St. Regis Contemporary Kitchen Design, Week 2: Appliances

Editor’s note: With the Decorators’ Show House & Gardens less than two months away, we asked one of the participating designers, Matthew Quinn, to keep a journal of the process, every step of the way. Today is his second installment about how one of his spaces is taking shape. Look for a new installment every week until April 17 when the Show House opens.

Once a budget has been established, appliance selection is the most important step in designing a kitchen. In this modern show house, I knew I did not want to use a range, as they can appear too bulky. Alternatively, I decided to use a cook top and two ovens, plus a warming drawer, a microwave and an integrated 36”-wide refrigerator/freezer combination.

Our design concept for the hood wall

The cook top that I chose incorporates the latest and greatest technology: a 36”-wide glass Wolf induction cook top, which represents the cleanest and most efficient cooking sources made today, and I love how the appliance is “trimless,” so it can be recessed perfectly flush into the countertop. When there is room, I try to place two single ovens side-by-side rather than stacking them. This allows me to position the middle oven rack at the elbow height of the homeowner, making oven access safe and comfortable. With this design I was able to install a Wolf warming drawer to the right of the cook top and to the left of the oven. A custom bronze glass hood will be centered on the angled part of the ceiling and lit from within by tiny LED lights. The Sub-Zero 736TC refrigerator integrates beautifully into the tall wall that wraps around the room’s structural column.   If integration is what you need, no one does it better than Sub-Zero! A Wolf microwave hides behind a retractable door and the dishwasher and pullout trash are located to the right of a custom corner granite sink.

Kitchen progress and projected placement of appliances

Sub-Zero and Wolf products are available in a choice of three stainless steel finishes. Before I decide which one to use, I really need to nail down the other finishes in the kitchen. I think it is time to meet with my team of kitchen designers and develop a color scheme. I will let you know how that goes next week!