Bright, Open, Timeless Kitchen for a Mid-1960s Traditional Home

The owners of this Wilmette, Ill., mid-1960s traditional home wanted a
bright, open, timeless kitchen that both connects to the existing family
room and offers enough space for family and friends to comfortably
gather.

Designer Vince Weber removed the wall between the kitchen and family
room but then needed to redirect the mechanical services that had been
located in that wall. He zoned the entire second floor heating and
cooling system and relocated the plumbing stacks and laundry chute.

No matter how great a party is, guests like to be in the kitchen. The
home­owners enjoy cooking and entertaining, so the designers created a
kitchen island that feels like furniture, providing an aesthetic divide
between the working kitchen and the informal eating/living space. The
new banquette is used not only for dining but as a great spot for doing
homework and for social visits.

The judges praised this kitchen
design for its broad appeal and liked that it showed asymmetry and
balance in a traditional kitchen. “The color palette is inviting and
soothing. We see so many kitchens like this that aren’t well done,” they
said. “This room is tastefully done.”