European look - clutter-free kitchen
Charles Lantz design - "He's very clever, very talented."

click photo for larger version

click photo for larger version

"We belong to the Charles Lantz Club," Julie says with a ready grin. "We're all people who are passionate about food.

"We hide everything away," she adds about their kitchen. It's the European look. We have stackables for laundry, Charles came up with the design - he's very clever, very talented."

"The kitchen," says David John, "is the focal place of any home - we wanted a warm feeling when you come in."

"It was quite the challenge," recalls Julie. "So many odd shapes to work around. I wanted something that looked like a dresser - I have 100 cookbooks. Charles' workmanship is absolutely fantastic!"

See how he made Julie's wish come true - check the photo group below - the top two images.

Challenges

1. One small window in the kitchen made for a very dark room;


2. Although Julie and David John like wood, "timber floor, timber tops, timber cupboards," added to the gloom;


3. A full menu of odd shapes and angles;


4. The 89-year-old, post and beam house features solid oak including original unpainted oak trim;


5. They wanted the kitchen to be true to the living room's original Shaker style.

click photos for larger versions

click photos for larger size

click photos for larger versions

CLC used fine Canadian lumber on the counter tops and Nova Scotia granite for the butcher block.

"It's cold all the time - what a gift for any pastry making," says Julie - who's known for her exceptional pie making. Cabinetry was made flush to the ceiling thereby eliminating an easily-neglected dust collector. Photos to the left show another example of European design - now you see the stackable washer and drier, now you don't!