This kitchen grew out of the realization that at most get-togethers, especially those involving eating and drinking, everyone tends to migrate to the kitchen. There is this inviting and familiar feeling in a kitchen that one doesn't get sitting in a perfectly arranged living room or candle-lit dining room. As at any party, you just want to follow the action. So, what if you could maintain that proximity to the cook, and the action of cooking, without literally stepping on each other's toes?
The Lounge Kitchen provides plenty of casual seating and hang-out area for all those guests and onlookers. I didn't want to lose that cozy feeling of being crammed around the fire; I think the seating provisions should seem almost incidental, like there's still barely enough room. I also loved the idea of the hearth as a place for gathering, so I included a fireplace that would unite the lounge area and cooking area. Here's the design:
The challenge was to make the Lounge Kitchen a desirable place for both the cook and the loungers: the room should be both functional and enjoyable. So, the upper left corner of the plan shows a long stretch of windows opening toward the panorama of garden and sky beyond. The kitchen then becomes a room with a joyful quantity of light and connecitvity.
Now, you'll notice that this design is part of the 'Dream Kitchen' series, which justifies the very well-appointed Butler's Pantry in the design. Here resides most of the upper cabinets for china, stemware, and serving ware that one would use for hosting a large gathering. But the everyday ware can still be kept at hand in the main cooking area; under the stretch of windows is a 10" tall shelf extending the full length behind the sink and to the right of the range. Here the cook can store everyday plates, mugs, spices and other on-hand cooking items, and also have a lovely ledge for herb potagers.
Kitchen appliances (like the food processor, blender, toaster, standing mixer) and the pantry are located on either side of the refrigerator and are all located on an interior wall. The fireplace would be ideally located in the center of the house, so it is also located along that interior wall so that it can radiate warmth to all living areas.
This is essentially an eat-in kitchen, so a generous 5-foot diameter marble table is situated against a bank of seating at the window wall. I figured the round table lends both an intimate feeling and a little more elbow room. The lounge would consist of a funky armchair and mismatched loveseat, a rug, and maybe a bookshelf in a corner. It is just big enough to host a small group, who could grab some chairs from the adjacent dining table and gather around for cocktails. But for the cook, it serves as a lovely getaway spot for in the kitchen on quieter days.
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