A drop in Emsen two bowl stainless sink is both functional and affordable as is the Bagvik faucet chosen for it's modern simplicity. Jack also went stainless with the Luftig Hoo T50 S hood, which is made for IKEA by Whirlpool in Italy. The refrigerator is a Fisher-Paykel and the dishwasher is an ultra-quiet Bosch which can wash all of Jack's dishes in 3 econo loads in short order - handy for parties.
The Sears Kenmore Elite induction cooktop is a rebranded AEG manufactured in Germany. Induction cooking is a method which uses an electric current induced by an electro-magnet - it is ultra-efficient as it loses no heat to the air, but requires cookware with ferrous bottoms - aluminum, copper, pyrex or glass will not work. Boiling water can be achieved in as little as 5 seconds and the water returned to a simmer in 1 second in a high wattage induction coil. The oven below is also a Sears Kenmore Elite with convection.
To protect the wall behind the range, Jack chose a 36"x30" glass panel intended for use with aluminum railings - it has smooth edges and is tempered for safety. The panel was purchased at a local home center and secured to the wall using rare-earth magnets from Lee Valley. A total of 8 1" magnets were used - 4 adhered to the wall with an aerosol adhesive and 4 secured with high friction disks (also from Lee Valley) on the outside of the glass. As the magnets cannot be exposed to high heat, Jack placed the lowest set 10" above the surface of the cooktop.
The rough, natural
surface of the slate tile
harmonizes with the
wood of the countertops
and makes for a nice
counterpoint to the high
gloss glass and stainless
The end result is an easy to clean, highly reflective backsplash which ties in to Jack's desire to incorporate glass into his design wherever possible. The remainder of the backsplash is made up of small slate subway tiles, above which is the simply painted wall. The tiles came on a 12"x12" mesh sheet which was cut into 3 4" strips, installed and then finished with a dark green grout. The rough, natural surface harmonizes with the wood of the countertops and makes for a nice counterpoint to the high gloss glass and stainless used elsewhere.
All in all, the material choices play perfectly to the zen intention and create an energy that is both calm and reflective. The use of clean lines, strong color and a high-contrast sets this kitchen apart. Although Jack's kitchen renovation took six months rather than the expected two, it came within budget and the results are clearly spectacular.
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Sources:
IKEAFANS; Cabinets: Abstrakt White IKEA; Panels: 3/4" MDF painted and lacquered to match flooring with 8 1/2"x11" rectangular openings cut in panels for visual interest; Lighting: PABO pendant lighting IKEA; Termosfar low-voltage wire system with 5 spotlights IKEA; Paint: Aqua – Behr Eggshell Enamel 'Aspen Aura'; Ochre – Behr Eggshell Enamel 'Golden Bear' The Home Depot; Backsplash: 36”x30” Tempered Glass Panels (made for Aluminum Railing systems) Home Hardware, Rare Earth Magnets Lee Valley, High Friction Disks Lee Valley, Bologna Green Slate small subway tiles 12”x12” sheets The Home Depot; Appliances: Hood: Luftig Hoo T50 S IKEA (made by Whirlpool in Italy); Refrigerator: Fisher & Paykel; Dishwasher: Bosch; Induction Cooktop Sears Kenmore Elite (AEG in disguise); Convection Oven Sears Kenmore Elite; Flooring: NightShade Natural Cork Wicanders; Shelving: Shelf Brackets - Custom Welding work, Shelves - Numerar Oak Butcherblock IKEA; Countertops: Numerar Oak Butcherblock IKEA
