Grand Prize Winner: Vivian M. Su & Kevin C. Rasmussen – Philadelphia, PA
BlueStar began its annual kitchen design contest to recognize the immeasurable talent within the kitchen design industry. Every year, designers, architects, builders and remodelers continue to advance kitchen design with innovative projects and creative solutions for their clients.
This year, we are so excited to announce our 2021 Grand Prize Winner, Vivian Su & Kevin Rasmussen! Their award-winning architecture firm specializes in full-service, custom residential design. The winning kitchen was part of a whole-house remodel in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
The judges were smitten with this carefully designed kitchen that integrates harmony and history. The kitchen space cuts a very modern figure in a historical Philadelphia neighborhood, but it fits because of its scale, use of materials, luxurious colors, and brass accessories.
The clients have a large family and love to entertain and cook with friends, so they wanted a hard-working kitchen that could accommodate lots of people. That included having multiple sink and dishwashing stations and a large furniture-like island that could be a focal point for the room.
“We wanted to maximize storage but kept the key wall areas open for art and open shelf display,” explained Designer Vivian Su.
The eat-in transitional galley kitchen features light wide-plank oak floors and dark blue Shaker cabinets and a 60-inch BlueStar® Nova Series range with a show-stopping Manhattan kitchen hood.
“We started looking at BlueStar because the cooking ranges had the option to customize the color and were very positively reviewed by professional chefs. We were originally looking at custom European style ranges, but given how much our clients cook, we prioritized having the largest oven capacity that could accommodate full sheet pans,” said Su.
The BlueStar 60” Nova Series range with 12” Griddle also had the most options on how to configure the cooking surface, a huge benefit for these clients who love to cook and entertain. For many people the kitchen is the heart of the house and therefore demands the most attention and investment.
The 60” Nova Series range was customized with Anthracite Grey (RAL 7016) paint and Antique Brass trim. The trim compliments the lighting and hardware fixtures in the kitchen. For ventilation, the designer chose the BlueStar® Manhattan Island hood in stainless steel. They selected the island hood so it could float it in front of the new wall of windows that provides a ton of much needed natural light. Paired with the range it makes a real statement without distracting from the other features of the kitchen.
One of the highlights of the design is the light – natural lighting from all the new windows and at night from warm glow of the decorative fixtures. The breakfast nook also has its own gravitational pull and is set against a beautiful, tiered landscape.
About Rasmussen/Su:
Rasmussen/Su is an award-winning architecture firm specializing in full-service, custom residential design. Working together since 1995, firm principals Kevin C. Rasmussen AIA LEED AP & Vivian M. Su LEED AP bring diverse backgrounds and a collaborative spirit to the design process. A high level of thoughtfulness, communication, and a focus on team building characterize their approach, as they transform their clients’ visions into meaningful & creative built environments.
The principals of Rasmussen/Su are committed to sustainable building practices and are LEED accredited through the United States Green Building Council.
Photo Credit: Jeffrey Totaro
