ON•TREND by TruKitchens
Custom Kitchens for the Lakefront Home
LAKEFRONT LIVING LENDS ITSELF to a relaxed pace filled with sunshine, delicious meals, ice cold beverages and large gatherings of family and friends. There is something so winsome about lake houses themselves… they have a way of calming your spirit and beckoning you to stay a while. On their foundation memories are made, relived and cherished. Today, there is no “one-style-fits-all” when it comes to the look and feel of a lakefront home’s kitchen. However, the functionality considerations that are applied to these spaces are unique to the waterfront lifestyle.
their feet too. An open layout with plenty of seating keeps the conversation going while food is being prepared. Appliances with unique bells and whistles that make cooking easier or duplicate essential appliances bring truth to the mantra “many hands make light work.” A unique workstation called The Galley even allows the host to prep, cook, serve, entertain, and clean-up, all in one convenient place. A bar in or near the kitchen space moves the beverage traffic away from the main cooking area and allows guests to help themselves.
Make the Most of the Views In today’s culture, everyone ends up in the kitchen. No longer is food prepared and enjoyed in separate spaces; cooking is social. This rings especially true at a lake house. Accordingly, a lakefront home’s kitchen layout should make the most of the views as time is spent together in the space. Wash stations, prep areas, appliances, storage and seating should all exist beautifully alongside the windows and doors that frame the views. In some homes, this may mean minimizing the upper cabinets in favor of storage in a large pantry opposite of the windows. A sink placed under a large bank of windows looking out towards the water makes cleanup more enjoyable. Excellence in lakefront kitchen design offers a functional layout with emphasis on the sparkling water landscapes just beyond the walls. Embrace Indoor-Outdoor Living The constant opening and shutting of doors that drives every mom crazy is embraced at the lake. Guests are always welcome, food is plentiful and cold beverages are ready to be sipped. The most functional lakefront kitchen design extends the kitchen space into the outdoors. Methods to do this range in price, function and style. Pass-through kitchen windows to the outdoors create a walk-up bar. Swinging French doors pair nicely with traditional cottage homes. Sliding patio doors maximize views while minimizing the footprint needed for a swinging door. For a seamless indoor-outdoor transition, bi-fold moving glass walls, stacking glass walls or pocket glass walls are a modern way to open up entire rooms to the outdoors. Ease Entertaining Efforts There is always a reason to celebrate at the lake and in Michigan that celebration may simply be in honor of the sun shining. Custom kitchens in waterfront homes should lighten the load of the host so they can kick up
Outdoor Kitchens Outdoor kitchens are another way to provide kitchen functionality accessible outdoors and make entertaining easier. Many advances have been made to the products available for outdoor kitchens. Revolutionary weatherproof and fadeproof cabinets available in many different styles are manufactured by NatureKast. Their unique construction ensures that cabinets last in the elements with minimal maintenance. With their products, outdoor kitchen designs can feature everything from built-in grill stations and mini fridges to TV cabinets and range hoods. Durability is Key No one wants to spend time fussing over the wear and tear of their lakefront home. Finishes need to be able to stand up to water, sand and many hands. Luckily, there are many beautiful and durable kitchen design products available today. Flooring should be waterproof, scratchproof and able to hide a little mess here and there. Countertops need to be beautiful while standing up to heat, sand and constant use. Cabinets are available in a range of finishes designed to last. Custom cabinetmaker Grabill Cabinets uses an armored, UV protected topcoat that is designed to last. Eclipse Cabinetry by Shiloh offers extremely durable laminate finishes that suit a range of looks from real wood to modern high-gloss. At TruKitchens, we know the recipe for the perfect kitchen is the combination of beauty and function. Let us apply our expertise to your dream lakefront kitchen and create a space where memories will be made. It all starts with the initial consultation.
Brent Weesies Senior Designer, TruKitchens 616.957.1969 hello@trukitchens.com trukitchens.com Cosmopolitan Home Grand Rapids | 31
