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April 2015 | ForResidentialPros.com | 27 N othing heav y. This two- word request guided much of the design for this con- temporary kitchen that showcases casual elegance, "foating elements" and clean lines with an emphasis on family-friendly design. Indeed, the design had to be adaptable enough to easily accommodate two children under the age of four as well as large groups of family members who are frequent visitors to the Port St. Lucie, FL home. "These clients are incredibly family oriented," says Tashia Rahl, designer/partner at Premium Kitch- ens, in Boca Raton, FL, who led the design. The husband, a music con- noisseur and doctor, and his wife, a stay-at-home mom who adores bak- ing with her young children – and who also managed the construction of their new home – both stressed the need for a space that would pro- vide adequate seating for the family and storage for entertaining lots of guests. "They all love to eat in the kitchen, so the island needed to ac- commodate as many as 14 people!" says Rahl. Anchoring the center of the space, the 11' island features Italian cabine- try – including Avana dark chocolate laminate cabinets with integrated stainless hardware that supports the contemporary vibe – that is set against contrasting White Zeus Silestone quartz countertops from Cosentino. The multi-level surface features a lowered "kids table" ac- cented with chrome legs that easily accommodates fve youngsters seated on miniature bar stools. Above the island, a row of fve sleek pendant lights is suspended from a tri-level soft. Accented with LED strip lights, the soffit curves gracefully throughout the kitchen. "It's so Dr. Seuss…in an elegant way," says Rahl. Rahl adds, "She is one of the most fun people I've met, and she wanted her kitchen to be fun, too. This sof- ft is so fabulous and it really sets apart the kitchen while giving her a peaceful sanctuary for cooking and eating. Initially, she wanted a lot of elements like this soft, but I encouraged her to let the one element 'speak.' It's a similar thought process to a crazy photo with a simple frame. She already had a lot going on in the kitchen, including the two tones of cabinetry, so it was important to sta- bilize the space and let the soft do the talking." PERIMETER SUPPORT The kitchen's perimeter also features an abundance of design elements that support daily living and fam- ily entertaining. Providing plenty of storage, dark cabinetry from the island is repeated around the perim- eter and accented with an occasional contrast of high-gloss white lacquer cabinets, one of which features glass that reveals a glimpse of the home- owner's collection of vintage white cake plates. A large 64" Frigidaire refrig- erator, t wo M iele d ishwa sher s, two Wolf ovens and a Wolf under- counter microwave drawer – which the kids love to use – fulfll food prep and storage requirements. A small broom closet on the side of the pantry, and near the patio en- trance that leads to a private beach, provides storage and quick access to fip fops, etc. A shallow shelving unit, accented with a unique her- ringbone laminate, ofers a place to display special items. A Thermador cooktop anchors one corner and sits atop a gracious- ly curved white lacquer cabinet and underneath a Falmec white glass ventilation hood. "She thinks the hoods looks angelic," notes Rahl, who adds that she eliminated the typical backsplash, as well as mouldings, to maintain a clean look. Pop-up outlets ft fush with the drywall and countertops to further preserve the sleek, contemporary look. "Adding more details to the walls would make it less of a sanctu- ary, and would be too much for the eye to handle," she says. Sliding windows above the sink, which is accented with Franke fau- cets, allow easy access to the patio on the other side. "[With the new design], she always cooks with the windows open!" adds Rahl. Initially the homeowner wanted her cooktop next to the ovens, but in the end, the designer convinced her to move it to the corner. This change improved functionality and gave her the ability to add an opening, or 'win- dow,' that looks into the living room. "The kids often play in the living room and with the window, she can be in the kitchen and still watch over them," Rahl says. To further enhance efciency of the space, the designer added a foating shelf underneath the opening, support- ed by contemporary console brackets from Italy. "She uses that shelf more than anything else in the kitchen!" says Rahl. "When she bakes, she can put her supplies on the shelf and still have the entire countertop as work space. Sometimes it's the little things in life that make you the happiest!" PERIMETER SUPPORT The kitchen's perimeter features an abundance of design elements that support daily living and family entertaining. Walls are lined with dark chocolate cabinets that provide plenty of storage. They are accented with an occasional contrast of high-gloss white lacquer cabinets, one of which ofers a peek at the homeowner's collection of vintage white cake plates. A small broom closet on the side of the pantry, and near the patio entrance that leads to a private beach, provides storage and quick access to fip fops, etc. A shallow shelving unit, accented with a unique herringbone laminate, ofers a place to display special items. A large 64" Frigidaire refrigerator, two Miele dishwashers, two Wolf ovens and a Wolf undercounter microwave drawer fulfll food prep and storage requirements. IN THE DETAILS A Thermador cooktop anchors one corner of the kitchen's perimeter and sits atop a graciously curved white lacquer cabinet and underneath a stunning Falmec white glass ventilation hood. 'She thinks the hoods looks angelic,' notes Rahl. Initially the homeowner wanted her cooktop next to the ovens, but in the end, the designer convinced her to move it to the corner to improve functionality. Now when she cooks, she can either look outside to the patio and beach or into the living room where her kids are playing. Above the island, a row of fve sleek pendant lights is suspended from a tri-level soft that fows graciously throughout the kitchen. 'This soft is so fabulous and it really sets apart the kitchen while giving her a peaceful sanctuary for cooking and eating,' says Rahl.