Kitchen of the Week: Creative, Colorful and Modern
A Baltimore designer helps his clients create an artistic kitchen full of personality and color
Bright colors, streamlined cabinetry, and creative touches combine in this kitchen built for an artistic Maryland family. The owners have four kids and love to entertain, so the space had to be able to accommodate that. Architect and designer Mark Melonas of LUKE WORKS also faced the challenge of molding an older home to fit the couple's unique style.
Working with interior designer Sarah Reed, Melonas doubled the kitchen's space, took out the old appliances and cabinetry, and added modern replacements and the couple's personal touches. "It's really rare that a kitchen is this personal," says Melonas. "These clients plan on staying here a long time, so they wanted it to be special."
Working with interior designer Sarah Reed, Melonas doubled the kitchen's space, took out the old appliances and cabinetry, and added modern replacements and the couple's personal touches. "It's really rare that a kitchen is this personal," says Melonas. "These clients plan on staying here a long time, so they wanted it to be special."
The kitchen is a large and open area with a lot of wall space, so Melonas suggested a painted mural. He showed the owners the work of Michael Owen, who did the Baltimore Love Project. They fell in love with his work and contacted him for a customized painting. "His work is stunning," says Melonas. "He covered all of their kitchen walls in an amazing abstracted conglomeration of the cities they've lived in."
The cabinetry was custom made by Melonas and LUKE WORKS. The simple and frameless cabinets are domestic maple. Doors and drawer fronts are vertical-grain caramel bamboo.
Cabinetry: Teragren Bamboo
Double Wall Oven: KitchenAid Double Combination Oven
The cabinetry was custom made by Melonas and LUKE WORKS. The simple and frameless cabinets are domestic maple. Doors and drawer fronts are vertical-grain caramel bamboo.
Cabinetry: Teragren Bamboo
Double Wall Oven: KitchenAid Double Combination Oven
Melonas and LUKE WORKS made the countertops with their custom concrete aggregate. The main counters are a blend colored with recycled porcelain and crushed mirror, giving them a light sparkle. The wooden bar is solid 1-1/2 inch caramel bamboo, while the island circle is custom-dyed "lukecrete."
For another red accent, the couple had a red bowl made by glass artist Anthony Corradetti for the depression in the island circle.
Backsplash: AKDO glass circle mosaics in Mojave
Range: KitchenAid Even-Heat Griddle
For another red accent, the couple had a red bowl made by glass artist Anthony Corradetti for the depression in the island circle.
Backsplash: AKDO glass circle mosaics in Mojave
Range: KitchenAid Even-Heat Griddle
Choosing the lighting, colors, and materials for this space was an organic process for both Melonas and Reed. The combination of custom work, bold lighting, pops of color — and of course the incredible wall mural — resulted in a truly individual kitchen.
Sink: Domain Industries Stratus
Pendants: Corbett Vertigo Pendant
Red pendants: ET2
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Sink: Domain Industries Stratus
Pendants: Corbett Vertigo Pendant
Red pendants: ET2
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Resin face: 3-form Varia Eco-Resin, Highland pattern
Refrigerator: KitchenAid built-in 42" French Door