Trade Secrets

This tidy kitchen has less counter space than most kitchens, but that was part of the plan, according to custom designer-builder Glen Robertson of Smith & Robertson (smithandrobertson.com). He shares some of this kitchen’s unique design ideas with us.

Storage
Personalized nooks, crannies and cupboards make it easy to hide everything and still have it within easy reach. The small door over the stove conceals a spice rack. The wooden panels that encase the free-standing refrigerator were made a few feet larger to create storage drawers and cabinet drawers in the area directly behind the fridge.

Efficiency
The kitchen’s layout—separated into work zones, not traditional triangles—means prep, cooking and cleaning is compartmentalized. A second prep sink in the kitchen island makes it easy for two people to work in the kitchen at the same time.

Pantry
A pocket door to the right of the refrigerator leads to a small walk-in pantry fitted with drawers, adjustable shelves and a specially designed wine storage unit.

Small Appliances
Each of the cupboards has plug-in electrical outlets so you can open the doors and use the small appliances—mixer, toaster, blender, juicer, coffee maker—right in place. They don’t sit out on the counter needlessly taking up space.

Materials
Robertson chose wood for strength, character and for their warm colors—Douglas fir for the timberwork and reclaimed heart pine through mountainlumber.com for the floors. For durability, floors are finished with Traffic, an acrylic product from BonaKemi. Michael Lynch of M. Gray Lynch Woodworks used solid cherry (clear finish, no stain) for all the cabinets and put furniture bases on the large cupboards, making them look like free-standing pieces.