Design Confidently, Live Comfortably
| January/February 2005 Arts & Crafts Made Modern Arts and Crafts is a Natural for a Kitchen Kitchens have changed a lot since the turn of the century, but even modern kitchens share a feature that is a cornerstone of the Craftsman aesthetic: cabinetry. And it was here that the Friedmans concentrated their efforts. Morosco recommended Jerry Fink, a local carpenter, who, guided by the Friedmans, designed a cabinet door pattern based on Gustav Stickley pieces the family owned. It took three mock-ups to design a door with proportions that matched convincingly. Even more exacting was the full-inset design that recreates the meticulous flush profile that was the pride of Craftsman carpenters. Built of American white oak, the cabinets are stained chestnut brown, a shade lighter than the woodwork in the rest of the house. For all its period appearance, the cabinetry is fully modern inside. The largest piece, an 11-foot-long unit opposite the cooking area, conceals a television, stereo, foodstuffs, and cleaning supplies behind its four sets of doors (photo below). Positioned near the center island, the TV is situated perfectly for the family to catch the morning news while pouring coffee or buttering toast.
For the countertops, the Friedmans settled on deep-green uba tuba granite. They agreed with Morosco that slate would have had more of a period appearance, but they were concerned about staining. “We wanted something we could live with,” Ed explained. Likewise, the Friedmans made no attempt to hide their stainless-steel refrigerator, dishwasher, or six-burner cooktop. Masking their metal appliances behind wood cabinetry wouldn’t be keeping with the spirit of the movement, Ed explained. “The Arts and Crafts ethic is all about honesty and simplicity, and that means honesty in materials. We wanted to keep to that ideal of honesty: that a dishwasher is a dishwasher, a refrigerator is a refrigerator.” NEXT: Antique Collection Provides the Details |
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PHOTO: KAREN TANAKA
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