Color Power

A Manhattan family was seeking a balance of refinement and informality in an active open kitchen.

They expected to cook and socialize daily—and wanted to display numerous pieces of art and artifacts from their travels. They wanted a space that would allow all this while preserving the room’s composure.

The space for this kitchen was inherently complex—connecting two other rooms, and with many intruding pipes, ventilation chases, and structural posts.

 The result—a happy collaboration—is an imaginative atmosphere that also feels like home, an almost kitchen-as-studio feel.

They accentuate the natural elegance of the tall space.

There is a sensitivity to the detailing of each volume: which ones appear monolithic, and which appear to recede between extended verticals.

The slotted wooden drawers of the reversed Horizontal Bar Block—which helps conceal the sink area from the dining room—have the quality of furniture, and also of a well-appointed workshop.

Rather than attempting to eliminate visual noise, the focus here is on balancing real life with a little well-placed and upbeat drama.