With a color palette inspired by the bark of the birch tree, the kitchen serves as both entertainment and gathering space.
The hood, wrapped with timber at the point where it intersects the ceiling, serves as a stainless steel sculpture in the space. The 20-foot column was constructed by a local metal fabricator and assembled on-site over a three-day period.
A trio of windows above the kitchen allows sunlight to stream into the space.
A nearly 13-foot-long island, topped with white quartz, features three cabinets of storage shelves cloaked behind frosted glass.
A Sub-Zero integrated refrigerator offers five cubic feet of storage space.
Six black leather bar stools surround the island. "People want to come in, sit down and live. It's not a city house. It's a country house, it's a mountain house," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "So every fabric chosen in that house upholstery is really rugged, heavy duty and durable."
Each place is set with dishwasher- , microwave- and freezer-safe Portmerion dinnerware, cotton napkins, raffia hemstitched place mats and stainless steel flatware.
A Sub-Zero PRO 48 refrigerator offers restaurant styling with glass doors and dual storage cabinets.
Maple cabinetry in a charcoal finish counterbalances maple prefinished hardwood flooring.
Carrera marble tile in a stacked pattern mimics the look of birch bark. "Sometimes I think that's what inspiration is," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "It doesn't have to be in your face. It doesn't mean you stencil a tree on the wall. But it's there."
According to interior designer Linda Woodrum, the inspiration for a cooking island came from house planner Jack Thomasson. "He envisioned someone at the grill cooking for everybody," she says. "All those seats surround you – it's very much a performance space."
Two polished-nickel buffet lamps add industrial elegance to the kitchen countertop.
The kitchen is stocked with local wines from Boyden Valley Winery and Snow Farm Vineyard.
The Sub-Zero undercounter wine storage cabinet offers two separate storage zones and holds up to 46 bottles of wine.
"I love the kitchen. I think it's dramatic. It works," says interior designer Linda Woodrum. "There are two dishwashers. I love that refrigerator. I love the look of it. I love the functionality of it. I love everything about it."
An oversized, undermount farmhouse sink, flanked by Asko dishwashers, accommodates even the largest gatherings.
A Wolf 48-inch dual-fuel range features a steel griddle, dual convection ovens and top burners to meet the needs of a busy home cook.
To maximize mountain views from the kitchen, dining room furnishings are kept to a minimum.
The kitchen's entertainment center, concealed behind Wellborn Media Life cabinetry, includes a 26-inch LCD TV with keyboard and Bose sound system.
Wolf 30-inch undercounter warming and microwave drawers offer the ultimate in convenience when cooking for a crowd.
The kitchen is designed, as all spaces in the home, to handle wear and tear. "The kitchen is truly suited to the lifestyle of where it's situated. And that’s significant," says interior designer Linda Woodrum.
