2011 Kitchen Of The Year

This generous kitchen is the stunning product of a collaborative effort between Rancho Santa Fe-based homeowners Terry Broyles and Yvonne Kalench and a team of seasoned professionals. Knowing the kitchen was part of a ground-up rebuild after the tragic fires of 2007, architect Allard Jansen took great care to ensure that the space functioned well with the other areas of the home. The resulting ease of access to the garage and service entrance is provided through a butler’s pantry. Beams on the ceiling continue into the dining area and family room so that the entire space is perceived as one.

 

Kitchen designer Lance Stratton of La Jolla-based Studio Stratton Inc. selected Wm Ohs Architectural Series cabinetry. A large Francois & Co. custom scagliola stone hood is the visual anchor and provides ventilation for the 48” Wolf dual fuel range. Interior designer Michael Huff worked with Stratton to refine the details of the cabinetry —custom leg profiles and toe kicks are recessed and darkened in color to add a “cabinetry as furniture” feel to the overall design, while an intricate and colorful tile for the backsplash brings a bit of unexpected whimsy to the palate. The main farmhouse sink is positioned under a window looking out onto a raised bedded garden. Flanking the sink is daily-use dish storage, a can pantry, and ample concealed refrigeration. The kitchen boasts two islands — one as a work surface, and the other primarily for seating and buffet purposes. A service counter offers pass-through loading to the state-of-the-art outdoor kitchen.

 

Protected from the sun in the summer and shielded from the cold in the winter, the adjacent outdoor kitchen with its granite counters and teak wood doors provides a wonderful place to gather and entertain year-round. With the fires well behind them, this family is now able to once again savor all that our idyllic SoCal lifestyle has to offer.