When utility and beauty intersect, there is happiness. A chair that supports ergonomics and aesthetics. One air purifying plants and lend a verdant note. Or in the case of this beautiful and functional kitchen, a room increase to meet your needs while enveloping you in elegance.
Designer Meredith Lamme considered every nook and cranny when conceptualizing this kitchen, which she describes as the “heart of the home” which she shares with her husband, Edward, their five teenage children, and dog. Room seen all of Action: Children run in and run out. Dinner for friends. Early breakfast at the counter. It is multi-purpose in every sense. As Lamme puts it, the goal is a space that is “durable, functional, comfortable — but also beautiful.”
And that’s the catchphrase: beauty. Lamme, design consultant for Tribal Design TeamAustin-based design agency she co-founded Brooke WilbratteThe materials and features used, from the hearty concrete and brass to the open shelving, exude the grace of working overtime to serve.
After poring over every nook and cranny of this kitchen, we caught up with Lamme to ask about the smartest design decisions she and Wilbratte made to create this smart and beautiful kitchen.
Keep reading to discover this beautiful and functional kitchen — a true minimalist’s dream.
Let’s start with the function and flow of your kitchen. How do you create such ease?
We wanted a giant island to seat the whole family or a group of kids while they were here. We knew we wanted a large island as the centerpiece of the kitchen, so we designed the island first and built the rest of the kitchen around it. But functionality is extremely important. We’ve added the fridge, oven, range and sink in convenient locations together.
Various design elements, such as built-in preferences, make this kitchen functional and smart. Guide us on those, as well as the hard-working materials you’ve put in.
My husband loves to cook. When cooking on the stove, we designed compartments on the sides so we can keep our favorite oils, spices and seasonings handy. We installed a pot kit for functionality so we don’t have to carry our large pot on the stove to the sink.
In terms of material, the cabinet is white oak. I love an honest material like white oak. The cut makes the difference. All of these are seam-sewn with a warp. It makes the cabinets feel modern and not rustic, while still giving you that organic feel. Stains are also important because white oak can turn yellow quickly.
The floor is concrete. Our family has a hard time living in our house and I wanted to use a super durable material for the floor. Spills are easy to clean up and the kids can get in and out of the drenched pool with no worries. Our dog can track in the mud, and we don’t sweat.
The countertop is Calacatta marble. Many people can’t handle marble in the kitchen, but I love how it ages. We just decided to live and cook freely in it and let the stresses of work take its toll. I’m the girl who could spend hours at the slate gallery. I am obsessed with all the different types of beautiful stone slabs Mother Nature creates. It feels real to have a natural stone slab in my home.
The fixtures and lighting are polished brass. While our business is moving away from polished brass and towards metal finishes, I still love polished or uncoated brass. An unpainted brass ages over time and adds a special touch to a space.
How did you approach the light? Any kitchen lighting tips to share?
Our ceilings are 12 meters high and the island is 12 meters long, so the typical two to three pendants above an island are not the right choice. We designed a custom light fixture with Equipment Studio so it will fit into the island, take up that huge space and give the kitchen a cool element.
Lighting should be the crown jewel of the kitchen. Don’t be afraid to go big and bold.
Keep the rest of the kitchen clean and minimalist, but pay attention to your lighting. Have fun with it. This is the only room of the house that is used the most by your family and friends.
What role does color play in this room?
We live a very active lifestyle. Our family is constantly on the go, so when we get home, we don’t like being overstimulated with a bunch of colors or designs. At heart, I’m a fairly simple person and I feel like the neutral color palette reflects who I am. We used Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee—A go-to color.
The kitchen can be a space for clutter, but your kitchen has a streamlined, minimalist look. What is secret?
We are not fans of upper cabinets. If you can, remove the upper cabinets and place in open shelving. If you can’t live without hoods, make sure they go all the way to the top of the ceiling. We like smart storage to hide as much as possible. In our kitchen, we used floor-to-ceiling cabinet doors with pull-out shelves to hide the plugged in blender, toaster, juicer, and other everyday items. power and ready to use.
For ease of access, we store plates and utensils in an island drawer near the refrigerator. We added an adjacent pantry and a storage wall to make up for the lost storage space. We keep entertainment essentials such as plates, utensils, tablecloths and glassware in the butler’s pantry. The butler’s pantry off the kitchen is one of my favorite spots in the house. We use it as a place to prepare for parties.
What do you love most about your kitchen?
My favorite thing about our kitchen is the amount of time I spend connecting with my family and friends. From doing homework on the island to throwing parties, or having dinner every night, we really live in this space. It’s not really the items in the kitchen that I’m attached to, but the memories that the kitchen gives me to make. It is the heart of our home, and I am grateful for all the meals, wine, and conversations that take place here.
