His contemporary kitchen features zone design, a kitchen layout that groups appliances, storage and work space by task. For example: one area for food prep, one for baking, and a third for cooking and other kitchen tasks. Smith’s kitchen features two islands: One for cooking, which features a 36-inch Jenn-Air cooktop in black floating glass, and a second for food prep that has a Chroma quartz countertop and a trough sink. Smith chose the trough sink instead of a standard sink because its size, combined with its countertop placement, would allow him to access it from either side of the island. The counter surface to the right of the side-by-side wall ovens is the kitchen’s baking zone, while the raised countertop to the right of the primary sink provides room for cleaning cookware and tools.
Smith’s dream kitchen is set in San Diego, where he lives. Unlike his current setup, this kitchen makes entertaining easy, as he designed an open-plan room that transitions easily from cooking space to gathering space. The overall aesthetic of Smith’s space is warm contemporary. “[Contemporary] is my personal preference,” he said. “Very clean lines…the finishes are wood; warm tones.” He chose wenge veneer cabinets and maple flooring with a dark stain. Still, there are design elements that skew closer to a pure modern style, like glossy white cabinets for the perimeter cabinets, as well as etched glass cabinet inserts with a stainless steel frame on the cabinetry unit against the wall. The combination of warm contemporary styling with a dash of modernity creates an alluring recipe for kitchen design.
