Architecture & Interiors
5 Ingredients for a Cook-friendly Kitchen
This kitchen shows that, with proper planning, a kitchen doesn't have to be big to produce large family meals

The kitchen is the hub of the Ribaudo home. Though compact, the room is connected to the areas where family and friends gather. The challenge of this design was to create a workable space that, though limited in size, is conducive to meal preparation for a large family. The Ribaudos’ kitchen designer, Scott Sylvester, CKD, Thurston Kitchen & Bath, offers these tips for creating a functional space:

Use square footage carefully. “In this kitchen, not a square inch is wasted. Every cabinet and drawer has a purpose, there is a designated place for every appliance, utensil and accessory.”

kitchen in mountain homeCabinets: Thurston Kitchen & Bath, (970) 349-5023

Create a tight work triangle. The layout of this kitchen minimizes the number of steps needed from the sink to the refrigerator to the cooking/preparation area.

The Ribaudos wanted durable materials that could sustain the wear and tear of a large family. Concrete countertops are low-maintenance and extremely durable. “The size and color were customized to fit the needs of the space,” says Sylvester.

Countertop: Kilnworks Cast Concrete, (510) 599-9735

The Ribaudos did not want to be isolated from her family and guests while cooking. The open kitchen is connected to the breakfast room, dining room and sitting room. This provides plenty of seating and entertaining space while keeping the cook in the center of the action. Chairs: De Sousa Hughes, (415) 626-6883

What makes this kitchen so exceptional, according to Sylvester, is the amount of planning that went into it. He recommends making a list of everything that you want in your kitchen and how it should fit into your lifestyle.

DESIGN DETAILS:
Interior Design: Connie Buckner Design, Calistoga, CA, (707) 942-6303.
Architect: John Kosich Architects, San Francisco, (415) 495-4449
Kitchen Design: Scott Sylvester, Thurston Kitchen & Bath, Crested Butte, (970) 349-5023, thurstonkitchenandbath.com