West Coast Homes & Design

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PATRICIA GRAY INC is an award winning international interior design firm writing about lifestyle and WHAT'S HOT
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Home Design Ideas - Eclectic Kitchen

My better half (Kelley) sent me the kitchen photo below. She loves it and so do I.

Here are a few observations:

• No upper cabinets - most of the storage is below counter height. I suspect there may be a pantry around the corner or pantry cabinets out of view.
• Eliminating the upper cabinets allows plenty of glass
• I like the mix of old and new. Actually its mostly new but a rather ornate crown molding and the carrera marble counters add a touch of traditional and soften the hard lines.
• All of that counter space allows room for accessories to decorate the space. This starts to feel like another room rather than a kitchen.

Design Ideas - Make Your Island Special!

This is the first in a new series that I will be starting called "Design Ideas". What I would like to do is illustrate little design ideas that can help to make your home special. So here goes.

The photo below is a Kitchen in a home that I designed at Larson Brenner Architects. This unique house plan - The Lakeland Cape Cod - is currently available for purchase at Simply Elegant Home Designs.

It is a pretty simple kitchen layout but a few things make it special.

• The kitchen cabinetry composition beyond is kept simple and clean. A soffit with crown molding connects the upper cabinets to the ceiling.
• A "mantle" was designed for the range, which serves as a counterpoint to the fireplace mantel on the other side of the room (not seen in photo).
• Under cabinet lighting provides highlights for the tile back splash and counters.
• An upper cabinet extends down to the counter and is fitted with glass to display the china.
• A solid walnut butcher block on the island top adds warmth and richness. This contrasts with the honed granite kitchen counters beyond.
• A special leg detail was designed for the island corners. The leg detail was also adapted for the stairway newel posts.
• Unique eclectic light fixtures hang above the island; highlighting the wood and help to emphasize that the island is the focal point of the room.

All in all a very simple yet elegant kitchen design. This illustrates that attention to the details can make all the difference.

Top Futura Cucine with Minimalist Kitchen design

Futura Cucine with Minimalist Kitchen design pictures

Modern and Beautiful Kitchen Design

Dominated dark gray color with accents light gray added, show more modern and exclusive.

Contemporary Gray colour on kitchen furniture that is more impressive and elegant luxury.

Modern stainless steel equipment for modern stylish kitchen design. These colors have yet another advantage in ideal harmony with stainless steel equipment.

Elica Hood Fans

 

One of my pet peeves is ugly hood fans. They are such a large element in a kitchen and if not handled properly can distract from the design of the kitchen, especially more so in contemporary kitchen design, as I am tending to not use overhead cabinets. The cooktop and back wall then becomes the focal point. So when I saw these innovative new designs from Elica I was pleasantly surprised. They are designed to look like a beautiful pendant handing over the cooktop and include ventilation, filters, lighting and controls.  They are now distributed in Canada and the USA.The fan in the middle row right is stainless-steel Platinum and packs advanced technology into a sleek lampshade diameter that works with any 24" - 36" cooktop and costs $1,600.00.

Download their catalogue here

Patricia Gray writes about Interior Design inspirations, emerging trends, and the world of Design. 
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Kitchen Design

Here are two examples of kitchens designed with no overhead cabinets. This concept makes the kitchen a focal point and gives it a clean contemporary feel.The picture above has open shelves for "artful" display of dishes.
Photography Eric Piasecki
This is a kitchen I designed with no overhead cabinets. The pantry is to the left in the picture. The slab of granite behind the cooktop is like a beautiful piece of natural artwork.
Patricia Gray Inc.
Click here to see more pictures of this home.
Click here to see a related post.
Click here to see more posts on my Interior Design.

Contemporary Kitchen Design In Vancouver

What could be better than a kitchen custom designed especially for you with all the right appliances, lots of counter space and storage, perfect lighting and a place for everything. A kitchen that is functional and beautiful, where you want to spend time, create special meals, share precious time with family and friends.

Award Winning Kitchen Design by Vancouver Interior Designer Patricia Gray [contact]

As Featured in Architectectural Digest

Contemporary Kitchen Design Patricia Gray

As Featured in Western Living Condo

Contemporary Kitchen Design Patricia Gray

As Featured in Western Living

Contemporary Kitchen Design Patricia Gray

Contemporary Kitchen Design Patricia Gray

Since 1982, Patricia Gray Inc. has worked with clients to achieve dynamic living environments.
Patricia's Gray's award-winning interior design and kitchen design is distinguished by its signature warmth,
personal approach, and use of a variety of innovative materials.

Visit Patricia Gray's Web-site

© 2007 Patricia Gray Inc. All Rights Reserved

Elica Hood Fans

One of my pet peeves is ugly hood fans. They are such a large element in a kitchen and if not handled properly can distract from the design of the kitchen, especially more so in contemporary kitchen design, as I am tending to not use overhead cabinets. The cooktop and back wall then becomes the focal point. So when I saw these innovative new designs from Elica I was pleasantly surprised. They are designed to look like a beautiful pendant handing over the cooktop and include ventilation, filters, lighting and controls. Click on the photo to enlarge.

Architectural Digest Kitchen

I have been getting a lot of inquiries about this kitchen that I designed that was featured in Architectural Digest December 2006. It has also been featured in Western Living Magazine August & September 2007.

Millwork & Cabinet Design Patricia Gray Inc.

Countertops Patra Stone Works

Appliances Miele

Kitchen Sink & tap Cantu

Lighted shelves Living Space

Glass tile Interstyle

Photography Roger Brooks

I didn't want electrical outlets to be cut out of the glass tile backsplash so I had them mounted in the bottom of the upper cabinets.

Vancouver Artist Glenn Payan

"Artists help us to understand what is around us."

Andree Putman

Patricia Gray - South Granville Residence

photo BPlus Studio

I recently completed a residence for clients shown above and hung a piece Glenn Payan's art.

"The subjects of many of Glenn’s paintings are colourful and, sometimes moody, whimsical landscapes: west coast and mountain villages, local Vancouver scenes and perched roadways winding along coastal waterways and between majestic mountains. His obsession with the Sea to Sky corridor, between Vancouver and Whistler has produced many stunning pieces."

In case you haven't heard Vancouver & Whistler are hosting the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The following pieces of Glenn's work are of the Sea to Sky Highway which links Vancouver to Whistler mountain. Above the Cheakamus II 2007 Oil on canvas 40" x 60"
Howe Sound 2007 Oil on canvas 72" x 18"

Glenn's works are on display at the Ian Tan Gallery