A Recipe for Personal Style

It's all about the details.

Written by Marion Butterworth

Photo by Omar Salinas, courtesy of Kleppinger Design Group Inc.

Does dinnertime mean making reservations or hours spent sautéing and simmering? The key to a kitchen that uniquely suits you is in the details. From the type of appliances to cabinet stain color to the number and size of ice makers, consumers are customizing all elements of their kitchens.

Low Maintenance; High Style

Jason Hampel, owner of Moss Construction, chose a porcelain tile backsplash that looks like limestone but doesn’t stain when splattered by a rich marinara sauce. The earthy shades of red-speckled Santa Celicia granite complement the neutral tiles and maple cabinets. This kitchen, planned by Kleppinger Design Group Inc., features “Blue Motion” drawers that won’t slam shut, instead sliding in slowly and unassisted.

Photo courtesy of Porten Homes

Natural Choices

“This floor incorporates several trends. It features larger tile that is more popular now than standard 12 X 12. It also has a multicolor slate inset with a mosaic border. ”

“Larger tiles, especially when set on a diagonal, make the space feel bigger,“ says Kala Rae, manager of design for Porten Homes. The main countertop is pigmented concrete, another material that Rae says is growing in popularity.

Photo by Omar Salinas, courtesy of George B. Sagatov Custom Homes

Richly Detailed

Intricately carved onlays make the custom range hood the visual centerpiece of the main kitchen in this more than 20,000 square foot house. Flanking the kitchen’s entrance, Corinthian columns set a palatial tone. Elaborate ornamental plasterwork on the beamed ceiling and customized Bertch cabinets suit the home’s style. “We call it Arthurian,” muses custom builder George B. Sagatov.