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Project Case Study { Spotlight on creative, problem-solving kitchens and baths } By Kim Berndtson CUSTOM TEAL BLUE PAINT Makes a statement while complementing the mid-century modern inspired home Kitchen Makes Bold Color Statement This mid-century modern-inspired kitchen features dramatic custom teal blue cabinetry and a simple palette to carry out the design. D ynamic. Dramatic. Bold. There is a long list of adjectives that can be used to describe this mid-century modern inspired kitchen in Fox Point, WI. But whatever the choice, its color needed to make a statement. "We looked at a number of colors, ranging from red to green to blue," says Alan Freysinger, owner of Design Group Three in Milwaukee, who worked in conjunction with designer Jef Sporer to create the vivid space. "The homeowners wanted something bold…a 'statement color.' When we assembled the palette of materials from fooring to countertops, we started leaning toward blue as a dynamic color that also worked with the rest of the home. The color made everything fall into place." The custom blue hue sheaths the custom perimeter cabinets from Greenfeld Cabinetry and is accented by natural walnut upper cabinets and island. "The wood layers with the color to add some warmth to the space," he says. To maintain a mid-century modern aesthetic, Freysinger chose horizontal grain cabinets and, to play of the grain, included several horizontal doors with fip-up hinges. The upper cabinets that frame the chimney-style Wolf ventilation hood – which is accented with 6"x12" vertically stacked Pavarotti Pearl Satin tile from Artistic Tile – also help to create a focal point. To maintain a clean look, Freysinger concealed the backsplash outlets underneath the cabinets. BUCKING TRENDS While the dramatic color bucks the neutral trend, Freysinger's clients also opted to resist the trend to open the kitchen to other rooms, choosing to maintain MARMOLEUM FLOORING Adds uniqueness to the design and softness underfoot the wall between the kitchen and dining room, which was preserved as an everyday gathering place for the family. "They wanted to keep some level of separation between the spaces," he says. "A mid-century modern home is a fairly informal, open home to begin with. And, because of noise concerns, they want- ed to keep the kitchen a little more segregated." Freysinger did, however, grab the adjoining dinette space, which gave him the opportunity to include an informal sitting area as well as the island and more countertop space. "There is a couch and a couple of tables so they can sit and catch a FINISHING TOUCHES Period-style pendant lights visually occupy the space, without overwhelming it. Since the homeowners love color, they chose oversized artwork of a bright orange pear to add a splash of color. "It works well within the space, maintaining the era of the home," says Alan Freysinger. 34 | Kitchen & Bath Design News January 2014 light meal," he notes. "The homeowners also like this area because if one person is cooking, the other can still be connected to the cook." Informal seating areas such as this one are becoming more common for Freysinger. "It's a comfortable place for relaxation, separate from the dining area," he says. "If multiple people are in the kitchen, it gives them a place to socialize." Forbo Marmoleum fooring ofers another striking design feature, defying the trend toward wood or tile. "It's a unique element from a material standpoint," he says. "You don't see it a lot, and she wanted something that was unique and diferent. It's also soft to walk on and is easy to take care of." MAINTAIN SIMPLICITY The kitchen is relatively small, only about 150 square feet.