by Cathy Martin
Cate Gutter’s Myers Park clients sought a kitchen that would function better both for their immediate family of four and for frequent out-of-town guests, including extended family.
“They had this small table that could only seat four, and they didn’t always want to be in their dining room,” says Gutter, owner and principal designer at CWG Design. In addition to a larger eat-in space, the homeowners needed storage to help tame clutter and an open design that felt connected to the adjacent family room.
A larger dining area was a priority; an oversized pendant from Made Goods anchors the space, while an art bar creates visual interest above the banquette. The roman shade in a striped Zak & Fox fabric was made by Custom Window Treatments.
The stone fireplace surround was fabricated by Classic Stone Creations. Cabinets and trim are painted in Sherwin Williams Shiitake.
Despite a previous renovation, the kitchen still felt closed off from the rest of the house. Adding a pantry at one end of the long rectangular space meant shifting the workspace toward the center of the room. A bay window that once served as a small breakfast nook is now a central workspace, with a range and cooktop opposite a large island.
“We tiled the back wall where the bay was to kind of anchor it, and almost add some weight to the middle of the room like the heart of the kitchen,” Gutter says. A new cased opening centered on the island and bay window creates better flow with the family room.
With two young kids, managing clutter was a must for this busy family. Paneled doors conceal a pantry with streamlined storage by Simplicity Organizers.
Jewel box: A pair of built-in china cabinets serves as a butlery housing pretty glassware and decorative items.
To add seating, Gutter suggested turning a small, seldom used sitting room into a comfortable breakfast area with a large corner banquette. Over a custom table from Etsy hangs an oversized rattan chandelier; cushions and chairs are covered in Kravet Performance fabric for easy cleanup. The fireplace was refaced with cast stone, while brass mesh screens on the lower cabinets keep electronics hidden from view. A genius touch: A brass bar mounted high over the banquette keeps precious artwork in view but a safe distance from messy hands.
The breakfast room is now the wife’s “happy place,” says the designer, who worked with CasaForte Builders and architect Wendy Watson on the project.
“Really this whole renovation is to create a space where their whole family is welcome, and there’s a seat for everybody.” SP
