Enduring Design

The stunning and serene kitchen that was awarded the first place Traditional Award in the 2017-18 Sub-Zero Kitchen Design Contest was a renovation project in a historically significant home in the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta. Matthew Quinn, principal of Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath Studio, collaborated with architect Yong Pak, builder Michael Ladisic, and interior designer Lauren DeLoach to create a functional and fabulous-looking space for a growing family. “This kitchen is part of a new addition to the home, and it was my job to make it seamlessly flow with the existing structure,” says Quinn. “I was given an opportunity to make it work well for the busy homeowners.”

The designated kitchen space was originally one large rectangle open on two sides. Quinn noted that having only two walls for storage wouldn’t be enough for a family that cooks together daily. “My solution was to add a wall in the kitchen and create two separate spaces,” he says. “One side became the kitchen and the other a working pantry.”

Starting from a phenomenal custom-designed range hood crafted of elegant, hammered metal, Quinn worked outward, adding thoughtful design details throughout the kitchen. “I wanted the visual attention to be put on the hood, so I designed wall cabinets that appear to be a single door cut in half to give the feeling of columns flanking this amazing hood.”

The gold tone of the hood is replicated throughout the kitchen in the decorative brass fittings. “Brass is timeless,” says Quinn, who explains that in order to finish the project within the deadline, he laid out all the unlacquered brass hardware in the back of his company’s offices. He then asked every employee to touch every piece each time they passed by. “Eventually, it turned into that gorgeous patina that we were going for.”

“We then translated the peening technique on the range hood’s strapping, using a much larger peening hammer,” says Quinn. The combination of brass and hammered strapping gives the hood some historical relevance, relating it to the classic home.

Quinn’s team also took the removable handle from the Wolf range and brought it to a brass plater for finishing. “It was just an extra, special touch,” he says.

Next to the Wolf range, Quinn had a gorgeous radius window installed above a farmhouse sink. “I also added extra depth to that countertop because we knew we wanted lamps there as well,” he says. “It is such a simple element, but it immediately makes it feel a little bit more furniture-like by putting lamps at the window.” The homeowner also had a unique collection of blue-toned dishes that are displayed on the wall to the left of the window.

The color blue is repeated throughout the entire house, as both husband and wife agreed it is their dual favorite. The kitchen features light blues, while the adjacent butler's pantry has a deeper, more vivid hue. “I wanted your eye to be pulled further along,” says Quinn, “so when you're in the kitchen, you see that vibrant blue in the background. I typically make the color in pantries, or any space you can see through the kitchen, a little bit darker and more intense to draw the eyes to that space.”

The pantry houses the Sub-Zero freezer and ice maker, an additional dishwasher, and a second sink that dispenses sparkling water. Above this smaller sink is an architectural round window, in front of which hangs a tiny chandelier, another nod to the traditional style of the home.

To maintain the stylistic integrity, Quinn was compelled to come up with a clever solution to the waterfall countertop on the island, a request from the homeowners. “Waterfall countertops which cascade to the floor are typically found in modern homes and kitchens," he says. “This house was not modern in the least, but I knew we could find a way to make it work.” Quinn designed the ends of the island to look like paneled cabinetry, creating a timeless look befitting the residence. “There are very few craftsmen capable of accomplishing this technique,” says Quinn. "The veining of the countertop has to perfectly match the end panels, which cannot be achieved with one piece of marble. We ultimately needed two extra slabs, and the end result is absolutely breathtaking.”

Quinn has won first place in the Kitchen Design Contest before, in 2008, and also served as a judge for several years. He is cognizant of the significance of the event. “It truly is the Oscars of kitchen design,” he says. “It is the most recognizable professional honor.” Being an applicant and subsequent winner has clear benefits, but Quinn also gleaned important insight from his seasons as a judge. “The Sub-Zero group takes the entire process very seriously,” he says, “and the categories have continued to diversify.” He says he was blown away by the quality of the thousands of entries. “It really challenged us as designers to choose winners,” he says. “I think the skill level increases every year, and these kitchens get better and better. I truly loved being a judge!”