“I let Fran do what she wanted with the space – all we wanted was an open area for casual entertaining,” says Tammy. Counter space was a big concern for the couple, so Fran had the idea to construct two islands in the middle of their kitchen, one of which held a built-in vegetable sink, which was an important need for Tammy. The other island was used to bring a little color into the space, and Tammy says is perfect for serving guests at their many functions. Just off the kitchen lies a breakfast nook and separate game table, also conducive to the casual entertaining Barry and Tammy enjoy.
The dining and living room areas offer an outstanding view of the Franklin Mountains, and the windows above the sink offer the same view. But the centerpiece of the entire area is the rock hood above the stove, which Tammy says she took out of a book, in a picture of a fireplace. “Tammy brought me this idea and we just adapted it for the kitchen,” says Fran.
The overall look of the kitchen is complimented by granite countertops from Piedras Mundiales, with one of the islands done in honed granite and the other with custom rope edges, polished. “The different finishes on the granite give the kitchen a much more interesting look. When the granite was honed, it almost changed the color,” says Fran.
Color was also an element added to the kitchen to give it something a little extra, and a pantry door in the same red as the island, with a custom-made glass piece. “We put a lot of work into the details of the kitchen and it just began to flow perfectly,” says Fran. One of the little details that you may not notice when you walk in is the cream travertine tiles, accented by a bronze metal rail that make up the kitchen backsplash. Under the hood, Juarez artist Mario Felix painted a small mural that tied all the colors together.
“It’s important to bring the designer in as early as you can, to go over the layout and colors that will be used,” says Fran. Tammy says she gave few requirements to Fran before she started her design process, including her desire for the kitchen to be unique. Tammy also wanted a pot filler above the stove top and a vegetable sink. She let Fran go from there. “Once we found some of the furniture, it fell into place. We were able to tie a lot of the elements together for a functional and beautiful space,” says Fran. She says the homebuilder, Luis Medina of MRQ Construction, “doesn’t mind doing what we want him to do. I dream it up, and he finds a way to get it done.”
“Without Luis being the accommodating builder that he is I could not create the looks that I do,” says Fran. “Luis and I had done the double island effect for other clients previously so that is why it was suggested to Tammy. Luis is an integral part of my design execution.”
Knotty alder cabinets in a dark, glazed and distressed finish and contrasting walnut flooring from Charlotte’s complete the French Country look of the kitchen and Electrolux stainless steel appliances make it truly custom. Details like the pull-out spice racks below the stove top and the large cabinet that houses Tammy’s prized full-size popcorn machine help give the kitchen the label to make it “great.” |
