A Contemporary Kitchen Provides a Durable and Beautiful Retreat for This Family
of Five
Like concrete, vinyl is another surface that one may not immediately equate with
beauty, but the metallic material used on the banquette smashes preconceived
notions about the fabric. The vinyl’s texture is meant to mimic ostrich skin, and it offers a sheen and texture that
adds interest to the informal seating area. The metal used on the banquette is
stainless steel, and a round of glass tops the table.
The tabletop is not the only touch of glass to be found in the room. Opaque
glass fronts several cabinets, offering another eye-catching surface while
still hiding clutter when necessary. A graphite gray color was chosen for all
the Viking appliances, and the cabinetry is a close match. Stainless steel
appliances almost have become a cliché, which makes the graphite an exciting choice. Steel—showing up in the hardware, fixtures, and banquette table—becomes an eye-catching accent to the graphite gray.
As the roundness of the banquette softens the room’s lines, the shape of the secondary sink serves the same purpose. The free-flow
form provides a handy spot for ice and drinks when the family entertains.
Curves make an appearance multiple times in the room. “I used roundness to soften the features of the room,” Carroll says. “The sharp angles can be too much, too harsh.” The shape of the banquette and the curve of the chairs around it show a
softness of shape. The cabinetry hardware is rounded, as is the curved wall at
the far end of the kitchen.
Shine is another theme carried throughout the design. The stainless metal used
as an accent, the glistening flecks found in the concrete countertop, the
glistening surface of the granite, the facets of the light fixtures, and the
sheen of the floor all add a sparkle that echoes the natural light that flows
in through the room’s many windows.
“For me, it’s very important that I design what my clients want, not what I want,” says Carroll. She achieved her goal with this design. The family has found
their desert oasis in this sturdy yet stunning kitchen. 
