Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
Issue link: http://kitchenbathdesign.epubxp.com/i/921215
shiny. Textiles are more likely to be wool or fabrics with a nubby texture - "something that isn't so pristine," says Bagley Catlin. "They're naturally woven, like your grandmother could have made them, or like they could have been found in the attic. People are looking for things that look hand done. They want a natural, more organic look…one that gives them a con- nection to the earth." Dauria often incorporates built-in seating, giving a nod to a more casual seating arrangement. "It can be consid- ered as both an element used in traditional design as well as a nod toward modern reality, where entertaining is no longer formal," he says. "These days, everyone is jammed into the kitchen while the cook is preparing food. Providing a thoughtful place for guests to sit with a glass of wine and participate in the conversation or the cooking process without getting in the way of the cook has become a critical element in a lot of our designs." For Billings, providing for an abundant amount of natural light has become integral to her designs. "I love lots of win- dows in a modern farmhouse kitchen," she says. "A traditional design would have a few windows, but modern design expands on that. It would be rare to see just one 36" window above the sink. Instead, having a much larger window, or multiple win- dows, is a great way to modernize the design." ▪ "illustrating the very definition of using a traditional look to obscure a very modern function," he says. Reclaimed brick was also used to sheath an entire gabled wall in that same kitchen project. "Combining the new with the old softens up a simple, brand new kitchen," he says, drawing attention to the concept of 'reduce, reuse, recycle.' Locally sourcing materials, such as reclaimed wood and brick, is key to farmhouse design, Dauria notes, adding that he also likes to utilize local artisans to craft countertops or hand paint and glaze cabinetry for a special touch. "For us, using lo- cal craftsmen and local products – sourcing elements from the community – are intrinsic to the whole concept of farmhouse design," he says. Conrad's clients are also looking for ways to mix and match the old with the new, as well as looking for ways to bring the outside in. For her clients, that can mean rock, hand-hewn beams, even some marbles used for countertops as well as on walls. "We've also been incorporating barn woods with old paint on them," she says. "Bringing in colors through re- claimed wood is a nice detail. We're also incorporating antique doors for pantries as a way to bring in the old with the new. I think that's an important concept for this type of design." Other essential elements include softer finishes, such as honed materials and non-glossy surfaces…anything that isn't Many of Jennifer Zarkos Conrad's clients are drawn to the timelessness of a farmhouse design, which is frequently characterized by clean, simple and sophisticated details. In this kitchen, those details include a focal-point tumbled rock wall that Conrad accented with reclaimed wood shelves and a custom steel/zinc ventilation hood. Zinc is repeated on the island top that is balanced by marble perimeter countertops. A simple two-step crown detail enhances the cabinetry without taking away from the kitchen. Photo: Sun Valley Photo 94 Kitchen & Bath Design News • January 2018 STYLE ALERT