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Design

Throwing a Curve on a Kitchen Island

Custom wine-bottle shelves turn a kitchen island into a unique centerpiece in this new kitchen.

By Maureen Friedman Issue 287 - Kitchens & Baths

Here’s a case where necessity was the mother of invention. The staircase leading from the second door into the kitchen was situated in such a way that there wouldn’t have been enough room to navigate around a large rectangular island. Architect John Cole decided to add a gentle curve to the island to allow for a generous landing area. In order to support the Jet Mist granite, the sides of the island needed to be sturdy. The side opposite the sink incorporates traditional base cabinets, which provide the requisite structural support. In order to prop up the other side, Cole incorporated a built-in storage area, designed to hold bottles of wine. To keep the bottles from rolling, a groove was routed into each shelf. Cole’s clients were so pleased with the results that he has since incorporated the idea in other projects.

Architect: John Cole, John Cole Architect, Arlington, Mass., and Freyburg, Maine, johncolearchitect.com

Builder: Island Cove Building & Development, Raymond, Maine, islandcovebuilding.com

Photo: Brian Vanden Brink, brianvandenbrink.com

From Fine Homebuilding #287

 

More unique kitchen islands:

Kitchen Islands: Practical Makes Perfect – Countertop dimensions, available workspace, and traffic flow all play a big part in getting the most out of your kitchen island.

Out of the Box – Revolutionary designer Johnny Grey creatively mixes concrete, wood, and other materials in unique ways and revamps the concepts that drive conventional kitchen design.

Kitchen Islands — More Solutions, More Photos – Masterfully tailored to their spaces, these kitchen workstations designed by Johnny Grey show how to combine utility with panache.

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