Bluebell | From the Design Studio - No.7

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Design Studio

FROM THE № 7

Pure Balance

Our homeowners love to welcome friends and family for events small and large all year long. Their new home’s kitchen had to work just as perfectly for the two of them alone as it does when they prepare a formal dinner for 12 or host a catered gala celebration. Bluebell’s designers created a dreamy 25ft by 25ft kitchen that’s warm and inviting when a few choose to gather even as its zoned task areas provide superior efficiency. When a big event calls for more hands and greater output, it easily rises to the occasion.

BLUEBELL DESIGNERS: Peter Cardamone, Principal Designer; Lori Kurnitsky, Senior Project Designer, NCIDQ; Olga Carlson, Technical Designer

INTERIOR DESIGN PARTNER: John Eric Sebesta

BUILDER: Ernst Brothers + Builders

ARCHITECT: Michele Thackrah, Archer & Buchanan Architecture

PHOTOGRAPHY: Christian Garibaldi

STYLING: Kristi Hunter

(including pantry)
Construction
LOCATION New Hope, Pa SIZE 710sf
SCOPE New
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The owners made it abundantly clear to everyone: they wanted a new home that would graciously accommodate themselves, their dogs, their houseguests and the few or the many who joined them at their country estate for dinner, small parties, large events or massive catered galas. And the kitchen needed to support that.

As the heart of any home—especially one whose residents are cooks and foodies themselves—the kitchen design offers an exciting challenge for designers. In this case, Pete Cardamone and Lori Kurnitsky had a 25ft by 25ft blank slate on which to create a kitchen that would serve all of the above circumstances with minimal adjustment on the owners’ part. In fact, Bluebell designed two kitchens to meet the owners’ goal for the home: the more formal main kitchen we feature here and a fully appointed “party kitchen” on the lower level to directly serve pool guests and outdoor entertainments.

It was an intriguing challenge, especially with the owners’ additional desire for a precisely centered layout.

We’re pleased with the results: a bright and beautiful kitchen, serene sitting area with fireplace, well-situated entertainment pantry, luxury fixtures and appliances, Bluebell’s superior craftsmanship and a traffic and work-stations plan that manages every possible situation the owners can throw at it.

Even better, the owners are delighted. Quiet weekend escape or Party Central, it works just as they’d envisioned.

Looking for an update on our new showroom? We’re anticipating a late spring grand opening!

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WORKSTATION SINK

ICEMAKER

COFFEE STATION

MICROWAVE

REFRIGERATOR DRAWERS

REFRIGERATOR FREEZER

Dining Room & Great Room Pantry

FIREPLACE

OVEN
OVEN
DISHWASHER DISHWASHER
STEAM
OVEN
GAS RANGETOP
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Aperfect square deserves an exacting layout. And yet, the precise balance so apparent in this floor plan yields to asymmetrical touches that keep the room interesting rather than flat and overly regimented. It’s a pleasure to show you how Bluebell took advantage of architectural features and terrific natural light to create a spacious kitchen that’s big on comfort, efficiency and adaptability.

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Symmetry rules the room, as seen here. However, it’s the intentional examples of “adapted balance” that give the kitchen its delightful charm with a touch of drama, while making everyone feel welcome.

Paired tall quartered figured ash cabinetry systems conceal refrigeration and storage to the left and the coffee hutch, everyday dishware, refrigerator drawers, icemaker and microwave to the right. In a very loose sense, everything in dark wood is open to visitors and everything in the metallic finish and white counters belongs to the professionals.

The fun occurs when camaraderie and social circumstance blur that divide: the chef of the hour works his magic at the cooktop while fully engaging his guests, whose seats around the table top put them in proximity to enjoy the culinary artistry and conversation.

Limestone tile floor Flat-cut walnut table base
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Leathered Cygnus quartzite table top

The subtle mix of textures pulls this room together even while the materials and finishes define its various work stations. The raised island countertop in darkveined leathered Cygnus quartzite serves to mark passive buffet space or separate seated guests from active prep at the cooktop defined by the honed Namibian White quartzite counters. Those around the extended island sit comfortably on upholstered bar stools pulled up to a deep 15” overhang.

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Wolf steam oven Base cabinets in antique nickel pure metal painted finish
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We love the industrial look of this antique nickel pure metal painted finish on the base cabinetry and how it defines the hardest working portion of the kitchen. Here, the 48-inch gas rangetop sits under a highly efficient hood finished in light washed mild steel. Deep drawers below for pots and pans and ovens at either side mean everything is exactly where it needs to be to accommodate one or more cooks with ease.

Raw Urth hood with light washed finish and Best insert Wolf rangetop, ovens

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Aseven-foot workstation sink, set dead center on the windows, does everything you expect it to—and more. The pair of black stainless faucets, precisely centered on the window mullions, anchor each end so one person can be loading one of the two dishwashers while the other preps the fruit course. Expand that strategy and you have an efficient catering kitchen for the owners’ spectacular gala events.

