It was a quandary that even a veteran architect faced for the first time.
When PHX Architecture President Erik Peterson took on the new build of a stunning 5,690-square-foot Desert Mountain home, the kitchen demanded special attention. The home of Susan and Ed Mueller granted nearly 360-degree unobstructed desert views and sky.
And also two houses across the street.
Harnessing the gorgeous natural light into the kitchen and the adjoining great room while blocking the views of those houses was Peterson’s challenge.
“The views were all over the place. When you have a kitchen, you need walls to put cabinets on. But what do you do when you have glass all around?” Peterson says.
Through creative planning and coordination with the interior designer, Peterson found the solution for the 600-square-foot, west-facing kitchen.
Floating cabinetry strategically placed in front of the glass windows that flank either side of the sink blocks the homes when approaching the kitchen. Steel framing that supports the roof serves as the posts that also hold the cabinets in place.
The placement and size allows for plenty of light to permeate the space, which flows into the adjacent great room.
By accomplishing both objectives, the move is both functional and design-forward.
“It all came together—the concept of cabinets that floated in between and blocked the views of the houses but still let light come in above and below them,” Peterson says. “We’ve never done cabinets that just float in the middle of glass. It was a first for us.”
Other elegant touches include piano lacquer finished wood cabinets and quartz countertops and central island. What looks like a fire feature on the island’s face is an installation of gold sculptures sitting on a recessed shelf.
This results in a comprehensive working kitchen that doesn’t necessarily look or feel like a traditional kitchen—another wish the Muellers had. In fact, from the north-facing great room, the space looks like walls.
“They love it,” Peterson says. “They feel like it’s a piece of artwork.”