KITCHENS OF THE YEAR
A NEW ANGLE
WINNER: CHERYL HAMILTON-GRAY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY PREVIEW FIRST WHEN ERIC’S HOME WAS BUILT,
aesthetic, designer Cheryl
elegant palette with a solid
the residence reflected the archi-
Hamilton-Gray had to recon-
quartz material for countertops
tectural guidelines of the Del
figure the kitchen’s shape.
and crisp, beautiful eucalyptus
Mar Country Club community
By borrowing space from an
veneers for the cabinets that
to which it belonged: French
oversized laundry and walk-
add a very rich feeling.”
country.
in pantry, she gave it a more
That traditional design, with its heavy wood interiors and
Rectangular floor tile is low-
rectangular structure.
maintenance porcelain. It con-
“To make this expanded
tinues to the outdoor kitchen just
crown molding, served the family
kitchen work, I wanted to zone
beyond the dining area through
well. In fact, Eric says, they loved
areas for the cook to prepare food
12-foot, sliding-glass pocket
it. But after living with the same
and for the family to get snacks
doors.
style for 16 years, it got old.
and beverages,” Cheryl says. “I
When the opportunity came
designed the area perpendicular
closed in and not open to the
around to remodel, Eric decided
to the primary refrigerator as a
back yard,” Eric says. “Now it
to shake it up and go modern.
beverage/morning station where
has a very smartly designed
family members and friends
layout. When cooking, I hardly
transition the interior with
could get what they wanted and
have to move around because of
materials and design and really
not occupy the cook’s space.”
where Cheryl put appliances and
“I was excited that we could
freshen it up,” Eric says. “The idea
“Before, the kitchen was
With shape and zoning de-
the island. Plus, she created a
was (1) to create this modern
fined, it was time to choose the
beautiful seating area that faces
vision and (2) to create an indoor-
materials that would enhance
the view to the back yard.”
outdoor living feeling, because
the modern interpretation.
we have this great back yard
To keep the view from being
“Originally the kitchen had
obscured Cheryl installed a
and view that connects to the
traditional granite and stained-
trio of delicate pendant lights
kitchen.”
wood cabinets, which was a nice
attached to a wood panel over
look; but I asked for something
the island. “The wood-clad soffit
had a 45-degree angled wall,
clean, modern and minimalistic,”
over the island gives a special
which doesn’t suit a modern
Eric says. “Cheryl provided an
presence to the pendant lights,”
Because the original kitchen
Regina Kurtz says. “The scale of that wood element is perfect,” Dianne Harsch adds. “It defines the space nicely.” Eric is of the same opinion. “That large block of wood framed
“This is a very large kitchen, but achieved flawlessly with clear and uncomplicated direction.”
— Anita Lewis
62 SAN DIEGO HOME/GARDEN LIFESTYLES • JUNE 2014
Above and right: Aluminum-framed, frosted-glass doors on upper cabinets punctuate eucalyptus veneer and glass backsplashes in a kitchen transformation by designer Cheryl Hamilton-Gray. Engineered quartz countertops balance the setting.
up the whole kitchen. Getting
Right: A swinging door without hardware leads to the pantry. Cheryl made a bold statement by placing a stainless-steel refrigerator and a 100-bottle wine cooler side by side.
the area. But that beefy, rectan-
rid of the angles was the key design element that created a completely new look and feel, and opening up the kitchen to the back yard really transformed gular block of wood that mirrors the size of the island is the icing on the cake.”
JUNE 2014 • sandiegohomegarden.com 63
KITCHENS OF THE YEAR
A NEW ANGLE
WINNER: CHERYL HAMILTON-GRAY • PHOTOGRAPHY BY PREVIEW FIRST WHEN ERIC’S HOME WAS BUILT,
aesthetic, designer Cheryl
elegant palette with a solid
the residence reflected the archi-
Hamilton-Gray had to recon-
quartz material for countertops
tectural guidelines of the Del
figure the kitchen’s shape.
and crisp, beautiful eucalyptus
Mar Country Club community
By borrowing space from an
veneers for the cabinets that
to which it belonged: French
oversized laundry and walk-
add a very rich feeling.”
country.
in pantry, she gave it a more
That traditional design, with its heavy wood interiors and
Rectangular floor tile is low-
rectangular structure.
maintenance porcelain. It con-
“To make this expanded
tinues to the outdoor kitchen just
crown molding, served the family
kitchen work, I wanted to zone
beyond the dining area through
well. In fact, Eric says, they loved
areas for the cook to prepare food
12-foot, sliding-glass pocket
it. But after living with the same
and for the family to get snacks
doors.
style for 16 years, it got old.
and beverages,” Cheryl says. “I
When the opportunity came
designed the area perpendicular
closed in and not open to the
around to remodel, Eric decided
to the primary refrigerator as a
back yard,” Eric says. “Now it
to shake it up and go modern.
beverage/morning station where
has a very smartly designed
family members and friends
layout. When cooking, I hardly
transition the interior with
could get what they wanted and
have to move around because of
materials and design and really
not occupy the cook’s space.”
where Cheryl put appliances and
“I was excited that we could
freshen it up,” Eric says. “The idea
“Before, the kitchen was
With shape and zoning de-
the island. Plus, she created a
was (1) to create this modern
fined, it was time to choose the
beautiful seating area that faces
vision and (2) to create an indoor-
materials that would enhance
the view to the back yard.”
outdoor living feeling, because
the modern interpretation.
we have this great back yard
To keep the view from being
“Originally the kitchen had
obscured Cheryl installed a
and view that connects to the
traditional granite and stained-
trio of delicate pendant lights
kitchen.”
wood cabinets, which was a nice
attached to a wood panel over
look; but I asked for something
the island. “The wood-clad soffit
had a 45-degree angled wall,
clean, modern and minimalistic,”
over the island gives a special
which doesn’t suit a modern
Eric says. “Cheryl provided an
presence to the pendant lights,”
Because the original kitchen
Regina Kurtz says. “The scale of that wood element is perfect,” Dianne Harsch adds. “It defines the space nicely.” Eric is of the same opinion. “That large block of wood framed
“This is a very large kitchen, but achieved flawlessly with clear and uncomplicated direction.”
— Anita Lewis
62 SAN DIEGO HOME/GARDEN LIFESTYLES • JUNE 2014
Above and right: Aluminum-framed, frosted-glass doors on upper cabinets punctuate eucalyptus veneer and glass backsplashes in a kitchen transformation by designer Cheryl Hamilton-Gray. Engineered quartz countertops balance the setting.
up the whole kitchen. Getting
Right: A swinging door without hardware leads to the pantry. Cheryl made a bold statement by placing a stainless-steel refrigerator and a 100-bottle wine cooler side by side.
the area. But that beefy, rectan-
rid of the angles was the key design element that created a completely new look and feel, and opening up the kitchen to the back yard really transformed gular block of wood that mirrors the size of the island is the icing on the cake.”
JUNE 2014 • sandiegohomegarden.com 63