Kitchen Stories: Blending traditional design with rustic influences

When the Squires started working with kitchen designer, Dondi Szombatfalvy, CKD (of Bella Domicile in Madison, WI), they expressed a desire for their home to reflect a blend of traditional styling with rustic influences.  Entertaining and family meals within the kitchen were important, so ideally the kitchen would incorporate a large bar area so that family and guests could eat and interact within the kitchen.

The homeowners wanted a kitchen that was open to the great room and formal dining room, with furniture details that helped to keep the space looking elegant.  A free-standing hutch unit on one wall offers a convenient place for glassware and plateware and met their request for “furniture styling”.  A massive mantel hood on another wall creates a stunning focal point in the kitchen.  Dondi specifically utilized carved corbels, turned posts, stacked cabinets and paneled ends to create a formal, elegant space.

Dondi not only developed the plan and design for the kitchen, but also several baths, the laundry room, home office and great room, which all needed to blend within the overall design of the home.  “I selected two different door styles that worked well together”, explained Dondi.  Sunbury House and St. Augustine are decorative door styles which have the same molding detail except one is a flat panel and the other is a raised panel.  “The flat panel door style worked well in less formal rooms like the laundry, master bath and bathrooms, and the raised panel door style worked well in the kitchen and home office.”  By using doors from the same “door family” with matching details, Dondi was able to mix a variety of woods and finishes throughout the home and still create a cohesive design.

For the office area, Dondi was working within a challenging octagonal room to create an executive office space that accommodated desk space, computer equipment and a large screen TV.  The conical-shaped roof required support posts along the walls which had to be worked into the desk area. 

The homeowners are delighted with their new kitchen and all of the beautiful Dura Supreme cabinetry throughout their home.  They especially appreciate how it all blends together to create the traditional, comfortable look they wanted.  For more information about Bella Domicile in Madison, WI, visit their website at www.belladomicile.com