restricted space. Like many of the city’s
urban blocks, this one was only 7.6m wide.
Plus there were planning department-
imposed setbacks on both sides, which
meant even less room for the kitchen,
dining and living areas.
“There wasn’t enough space for a large
island like the owners had in their previ-
ous home, so we combined the idea of a
kitchen island with a dining room table.”
For day-to-day living, it becomes a
family gathering spot or dining table, but
it also provides a place for food preparation
in front of the kitchen – just like an island.
To help the table perform this double
function, Schwartz set the height in
between the normal benchtop and table
heights. Elevated cutting boards can also
be placed on the table to raise the table to
counter height when preparing food.
Although having no island reduces
the amount of cabinet space available,
there’s still plenty of storage in the run of
cabinetry along the kitchen’s length and
the pantry space alongside the ovens and
fridge on the adjacent wall.
Top: Entrance into the home from street level leads
down a long hallway and directly into the kitchen.
Also at street level is a garage door opening to a
steep ramp leading to parking below. The broad
staircase was a device used to provide the height
needed for the cars to get down.
Above: Installing shelving rather than upper
cabinets results in less of a boxy feel for the
kitchen. Architect Neal Schwartz says that using
strong textural tiles on the full wall behind also
takes the focus off the kitchen’s functional aspects
and allowed the other materials to be toned back.
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