Designing a kitchen on the expansive top floor of an old North Carolina tobacco warehouse-turned-residence demanded a number of outside-the-box solutions.
“Finding a way to hide the working parts of the kitchen was our biggest challenge,” says designer Paul Bentham, “along with providing adequate storage without having to use wall cabinets.” A quartet of pantries installed on the room’s only interior wall cleverly solved both dilemmas. Retractable pocket doors in grain-matched paldao veneer conceal shelves and drawers, an extra dishwasher and sink and a coffee station when they’re not in use, leaving the walkway unobstructed by cabinet doors. The opposite wall houses the refrigerator, freezer, stacked ovens and an induction cooktop.
Two parallel islands provide plenty of workspaces. Materials ranging from contrasting wood surfaces to concrete floors and black-leathered granite create a bold interplay.
Kitchen Design: Paul Bentham, Jennifer Gilmer Kitchen & Bath, Chevy Chase, Maryland. Contractor: W.L. Bishop, Hillsborough, North Carolina. Carpentry: Darren Coultrap Carpentry; 919-559-3327.
THE DETAILS Appliances: mieleusa.com. Faucet: dornbracht.com. Cabinets: premiercb.com. Countertops: glumber.com. Wine Refrigerators: subzero-wolf.com.
