Home on the Range

A new kitchen is one of the most rewarding gifts you can give yourself and your family. As the heart of your home, your kitchen is where late-night talks, homework sessions and casual celebrations (the best kind!) happen naturally. It’s where memories are made. Your kitchen is where you nurture your loved ones’ souls as well as their bodies. So you want it to be efficient, comfortable and just plain beautiful. Other kitchens may have an exotic flair but few can be said to transport homeowners and guests to a time of legend, romance and fantasy. This one does. It started off as an entertainment armoire. After it was created, the idea came to me to take the design farther and create an entire kitchen. Back to the sketch pad we went. I have to say there was some resistance by the carpentry team to have to deconstruct a piece that they already finished. After it was completed the second time, as the French Chateaux kitchen, everyone was happy with the final outcome and seemingly had forgotten about all the hard work. For someone who can’t forget a visit to France’s lovely cathedral towns or for anyone who just wants to recreate the ambiance, this kitchen is captivating. The range hood, ornately carved and shingled, is the perfect frame for the beautiful medieval inspired stained glass artwork backsplash. Furthering the theme, we incorporated four additional shingled roof tops to give it a French countryside feel. To further echo centuries past, we used paint and stain finishes that are ragged and distressed, seeded glass, wrought iron drawer and door pulls as well as natural stone for counter tops and tiles. The oversized strap hinges on the refrigerator and cabinet doors actually came from a pair of antique doors off a church in New Orleans that we had recast. Combined, these materials evoke the feeling of traveling thru a small hillside town in France and approaching the doors of an abbey. What’s your dream Kitchen? With courage and clever planning, your kitchen can be as individualistic as you are. That’s where Emmanuel Design Group comes in. Love the sleek sophistication of contemporary style? Admire the look of updated country, with distressed finishes and unexpected colors? Maybe it’s the simplicity of old world decorating that sooths you with the echoes of centuries past. Whether you live in a New York condo, a Colorado lodge or a Florida ‘50s ranch, Emmanuel Design Group can help you translate the looks you love into ideas for your kitchen. So, start planning. Dream big. And, when you’re ready to start the journey, either by building an ambitious new design from the ground up or you just want refresh and update your existing space, we would love to be a part of creating the new or improved kitchen you’ve always wanted. Blessings, Nelson J. Nelson