Kitchen Sync

Design links

A belated Happy 4th for my American readers.

In between my work (I'm playing catch-up; it's a perfect foggy morning for it) and typical weekend errands, I thought you might enjoy the following links.

VACATION TIME

From Tiny House Blog, a site devoted exclusively to smaller homes, (who in turn, found it from Materialicious, a blog on all things housing), the Carré d’étoiles Cube from France, a solution for vacation housing for France and eventually Europe. Check out the website here. Now if we could get it on wheels...

  
(Photos: Carré d’étoiles via Tiny House)

CONCEALING THE REFRIGERATOR

Spotted on Twitter by my friend Susan Serra, CKD: Kathy Passarette of Creative Home Expressions blog discusses paneled refrigerators.

For those of you planning your kitchens, you may want to note that there are limited choices in stock cabinetry to make something like the style below happen, although many have 'standard' (is there such a term?) refrigerator door panels. No, this one needs custom everything (okay, the crown molding is standard.)

(Photo: Decorati via Creative Home Expressions)

NEW YORK ART DECO

I love Art Deco and New York is one of those towns I'm going to hit one of these days for an Art Deco drenched tour. Have a look at these architectural images from around NYC from New York City Architecture:

 
(Photos: NYC Architecture)

Now before you ask, "What does this have to do with kitchen design?", here are some possibilities:

• cabinetry door panels (the design on the right would look great on one of the integrated refrigerator panels)
• pantry door or any interior door into the room
• window treatment
• room screen, like the one above

Doesn't have to be this ornate; could be an embossed styling on metal. Use your imagination.

Have a lovely rest of the weekend.

Canada Day: West Coast kitchen style

In hono(u)r of Canada Day, I thought I might show you some of the kitchen designs from the Canadian West Coast.

From my blogroll, Arne Salvesen,CKD of useful spaces and Paradigm Kitchen Design in Vancouver, B.C.:

     

(Photos: Paradigm Kitchen Design)

• refrigerators are hidden behind panels or smaller widths
• sound speakers in the ceiling are important
• low emission standards for cabinets that meet European E1 standards (best rating with zero off-gassing. There are no similar standards in the U.S.)
• use of glass - glass tile, glass tops, glass pendants - as environmentally friendly material)

Also from Vancouver: the V6B Design Group

 

  (Photo: V6B Design Group)

• Lowered pantries and/or wall cabinets designed to counter for ergonomic dish storage
• Focus on cabinetry meshing with architecture
• Glass doors with opaque glass
• 1/2 walls as room dividers - 45"-54" high- hides counters from rest of rooms while still keeping the rooms open

From Victoria, BC: Bart Griffin, CKD, CBD of Griffin Designs

 

  (Photo: Griffin Designs)

• 48" raised "half-pantries" as dish storage next to sinks
• natural materials, square counter edges
• innovative crown molding treatments
• different emphasis on hood fans (that is an Aga cooker in the photo above)

Another thing I stumbled across in many portfolios as a must-have small appliance: the Miele Coffee System.  Is Tim Horton's not good enough anymore?  (Oooh, I'm going to catch it for that one...)

Happy Canada Day!

Home Trends to watch from the PCBC show

The Pacific Coast Builder's Show was smaller, finer version than it's been in the past. 50 years old this year, it's smaller, as in one football-field worth of displays instead of 3-4. Much easier to get around and in some ways, a boon for the booths there. When I went on the Thursday, it was busy. 

 

There were many interesting items - integrated solar roof systems and on-demand water heaters and outdoor kitchens, but there were three items that stood out for me this year: one because it's a long overdue, two because I'm seeing the commercial design elements spill into residential, and the third because of the same spillover from commercial but also because it's an intriguing idea. Let me show you what I saw.

A reader asks: Can a gas oven be installed under a cooktop?

Hi Kelly

I was reading your answer 'Lisa' from April 14, 2009 entitled "how much space is required for a cooktop and oven?" I have been searching for information and yours was very helpful, especially the link to NKBA you provide.

I am looking for the minimum dimensions to have a drop in cooktop with a wall oven under it.  I very much prefer the look of a cooktop over a range, and do not want to eat up counter space. I want a 30" oven, gas, and all i can find is one by American Range,  but it is 30.25" inches tall. I am trying to find info on whether I can install that under a cook top. It puts it pretty much an the floor. The oven has french doors, so I'm not worried about the ergonomics, I'm worried about any safety issue of clearance between the oven and floor and then oven and cooktop.

 Any info you can provide would be appreciated. Jody

 

Hi Jody -

Glad you found the information helpful.

Here's what I know: Appliance specifications pretty much rule my world, especially with gas. My dad used to work for a gas pipeline company in his youth and he was pretty respectful of all things gas. The city and county inspectors in my area don't pass our projects if we deviate in any way from both the plumbing/gas codes or any dimensions that encroach on the minimum specifications.

(A quick note - I can count the gas ovens I've designed in a kitchen on one hand, so if another professional with more experience chimes in with his or her two cents, we'll be happy campers.)

Having said that, I'm afraid I'm the bearer of bad news: I don't believe you'll be able to install a gas range under a cooktop.  Almost all gas ovens I'm familiar with have the gas inlet installed on the bottom of the unit. This is an important factor in how high the oven is placed and American Range is no different.

The American Range gas oven specs I found lists the oven as being installed in a tall cabinet. (cut-out dimensions, gas and electrical are listed on page 17). The specifications place the unit at 36" off the floor. There is no mention or drawing of the unit installed under a counter top, which there would be, if it was allowed.

A quick refresher of a couple of more familiar gas ovens to me (Viking and GE) state that their recommended heights should be 17" and 22" minimum off the floor. Switching over to the specs of the DeLonghi 24" gas oven (again, page 17) , it states it's NOT for installation under a countertop and that the installation must be at 22-5/8" minimum from the floor. The Blue Star gas oven, also a French door, isn't recommended for undercounter installation, either.

Again, I believe those specifications have to do with the gas pipe installation and access to the shut-off valve.

I'd be happy if someone else mentioned a solution, but at this time, the only way I believe you'll be able to have a wall oven under the cooktop is if it's an electric oven. In that case, it'll have to be +/- 26" high with a cooktop that is +/- 4" high or any combination that amounts to 30" or under. I can't provide an exact combination -- all final answers will come from the specifications.

I know you say ergonomics aren't an issue for you - no doubt the French doors (how very Iron Chef!) would have made it easier. Gaggenau or Fagor or even the GE single-double oven I discussed here might work, but if you had your heart set on the other, that'll be a tough switch. I think Europeans design it best, but not everyone loves smaller appliances on this side of the pond.

Good luck.