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April 2015 | ForResidentialPros.com | 41 tastic hood or farm sink. Beyond one or two super cool items, everything else needs to be fnished really well… great crown moulding details, great fnishes on an island, etc. so you can appreciate the focal point." Other designers agree. "I think luxury is about seeing something unexpected," says Priscilla Crother, ASID, PKBP and owner of Lifestyle Kitchens by The Kitchen Lady, in San Juan Capistrano, CA. "It's about do- ing something well. It's about meeting clients and listening to them to under- stand what they want. "I talked to some designers about this topic the other night," she contin- ues. "One of them said it's about what you don't notice that makes some- thing luxurious. I thought that was very insightful, because if something is designed very well, all the propor- tions and color balance are correct and everything feels perfect, even though you may not be able to pin- point exactly why. Incorporating good use of basic design elements – like balance, symmetry and a focal point – is very important since these will enhance the space. One of my favor- ite luxury elements is simply having a design theme. Luxury design isn't about including a bunch of expensive products. An expensive range can look out of place if the scale is wrong, the color is wrong or the style is wrong." "Luxury is, as they say, in the eye of the beholder," adds Antoinette Fraser, founder of St. Clair Kitchen & Home, in South Orange, NJ. "For me, it's the moment when all of the ele- ments of a design align to represent something extraordinary." Gerry Bross, co-owner/general manager of Hollywood Sierra Kitch- ens, in Los Angeles, CA, actually bristles a bit when asked about luxury. "It's a term I don't really like because it's been so overused," he explains. "As a kid, luxury would have been some- thing like rich leather in a Chrysler Cordoba…an elegant touch. But now, it's also about durability…not neces- sarily in a way that something is well made, rather that something is long lasting aesthetically. There isn't nec- essarily a monetary amount attached to it. I think we should stop thinking of luxury as expensive and fussy and look at is as something that makes someone feel good…something they are willing to do for themselves be- cause they're worth it!" For Richard Winslow, of Winslow Kitchen Studio, in Hilton Head Island, SC, luxury is more than skin deep. "It could be said that luxury means ornate or extravagant," he says. "How- ever, I feel it means the convenient use of interior space through the in- tegration of accessories such as servo drives on much-used cabinetry like waste receptacles, sink drawers, wall lift-up doors, etc. Exterior spaces can also have added luxury through the use of operable columns, pilasters, trim, glass door cabinets and special fnishes including distressing, milk paint, glazes and specialty colors." IMPLEMENTING LUXURY With all that being said, how do de- signers add their interpretation of luxury to a kitchen? Color and fnishes are a great way to make a small space feel luxurious, says Bross. "We've done some very small kitchens, and one thing we usually stay away from is white," he notes. "We look toward interesting wood tones and species as well as dif- ferent sheens or a great paint color. Then we might add something like a quartzite countertop, or since it's a small kitchen, why not get a slab or a half slab of something that's really cool? For cabinetry, we might add some great hardware. For a back- splash, make it dynamic. We have a tile distributor who ofers artisan- made tiles. She has great products from all over the world that can really wake up a tiny space." Bowen likes to focus on the un- usual as well. "Small spaces are great places to splurge on exotic stones, laser-cut tiles or unique lighting fx- tures," she says. "They help make a 'big' impact in a little space. I always try to include at least one 'wow' factor in any design. Sometimes the splurge is on a dazzling backsplash or breath- taking light fxture, other times it's a unique or exotic fnish." Fraser, Ramaekers, Winslow and Crother also mention lighting – every- thing from interior and undercabinet LEDs to spectacular pendants and light bars for drawers, blind corners and pantries – as a way to add a luxurious touch, with Crother can- didly remarking, "If you can't see it, it doesn't matter!" Luxurious lighting in a small space is especially worthy, adds Ramaekers. "It seems like a small space would be easy to illuminate," she says. "But you might not have the advantage of large windows or multiple entries, so add- ing luxury lighting is key. I sometimes even add it inside cabinets without glass doors." Luxury can have a practical side as well, notes Bowen. "Because small The decision to treat this tiny kitchen like a butler's pantry was pivotal to its design, notes Antoinette Fraser, who indicates that its footprint is about the same size as a butler's pantry. A tone-on-tone color scheme includes white cabinetry, Carrara marble countertops and white subway tile that combine Hollywood Regency and Baroque in a design that makes the kitchen feel as if it has been there forever. But personal accessories, such as the collection of fsh plates – which are displayed in cabinets with mullion glass doors and glass shelves – urns and orchids add the special touches of luxury, as do the chandelier, black and white honeycomb tiled foor and bridge faucet. Lighting was important in this kitchen designed by Christine Ramaekers. Not only did she focus on illuminating work spaces, but she also included decorative pendants and recessed lights inside several cabinets. Another luxurious touch is the granite island countertop, which features a leathered fnish for a 'soft' touch. Ramaekers focused on including just one focal point, which is the range wall. 'Make one key item pop,' she says. 'We didn't have a long run of countertop and the range space was tight. We wanted to give it a more open feel, so we added tall cabinets to each side, then added a dramatic match-stick glass backsplash. Great installers are also key to any luxury design, especially when you talk about tile like we used in this kitchen. Our installer brought the glass tile into the window bump out and every single piece is matched, hand cut and fled to give it a soft curve as it goes around the corner.' In this Hollywood loft apartment, Gerry Bross reinvented the kitchen to be suitable for today's living while relating to the early 20th Century building in which it is located. 'We added timeless inset cabinetry, white paint – which is popular now, but also befts the time this building was constructed – latch hardware and crown moulding on top of crown moulding to accentuate the high ceiling. We also gave the cabinetry a level of detail that one would have expected from the early 1900s. While it has an older style, it is quite custom and beautiful…and made to look like it has always been there. We also added reclaimed brick to a portion of one wall because everyone expects there to be exposed brick in an old building…plus, it's beautiful!' Photo: Bethany Nauert Photo: Peter Rymwid