The Clever Kitchen
Rebecca Verhoeff of Novato had a clear idea of what she was looking for when she contacted John “JZ” Zinn of Novato Kitchens and Baths to help her create a 15-by-20-foot kitchen for her family of five.
"I knew what I wanted, but I needed someone to take my chicken-scratch drawings and make them to scale," she says. "JZ helped me with this, making the many changes needed as my design took shape on paper."
Most important to Verhoeff was having a space where family and friends could gather to enjoy a meal or a snack together. "I can have three people working in the kitchen without cramping each other and we can feed 10 people easily in the kitchen between the island and the eat-in nook." The kitchen island, with plenty of built-in storage space, gives her three children the room to "spread out their homework or projects and still allow us to make dinner and interact as a family," she says.
Clever planning is key for orchestrating such convenience, says Zinn. "We went over that kitchen redesign for a couple of months, using 20-20 Technologies 3-D kitchen software — virtually moving appliances and cabinets around until there were enough ‘landing spots,’ or counter space."
By integrating or concealing the kitchen's many appliances, including an oversize 42-inch KitchenAid refrigerator with bottom slide freezer, a GE Monogram warming drawer, a GE Monogram trash compactor, and a Bosch dishwasher, and by grouping the refrigerator and the bulkiest cabinets on far walls, Zinn achieved an overall look that’s streamlined rather than choppy.
Verhoeff’s kitchen features two sink areas for easy cleanup, simple-to-maintain soapstone countertops and a built-in Miele coffeemaker. "I love it," she says. "Within minutes, I can have my coffee and it tastes as good as (at) any professional coffeehouse."
The plumbing and tile, as well as the small Jaclo garbage disposal air-operated button, were sourced from CT W Designs in Novato. "It's the best place in Marin, and Craig Anderson (CT W’s manager) convinced me that the air switch was the way to go," she says. You don’t have to break up your woodwork or backsplash tile with another ugly switch."
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