Kitchens are used multiple times in a day by all members of a family as well as guests. It is a hub and the place where form and function collide with being an aesthetic center of a home.
Her kitchen was a remodel, not a new build. Fitting, given that Tricia Turk specializes in designing remodels in her own business.
Turk and her husband, Joe, had lived in the house for 10 years before they decided to undertake their own kitchen remodel. She notes this was ideal for them because it gave them a chance to renovate a space where they already knew what worked for them and what did not. But, she says, “We had a budget just like everyone else…my kitchen is designed for our real life.”
“Oh boy, the first thing people are going to notice about my kitchen is that I don’t have a paneled fridge,” she laughs. The paneled fridge has become a staple in the design community and thus synonymous with a designer kitchen. “The truth is that we just had really bad luck with refrigerators. We had to replace ours just a couple months before deciding to do the renovation and we didn’t want to use part of our budget to replace a perfectly good refrigerator.”
One thing Turk did budget for was the full height backsplash. It was a non-negotiable, extending the countertop material onto the wall to create a surface that is easily cleaned in a space where cleanliness is paramount. Another design element serving both form and function is their custom iron range hood. Her kitchen is positioned in a part of the home with high ceilings. The hood balances design with the height of the space. Stacked cabinets with glass front doors in place of soffits add balance, as well as display and storage space.
The flow of the kitchen was one of the biggest changes the Turks made in their renovation. She opted for a combination kitchen island and peninsula. Assessing the space available to her, she wanted to define her workspace and keep the flow while also offering community space for connection. If she is entertaining, she is able to use the full breadth of her kitchen at the same time guests are sitting at the peninsula. It allows connection without impeding flow or progress. Aside from flow, drawers in the base of the island and peninsula allow for storage of everyday items like dogfood, trash and recycle bins, cookbooks and games. Choosing separate finish and hardware for the island gives it a custom look.
What she’s found over the years is that many elements in a kitchen can be considered art–and that end up being very personal. It is one place in the home where she hears clients express the strongest opinions.
“Longevity of design decisions are key,” she says. "Avoiding trends and thinking ahead to the next life stages are what make for a timeless space.”
When pressed for a designer tip, she mentions that she loves to incorporate antique runners into a kitchen. It adds the softness that is often overlooked in this particular space and she notes that quality rugs don’t stain. Who knew?
Website: https://turkinteriors.com/
Facebook + Instagram: @TurkInteriors