Hidden Kitchen Reveals a Clever Solution

With five kids – three in college and two at home – this couple needed to create a large kitchen in their home, but they also wanted to create a small secondary kitchen for their historical barn.

Countertop seating divides the main kitchen from the great room, but the space is still open enough so whoever is cooking or cleaning in the kitchen can still be part of the action in the living area.

The beautiful, smooth cabinetry is made from maple wood with a rich cherry finish and beveled glass doors. To keep a consistent look throughout the kitchen, the same door and drawer pulls were used on all the cabinetry, including the breadbox. Because the kitchen offers an open view to the great room, the homeowners choose a bi-level granite countertop.

One of the homeowners' favorite features is the soapstone sink. The natural stone surface changes color frequently. It started out beige but has aged to different shades of brown and black.

The kids love the automatic sensors on the large side-by-side refrigerator, but the most-used appliance in the kitchen is the small beverage center to the left of the refrigerator.

The kitchen is rounded out by a gas cooktop and double ovens. A convenient warming drawer and a deep drawer to store pots and pans are located beneath the stove. The exposed brick from the home's original chimney adds a finishing touch of charm.

A restored barn that was built in 1891 is included in the homeowners' property. It has been converted into a music studio and living area where the family often entertains and the kids can hang out. The homeowners wanted the convenience of a kitchen in the barn, but they didn't want to put a thoroughly modern kitchen in the middle of this historic building. What was the solution? Hide a fully functional kitchen inside this large custom-built cupboard.

Presto! The doors on the cupboard slide back to reveal a full-service kitchen. The free-standing piece of furniture houses a two-burner cooktop, sink, microwave, mini-refrigerator and plenty of storage.