A Kitchen at the Heart of Family Living

To accommodate a large family, the clients specified a central kitchen bookended by two sitting areas. The challenge was to design a layout that would be conducive to togetherness but also practical to work in. It was imperative to keep the visual connection between the three spaces and to enable natural light to reach the innermost portions of the space. Capturing exterior views was also important.

Overhead wall cabinets would have been visually interruptive, so in order to provide adequate storage, Samsel Architects settled on a three-island solution. Primary circulation paths are at the north and south ends with the islands between—this allows the family to move through to the adjacent spaces with minimal disruption to the main cooking zone, while still being able to gather around the islands. The stove is in the central island and has a custom-built thin-profile hood vent to minimize disruption to the sightline. The dining table faces north toward mountain and pond views. Western views are of a fourseason room, terrace, horse barn, and pasture. And, to the south, the entry courtyard is visible.

• Designer: Samsel Architects, samselarchitects.com
• Builder: Morgan-Keefe Builders, morgankeefe.com
• Project location: Mill Spring, N.C.
• Photos: Todd Crawford, courtesy of Samsel Architects

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