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Evolution of the Kitchen
If you looked at today’s kitchen and the kitchen of yesterday you would
almost think that they were two completely different rooms. The fact is, they
are. Yesterday’s kitchen was a smaller, closed off, food preparation area
where wives spent hours cooking alone to later serve the family in the dining
room. Lifestyles have since evolved and there is a whole new set of needs.
Today’s kitchen is a multifunctional welcoming hub for the entire family to
gather, do homework, share meals, and entertain friends. With the kitchen
now serving as an extension of the living room, mom’s days of solitary
confinement are coming to an end. At Rissay we offer smart solutions to
your yesterday’s kitchen.
almost think that they were two completely different rooms. The fact is, they
are. Yesterday’s kitchen was a smaller, closed off, food preparation area
where wives spent hours cooking alone to later serve the family in the dining
room. Lifestyles have since evolved and there is a whole new set of needs.
Today’s kitchen is a multifunctional welcoming hub for the entire family to
gather, do homework, share meals, and entertain friends. With the kitchen
now serving as an extension of the living room, mom’s days of solitary
confinement are coming to an end. At Rissay we offer smart solutions to
your yesterday’s kitchen.
| Copyright, 2007 Rissay Ltd. All rights reserved |
| Zeitzer Residence, Society Hill, Philadelphia |
"I love food and I love everything involved
with food. I love the fun of it. I love
restaurants. I love cooking, although I don't
cook very much. I love kitchens."
with food. I love the fun of it. I love
restaurants. I love cooking, although I don't
cook very much. I love kitchens."
"Restoration Transformation"
First thing in the morning, at the end of a long day, and whenever friends & family gather, the
kitchen is supposed to offer warmest of welcomes. At first visit, the Zeitzer kitchen was
anything but enticing and certainty not living up to its full potential. Dark cabinetry and grimed
brick flooring closeted the already pint sized space and storage was at a premium forcing
Mrs. Zeitzer, an avid collector of fine things, to look elsewhere for displaying her impeccable
taste. Though with a little color therapy and a lot of execution from Rissay, this once dark,
gloomy, “oversized pantry with appliances” has morphed into a light, bright and airy
showroom.
kitchen is supposed to offer warmest of welcomes. At first visit, the Zeitzer kitchen was
anything but enticing and certainty not living up to its full potential. Dark cabinetry and grimed
brick flooring closeted the already pint sized space and storage was at a premium forcing
Mrs. Zeitzer, an avid collector of fine things, to look elsewhere for displaying her impeccable
taste. Though with a little color therapy and a lot of execution from Rissay, this once dark,
gloomy, “oversized pantry with appliances” has morphed into a light, bright and airy
showroom.
design Challenges
- A pint sized pantry of a kitchen
- Sloppy Systems
- Intense Color Therapy
- Sparse Storage
The Zeitzer’s kitchen became the very definition of Traditional, Old World, Philadelphia
Charm. This former “large pantry” was literally revived from the ground up with treatment on
the original, brick flooring, installation of luxurious kitchen cabinetry, to all new mechanics
and lighting.
In order to house all of Mrs. Zeitzer’s worldly possessions the walls were outfitted with
handsome, built in, unobtrusive, curio cabinets providing a well-balanced blend of visible and
concealed storage that featured illuminated interiors at just the flick of a switch. Dated
appliances were given the boot to make room for higher end, commercial ones by Viking and
ultra efficient, attractive Marvin windows were installed concluding in what many would
consider “a complete restoration and transformation”.
Charm. This former “large pantry” was literally revived from the ground up with treatment on
the original, brick flooring, installation of luxurious kitchen cabinetry, to all new mechanics
and lighting.
In order to house all of Mrs. Zeitzer’s worldly possessions the walls were outfitted with
handsome, built in, unobtrusive, curio cabinets providing a well-balanced blend of visible and
concealed storage that featured illuminated interiors at just the flick of a switch. Dated
appliances were given the boot to make room for higher end, commercial ones by Viking and
ultra efficient, attractive Marvin windows were installed concluding in what many would
consider “a complete restoration and transformation”.
design Solutions
- Minimal Display space
- Blah, Bland & Banal
- Rusty not Rustic
- Antiquated Appliances
| before pictures |
"Open for Conversation"
Enough is enough! The Layden family contacted Rissay after giving up on their kitchen’s
impractical design that had cramped the family’s lifestyle for much too long. The Layden’s
wanted to create a warm, comfortable atmosphere conducive to conversation from multiple
bordering rooms without sacrificing storage or style.
impractical design that had cramped the family’s lifestyle for much too long. The Layden’s
wanted to create a warm, comfortable atmosphere conducive to conversation from multiple
bordering rooms without sacrificing storage or style.
- Outdated appliances for a family of foodies
- A large collection of cookware with no where to go
- A closeted kitchen for a family wanting a room with a view
- Spatially challenged as much vertically as horizontally
- Walls that double as sound barriers for inside voices
- Workspace for one, family of four
The Layden kitchen was not just tailored to one person’s lifestyle but “La Famiglia”.
Therefore, each member of the family was encouraged to become vocal about their wants
and needs during the interviewing process. After accessing the challenges and considering
the primary uses of the Layden kitchen, Rissay brought a more modern Tuscany into their
home drawing in family members and guests the way a living room would. The walls that
inappropriately served as sound barriers came down opening the home. Ceilings were
raised to make room for old world, door style cabinetry and an island was custom built that
contained ample storage space for Mrs. Layden’s large cookware collection. Ornate detailing
was added with an acid etched true Italian style backsplash mural complimenting beautiful,
natural stone countertops that stretched across the Layden’s new “Cucina Italiana”.
Therefore, each member of the family was encouraged to become vocal about their wants
and needs during the interviewing process. After accessing the challenges and considering
the primary uses of the Layden kitchen, Rissay brought a more modern Tuscany into their
home drawing in family members and guests the way a living room would. The walls that
inappropriately served as sound barriers came down opening the home. Ceilings were
raised to make room for old world, door style cabinetry and an island was custom built that
contained ample storage space for Mrs. Layden’s large cookware collection. Ornate detailing
was added with an acid etched true Italian style backsplash mural complimenting beautiful,
natural stone countertops that stretched across the Layden’s new “Cucina Italiana”.
| Layden Residence, Society Hill, Philadelphia |
| before pictures |
design Challenges
design Solutions
| after pictures |
| after pictures |