertaining.
This chic black-and-white New Jersey kitchen is all about family. Super-sized appliances, durable and easy-to-clean materials, a big kitchen island, and a living space at the end of the room combine to create a functional, comfortable kitchen that encourages entertaining.
Planning the layout of the kitchen was the biggest priority and took the most time. The result is a kitchen with a large island and barstools (and plenty of room to walk around), and a space at the end of the room to sit and eat around a gas fireplace. "Our kitchen is our family's gathering place," Corn says. "I'm never alone when I'm cooking."
Although she knew what she wanted for the floors, fixtures and sinks, both Corn and her husband didn't want to have spend too much money on these aspects of the kitchen. For the floors, they went with a standard oak flooring with a dark chocolate stain. "We both agreed that we wanted a color without too much sheen," she says. "We're a family of seven, and didn't want to see every piece of lint and dust."
Inspired by all of the marble she saw on a recent trip to Europe, Corn used honed marble on the island and granite on the countertops. "I decided I wanted that timeless, classic look in our kitchen," she says. She had envisioned a black-and-white kitchen from the beginning, but had been worried the result would be too formal.
Because five kids (and sometimes more) would be using her kitchen on a regular basis, Corn knew that she would have to make some major accommodations for her big family. All appliances were super-sized.
However, in order to cut costs as much as possible, she did hours of online research to figure out what the best deals were and where she could find them. Her favorite appliance decision? The refrigerator drawers in front of the stove.
However, in order to cut costs as much as possible, she did hours of online research to figure out what the best deals were and where she could find them. Her favorite appliance decision? The refrigerator drawers in front of the stove.
The sink fixtures are a simple Kohler model, and the sinks are from Elkay. The plumbing supply store tried to talk her out of it, but she insisted on the deepest, biggest sinks possible. "I'm so glad I didn't listen! Trust your instincts," Corn says. "There isn't a roasting pan or lasagna dish that doesn't fit in my sinks."
Do you have an amazing kitchen? Show us! Upload a photo in the comment section below.
More: 23 Real-Life Kitchens
Do you have an amazing kitchen? Show us! Upload a photo in the comment section below.
More: 23 Real-Life Kitchens
The New Jersey store provided her with these bold pendants from Hi-Lite Mfg. Co.