Today's Guest Designer kitchen is in the home of Laura and Ryan Brown (of Inspired Austin). This project was a completely transformative renovation of a tiny 1950's home by Austin architect Robert Shelton, and was built by Modern Design Build. You can follow Ryan's blog about their design process here, but check out this lovely view from the courtyard peering into the finished kitchen:
What I love most about the design is that the kitchen truly feels like the heart of the house, situated between the living and dining area and the master wing. The gracious interior volume of the kitchen really allows the space to breathe, and makes it feel much larger than it actually is in plan.
French doors open up to the courtyard and capture a view of the stairway leading to Ryan's office on the second floor. The limestone flooring blurs the threshold between indoor and outdoor, and makes a very durable surface for the cooking area.
The lighting scheme is particularly successful - not surprising, since Nana Kim (principal architect of Nine Square Studio and formerly covered in this blog here) consulted on the lighting design. Three oversized pendant lamps illuminate the polished concrete surface of the island, their large scale well-suited to the high ceiling. The sconces between the french doors cast light up to the ceiling, and can be dimmed to achieve different light levels.
The range side is very well-lit by the light from the vent hood and by a row of rope lights cleverly tucked under the window sill trim. Ryan and Laura appreciated this cost efficient detail, and I think it casts an interesting pattern on stainless steel backsplash.
The faucet - a Danze Parma - lends character to the kitchen that is both machined and whimsical at the same time.
Take note of the little stainless button to the left of the faucet: this is an air pressure switch that engages the sink disposal! Such a nice detail compared to the typical light switch. Available from Home Depot (we think).
Kudos to general contractor and cabinet maker, Michael Dickson, for a job well done! It's hard to pull off details like this during the chaos of construction.
The lower cabinets are thoughtfully designed to keep the surfaces above clean and clear: the microwave goes under the island countertop. This keeps it pretty much hidden from sight, but still easily accessible.
The lower cabinets are outfitted with pull-out drawers behind the cabinet doors. The drawer boxes are a sturdy nine-ply birch plywood that have been clear sealed.
Thank you so much, Ryan and Laura, for letting us invade your kitchen! Next time we'll bring a bottle of wine with us, and stay a little longer :) I know you'll enjoy cooking, entertaining, and relaxing in this beautiful space for years to come.
(Photos by Valarie L. Campbell Photography)
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