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16 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | February 2015 T he family that calls this Gig Harbor, WA, residence home has always enjoyed the water view from their kitchen. However, they didn't like its small footprint, or the narrow, constricting hallway that was created by the kitchen's previous location at the center of the house. So when Shiela Of was commissioned to redesign the space, one of her main goals was to make the kitchen larger, and to make the entire living space, including the adjacent dining room, feel more connected. "There was a hallway to one side of the kitchen, which made for a tiny space," says Of, CMKBD, of Signature Design & Cabinetry in Tacoma. "They didn't have a lot of room for food prep, or for their kids to be in the kitchen, so we pushed it back to the outside wall [therefore, eliminating the hallway]. That gave us a wider area to create a nice kitchen and a large island with seating so the kids can sit with their friends, or do homework while she prepares dinner." The homeowners wanted this is- land to be a focal point for the space, so Of topped it with multi-hued Fu- sion granite, which features dramatic colorations of deep bluish gray, cream and rust that play to the view outside. The earthy coloration of the granite also ties in well with the existing win- dow trim, maple fooring and ceiling beams that run throughout the house. A CONTEMPORARY VIBE The large island – nearly 5'x9' – of - fers ample seating for six and includes plenty of storage as well as a Nu-Line undercounter wine cooler and Sharp microwave drawer. The island base cabinetry from Crystal Cabinetry is engineered wood veneer in Grey Oak. Its horizontal grain gives the space a contemporary vibe, which was an- Project Case Study { Spotlight on creative, problem-solving kitchens and baths } OVERCOME STORAGE CONCERNS Limited wall space left no room for double-wall ovens, so Of incorporated a double-oven range, giving the homeowners two ovens in a small space. Because of the kitchen's water view, there isn't a lot of wall space for upper cabinets, so storage was a concern. Extra amenities such as this knife block give the homeowners a way to neatly organize kitchen tools. A small cabinet next to the refrigerator serves as extra pantry storage. Its aluminum doors tie into the contemporary theme and complement the aluminum tambour door on the appliance garage. Its Fusion granite top matches the island. Kitchen Gets Contemporary Vibe, Greater Connection to Living Space Designer combines traditional with contemporary, new with existing, to create a standout kitchen. By Kim Berndtson PAINTED PERIMETER CABINETRY Mushroom color and Shaker-style door add traditional appeal GLASS TILE WALL Mix of glossy, matte and textured tile creates a contemporary feel, color refects the water view FUSION GRANITE ISLAND Dramatic colorations play to the view outside