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Galley Workstation sink with Galley faucets, air switch and soap dispenser in black stainless steel Honed Namibian White quartzite countertops
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The full-service beverage station tucked into one of the tall cabinets allows a guest or resident to grab a cup of coffee without getting in the way of the chef who’s flipping pancakes and bacon at the range or prepping fruit salad at the sink. This is the kind of successful customization that’s possible because our designers truly listen when clients tell us how they use their space. In-cabinet lighting, including the under-shelf task lights here, goes on automatically when a door is opened.

Lifestyle center with bi-fold retractable doors

Refrigerator

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drawers by Sub-Zero and ice maker by U-Line concealed in lower cabinetry
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The handsome paneled ash cabinets on either side of our kitchen are beauties in their own right, and you don’t have to be a master woodworker to appreciate the craft of these maple finger-jointed drawers with walnut bottoms. Bluebell’s standard is exceptional materials crafted by experienced craftsmen and installed with an eye for precision fit. Our professional reputation rides on details such as these, almost as much as our personal satisfaction.

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Hardware by Top Knobs Paneled quartered figured ash cabinets
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Aserene setting shows off the largeformat limestone tile floor and invites you to pull up a seat any time of the year. Enjoy views out the glass-paned doors flanking the wood-burning fireplace, chat with the cook—or just get out of the way of busy meal prep. You’re still linked to the action should a call go out for a sous chef. And then there’s that delightful glimpse into the woods through the airy stair tower that leads to private quarters.

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Sub-Zero refrigerator & freezer concealed in tall cabinets

Our designers like to play with form and function, and here the two meet up in a specialized cabinet that holds small appliances yet disappears into the woodwork. If you’ve ever hefted a stand mixer onto the counter from a lower cabinet, this one’s for you. The wide door lifts smoothly to reveal toaster, waffle maker, juicer, electric griddle—whatever you have, all at counter height for no hefting—and outlets to power them. Open shelves display a few favorite serving pieces or an entire cookbook collection.

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Painted appliance cabinet and open shelves
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Next to the kitchen but close at hand, the spacious “entertainment pantry” holds all the implements for graciously hosting parties or formal events. Stained walnut cabinetry with interior lighting stores linens, dishware, glassware, flatware, serving and specialty pieces; two undercabinet wine coolers complete an ultra-convenient serving or staging center. Handsome steel and glass doors allow natural light to spill into the hallway.

Sub-Zero wine coolers

Stained walnut cabinetry

Custom designed and fabricated glass and steel doors

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FROM THE DESIGNERS

To conceptualize any room’s design, I seek out the sweet spot where the client’s vision intersects with how I instinctively visualize the space. Listening and responding to what our clients wanted their kitchen to do fed directly into how the room should flow.

What our clients wanted their kitchen to do fed directly into how the room should flow.

“ “
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Pete’s concept for this square, precisely balanced kitchen gave me the freedom to choose a fun mix of materials and finishes, such as the richly figured leathered Cygnus quartzite—see the back cover for a close-up—that we set against the quiet Namibian White quartzite. I love the tall paneled cabinets that hold so many surprise features.

While we give every project the same degree of attention to detail when measuring and ordering products and materials, this kitchen’s symmetry factor should have made it more intimidating. Instead, it went together like an intriguing puzzle, and was just as satisfying when completed.

SENIOR PROJECT DESIGNER, NCIDQ TECHNICAL DESIGNER
I love the tall paneled cabinets that hold so many surprise features.
“ “ “ “
It went together like an intriguing puzzle, and was just as satisfying.
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New Look, New Name

We’re excited to announce that Bluebell Kitchens is now Bluebell—still your premier resource for fine cabinetry, ultra-custom design, luxury kitchens and more. Our subtle but significant rebranding reflects the 38-year-old company’s latest advancement in sophisticated design and bespoke quality, an evolution that has fueled Bluebell’s phenomenal growth in recent years.

The smart new logo and streamlined name catch us up to who we’ve become and carry us into a future we can already see unfolding. As this project shows, we’ll continue to design the beautiful— and beautifully functional—custom kitchens our most discerning clients love. But our highly skilled team’s intuitive space planning and keen eye for quality materials, fine finishes and exceptional craftsmanship have progressed into cabinetry designs and installations for every room, every space.

This rebranding also reflects our increasing reliance on a growing team of Bluebell professionals. While our topnotch designers often get the most credit, a client’s delight in their gorgeous project is possible only because our technical designers and experienced installers are truly the best in the business.

A word on our new logo and new colors: the brand design firm took inspiration directly from the kitchens we’ve created, with their simple efficiency, neutral tones and use of natural light. Just as all our rooms and features are photographed without artificial light sources, we believe nature prevails in the materials, look, feel and even luxury of every Bluebell project.

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BLUEBELLKITCHENS.COM

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