Star Attraction

It is no exaggeration to say that this kitchen was built around the BlueStar range. It was the first decision the homeowners made for this working kitchen. The husband, an attorney, is a “master home chef,” who unwinds by creating home cooked meals for his family and dinner parties for friends on weekends. When range options were presented to him, he selected BlueStar over Wolf, since it is a powerful, professional range with a high BTU. He was so excited about this range, that he had all burners a flame and topped with copper pots long before the kitchen was completed, which was making some of the contractors nervous, but it certainly drove home the idea that design here follows function. Because the wife’s taste is more transitional, she gravitated toward BlueStar in matte black, which she found “striking and handsome”—and reflective of her husband. This choice gave me design freedom, as I was able to be more creative with the custom range hood, which is matte black powder coated to match the range. From a design perspective, the combination is the star attraction of the kitchen. Oversize white subway tile with gray grout to the ceiling add to the drama of the curved range hood that is slightly larger than the BlueStar range. Everything is within close reach of the range—the adjacent spice drawer, the pullout drawers for the pots and pans, and the four-seater island to serve family and guests. Built into the back of the island is another unique design element of the kitchen: the seven-inch thick butcher’s block made of natural walnut, set on a walnut furniture base cabinet. This allows the chef of the house to face his audience as he chops without ever having to grab a cutting board. The countertop is a leathered quartzite in a light gray that is durable and low maintenance. The black matte recurs in the beverage area, which features a backsplash in a shimmery bronze tile that sets a festive mood.