Portfolio > Named "Best Kitchen" by Boston Globe Magazine, 2007

Boston Globe Magazine readers may recognize this kitchen. It was named "Best Kitchen" by Boston Globe Magazine in 2007. This beautiful kitchen in a Newton area home is a perfect example of universal design making a living space that is enjoyed by every resident, no matter their abilities or challenges.

The design challenge: to design/renovate a house with universal design to make it handicap accessible, while creating a space that would feel like home to the owners, filled with both their sense of humor and seriousness that helps keep them laughing. They also wanted to incorporate a taste of the ocean, a place that makes them feel connected to their children, each other, and the elements around them.

The room was designed by Barbara Baratz of Kitchen Views Custom. The cabinetry by Irpinia is the Denver door style in Cherry with a rust stain and antique glaze. The Miele and Sub-Zero appliances are fully integrated with matching cabinetry panels. The hardware is by Rocky Mountain. The backsplash is sea glass. The granite, called Wild West Green, is reminiscent of rippled sand after the tide has receded. The ceiling made of Douglas Fir was designed to look like the inverted hull of a boat.

The Irpinia cabinetry is also manufactured using environmentally-friendly methods. Click here to read more about this important aspect.

The French Doors and transoms are KML by Andersen. They are hinged to swing out, again for accessibility, and include a flush threshold. Two transom windows on the interior wall work in tandem with those above the French doors and bring additional light into the kitchen via skylights hidden inside a light well.

Elements integrated into the design for greater accessibility include the desk height and placement, Sub-Zero refrigerator drawers in the island, and a cutting board that pulls out on top of a drawer for increased support. For easy access there are also special corner drawers. Click on each image for a larger photo.

Call Kitchen Views to make an appointment for a personal design consultation to discuss your wish list for renovating your home.

Kitchen Views Custom click here for showroom location and hours
617.244.8439 | Newton

Kitchen Views at National Lumber
click here for showroom locations and hours
617.244.8020 | Newton
508.339.8020 | Mansfield
508.990.8020 | New Bedford
978.838.0810 | Berlin
978.744.8800 | Salem