Arts and Crafts Period Kitchen

Natural materials such as slate and tile and the geometric patterning of the cabinetry reflect the arts and crafts style of this airy kitchen. A fireplace in the kitchen makes the space comfortable and inviting, drawing people to gather around its warmth. A wooden shelf built in above the cabinets provides the perfect display area for a collection of arts and crafts pottery.   The arts and crafts kitchen that architect and interior designer Claudia Skylar designed for her clients was a natural extension of the rest of the home's simple mission style. The homeowners' collection of original arts and crafts furnishings determined the overall style of the home, designed with a relaxed arts and crafts influence that doesn't stick rigidly to the style. The kitchen is an integral part of the plan of the first floor. Although the kitchen is a contained space, an open floor plan makes it visible from the living room through an interior courtyard and open doorways. The kitchen's visibility throughout the entire first floor makes the whole space flow toward it. The kitchen's design -- cabinetry, colors and materials -- was influenced by the homeowners' collection of arts and crafts furniture, pottery and architectural pieces. The first piece collected was a fireplace of quarter-sawn oak, which became the focal point of the kitchen. The homeowners were particularly drawn to the geometrically patterned inlaid details of a corner of the fireplace. Arts and crafts design is evident in the kitchen cabinets, with doors fronted in German crackle glass. A burgundy inset in the glass reflects the geometric-patterned walnut inlay on the cabinet doors. Other natural materials were also used in the kitchen, including a tile backsplash and a slate floor, both of which reflect elements of the arts and crafts style in material and color.