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22 | Kitchen & Bath Design News | October 2015 By Kim Berndtson Project Case Study { Spotlight on creative, problem-solving kitchens and baths } A n Asian farmhouse-style kitchen might not be what someone would initially ex- pect to see in a home in Napa Valley, CA, located along the Silverado Trail that runs through the state's famous wine country. But it's a style that per- fectly suits the homeowners and is a beautiful transformation from its nondescript, generic predecessor. "The homeowners really wanted a dramatic change," says Catherine Nakahara, principal designer, Custom Spaces Design in Berkeley, CA. The designer worked with Derek Wilson, Wilson Remodeling, to recreate the space for their clients who love to cook and entertain. "The couple was great to work with," she continues. "We had a lot of fun reinventing the space for them. They had a good budget for the project so it was nice to be able to give them everything they wanted." STATEMENT ISLAND At the heart of the kitchen is a new island, which replaced the much smaller, less efficient one in the previous space. Nakahara spent a considerable amount of time design- ing it to maximize function as well as storage and aesthetics. "She uses the island for everything," says the designer. "It is her main location for food prep and for entertaining. She loves to work at it!" Its weighty, maple butcher block top makes a statement, but more im- portantly, provides a clear expanse for food prep while overhanging just enough to provide seating for a cou- ple of people to join the cook in the kitchen. Its cherry wood base – which is sheathed in a deep blue/brown custom stain created by Nakahara – features shelves, wine storage and drawers for a harmonious combina- tion of storage and display. The same dark stain – which 'reads' blue or brown depending on the light – is repeated on the peninsu- la which, along with matching stone columns at each side of the kitchen's entrance, separates the kitchen from the dining and Great Room areas. The peninsula also serves as a cooking station, featuring a BlueStar six- burner range top with grill and Kobe ventilation hood. The two-tier countertop is made from Squak Mountain Stone, a fbrous cement material created from recycled paper and glass mixed with low-carbon cement. "It adds texture and depth," notes the designer, who chose the col- or Thunder for this kitchen. "I wanted something that would add a little bit of drama, yet give a nice grounded feel to the space. It's a great material that is very durable and, over time, will patina and get better with age." IMPROVED FUNCTION The countertop wraps around the kitchen's perimeter, gracing the tops of Sequoia Custom Cabinets cabine- California Kitchen Showcases An Asian Farmhouse Flair NEW WALL OF CABINETS Enhances functionality of the kitchen by ofering additional storage and serving as the primary clean up zone BUTCHER BLOCK STATEMENT ISLAND Provides an abundance of space for food prep RECYCLED PENINSULA COUNTERTOP Adds texture and depth while grounding the space Photos: Catherine Nakahara