FEATURE

The Modernization of MCM

Russell Barr Williamson-style Kitchen -0

Three distinctive spaces that flow from one to the next. Looking from the dining room towards the kitchen on the left and the sitting room behind the chimney.

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Traditional limestone and modern marble wrap the fireplace in dramatically contrasting design elements. The structure hides a support column that couldn’t be removed. A wall of windows offers breathtaking views of the property.

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The white marble backsplash and custom-made, sequenced matched Dark Walnut cabinetry add sleek stylishness.

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Hiding in plain sight: Custom-made Dark Walnut panels were added to the Sub-Zero refrigerator to match the rest of the cabinetry.

Asian-influence Home Office 2018 Awards

The new kitchen offers more counter space, more storage and more style. The “rock ledge” edged breakfast bar makes a bold statement against the white marble countertops.

Mid-Century Modern Bathroom 640x960

Illuminating beauty — The lighting plan includes natural, diffused LED and colored mood lights. The overhead light is a custom-made frame using LED diodes in paper covered with an acrylic diffuser. Recessed lights over countertops provide task lighting.

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Beauty in utility: The walk-in pantry contains a Sub-Zero wine cellar and custom-made Walnut cabinetry with marble countertops. Two large retracting pocket doors hide a full size washer and dryer.

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AUTHOR Paul Driessen

Why MCM? The number of those types of houses in the area? Paul's personality, character, personal feelings here.... Copy FPO: The homeowners love to cook and give small dinner parties. Their kitchen is the focal point of their home, but it was small and dated. A previous addition made an exterior load-bearing wall an interior wall, disrupting the space. Timber Innovations restored the open concept to this Russell Barr Williamson home and added a contemporary twist on traditional design elements.

Copy FPO: Opening the space required removing several support structures and walls. A load-bearing exterior wall that had become an interior wall when an addition was built, was removed.

Ceiling beams were added where possible to support the floor above. The columns that couldn’t be replaced were hidden in the chimney structure and in the design of the kitchen cabinetry.

Characteristics

What does Paul like about it? History of the style, including big names/common designers) Copy FPO: Keeping warm in a space with a tile floor and large windows.In addition to traditional heating systems, the floor employs hydronic warmboard beneath Italian porcelain tile, which is energy efficient and radiates warmth. The heating system is managed from a smart device with the Control4 app. Opening the space required removing several support structures and walls. A load-bearing exterior wall that had become an interior wall when an addition was built, was removed. Ceiling beams were added where possible to support the floor above. The columns that couldn’t be replaced were hidden in the chimney structure and in the design of the kitchen.

"Building becomes architecture only when the mind of man consciously takes it and tries with all his resources to make it beautiful, to put concordance, sympathy with nature, and all that into it. Then you have architecture."

Frank Lloyd Wright

Copy FPO: Usually, illumination is provided by recessed lights and pendant lighting. The homeowner wanted something unique. The lighting plan includes natural, LED and colored lights. Overhead is a custom-made frame using LED diodes in paper covered with an acrylic diffuser which provides even lighting with no hotspots. Recessed lighting over counter tops provide task lighting. LED lights in the handmade metal cabinet doors change color to set the mood for lively entertaining, relaxing evening at home, or a romantic dinner. All lights are managed using the Control4 on a smart device.

Copy FPO: Keeping warm in a space with a tile floor and large windows.In addition to traditional heating systems, the floor employs hydronic warmboard beneath Italian porcelain tile, which is energy efficient and radiates warmth. The heating system is managed from a smart device with the Control4 app. Opening the space required removing several support structures and walls.

Challenges

In general.... Copy FPO: Usually, illumination is provided by recessed lights and pendant lighting. The homeowner wanted something unique. The lighting plan includes natural, LED and colored lights. Overhead is a custom-made frame using LED diodes in paper covered with an acrylic diffuser which provides even lighting with no hotspots.

Challenge: Copy FPO: Stay true to the RB Williamson design aesthetic without looking dated.

Solution: The fireplace is a mix of traditional limestone and modern marble with a mitered corner, allowing for the veins to wrap around the structure. The dramatic kitchen island is South African, Belvedere Leather Quartz, a fine grained rare quartzite with a deep black background and swirls of white and gold, combined with a leather finish. It is cut with a "rock ledge" edge. Recessed lighting over counter tops provide task lighting. LED lights in the handmade metal cabinet doors change color to set the mood for lively entertaining, relaxing evening at home, or a romantic dinner. All lights are managed using the Control4 on a smart device.

Challenge: Copy FPO: Stay true to the RB Williamson design aesthetic without looking dated.

Solution: The dramatic kitchen island is South African, Belvedere Leather Quartz, a fine grained rare quartzite with a deep black background and swirls of white and gold, combined with a leather finish. It is cut with a "rock ledge" edge. All other counter tops are done in smooth contrasting white marble. Cabinetry is custom-made with Pecky Cyprus, Walnut and metal.

Bringing it into the future

Modern Materials (Belvedere counter, tree desk, rice paper, marble wrapped fireplace) Copy FPO: The final result created a state-of-the-art kitchen with pantry, dining area and sitting room, perfect for intimate gatherings or dinner parties. The windows surround the homeowners with nature, while the interior wraps them in modern refinements. This kitchen is more than contemporary, more than Mid-Century Modern. It is dramatic, striking, unique.