Kitchen Secrets from Studio Dearborn’s Winning Kitchen Design for the Thermador Fan Fave Contest
Who wouldn’t want a kitchen that could win a design award? Well, you can if you choose a classic color scheme, know exactly what you need your kitchen to do, and use every ounce of space wisely, says our own Sarah Robertson.
Her design for a home kitchen in Rye, New York was just announced as the winner of the 2018 Thermador Fan Fave kitchen design competition. The contest was sponsored by the iconic American appliance brand that dates back to 1916. Thermador (now known as BSH Home Appliances Corp.) introduced the first wall oven and cooktop in 1947 and brought innovative materials like stainless steel into the home kitchen.
Fans cast votes online for kitchens by 30 designers who were vying for a $500 cash prize. Sarah chose to donate her winnings to Arbor Day Foundation, which inspires people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees.
“I’m thrilled and really a little overwhelmed that so many people loved my kitchen design,” said Robertson, one of the most sought-after kitchen designers on Houzz. “I couldn’t be more excited to be honored by a company whose products I recommend so highly!”
The Kitchen Design
In this case, the homeowners wanted a light, airy and clean kitchen with classic details for their home in the Greenhaven neighborhood. They have a growing family and needed very specific storage for their kitchen. “My client wanted everything really organized and thought out,” says Robertson. “A 48-inch cooktop was a must-have, as well as a large food pantry.”
The light was also a big consideration for the new kitchen. The kitchen banquette had a large window behind it, but the room was in the home’s interior, so it needed to be brighter.
Maximizing Space
Working within the existing space, Robertson leveraged every inch of storage in the kitchen, adding hidden drawers to the island and other areas. She added a full suite of Thermador appliances including wall ovens and a range. To bring more light into the room, she added antiqued glass mirrors to the fronts of the pantry and corner cabinets.
Now the homeowner’s young daughters can work on art projects in the kitchen and easily store all their supplies when they’re done. And crayons easily wipe off the Pental quartz countertops, making the new kitchen a winner with the mom.
“We plan to raise our kids in this house…and I think our new kitchen will stand up to the abuse and will still be beautiful years from now!” she says.
4 Tips for Designing a Winning Kitchen
- Think about all the ways you use your space.
- Know what your must-have features are.
- Choose a designer who’s adept at space planning.
- Select a color scheme and carry it through the whole kitchen.
See more images of the winning Greenhaven kitchen or contact Sarah at Studio Dearborn.