Kitchen & Bath Design News

OCT 2014

Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.

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By Kim Berndtson Industry Profle T here i s l it t le about Patricia Dunlop's nearly 20-year design career that is conventional. Ear- ly on, the designer and principal of Fine Kitchens & Baths by Patricia Dunlop in Boise, ID, worked in commercial interiors and 5-star hotel design/project management in North America as well as overseas – mostly in southeast Asia, but also in Australia and New Zealand. This expe- rience brings a unique perspective to her current work in residential kitchen and bath remodels, broadening her understanding of how spaces can work diferently for diferent people. "Living and working abroad taught me about how to refect the culture of a hotel's location while trying to appeal to a broad audience of people who stay there," she says. "These spac - es have to function, but at a 5-star level, they also have to be aestheti- cally appealing. It taught me there are so many ways to accomplish the same thing, so now when clients come to me with an idea that is out of the ordi- nary, I am perfectly happy to explore it and look at all the angles to make it work for them. I know there are a lot of ways to approach things." The commercial environment, in particular kitchens, exposed her to the idea of designing in zones. "This concept has bled over into residential kitchen design," she notes. "We're mov- ing away from the traditional triangle and into zones, such as a prep zone that is based on the refrigerator and sink. Cooking zones focus on ovens, ranges, etc. There can also be serving and clean-up zones, as well as baking zones and storage zones. Within each zone, there can be a small triangle, but having one overriding triangle in the kitchen is not necessarily applicable as kitchens have gotten larger. There's also usually more than one person in the kitchen. People no longer work by themselves. Cooks want a space for family and guests to work, too." Dunlop complements her hospi- tality/commercial experience with a degree in interior design, gaining ASID certifcation that balances her CMKBD and CAPS accreditations. "My interior design background makes me more aware of the principles of design, such as balance, rhythm, harmony, proportions and scale," she says. "It also helps me connect kitchens and baths with the rest of the home." With an ever-growing interest in and desire for Universal Design, be- ing able to seamlessly incorporate accessibility results in a better space, she suggests. "Accessibility does not have to look institutional," she stresses, "and it is appreciated and This kitchen was part of a great room/living room environment where the homeowners wanted to showcase an elegant kitchen. As such, Patricia Dunlop highlighted the cabinetry with olive ash burl insets that add a touch of elegance. 24 | Kitchen & Bath Design News October 2014 Beautiful Spaces Creating Beautiful Spaces That Function Beautifully A focus on function and aesthetics is at the heart of this Idaho designer's creations. p These homeowners, who also had Dunlop design a previous kitchen, love to entertain and are often asked to host parties. The long island is perfect for such events and flows easily through to the dining room. Photos: Jason Ropp, RoppOp

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