Cook up something new for the kitchen

When Suzy and Ed Smith bought their home in Sandy Springs, the kitchen was a concern. The floor plan was awkward and the space was dark. The frequent entertainers felt the kitchen needed a fresh look.

For help in creating a more functional and easy-to-use kitchen, they called Matthew Quinn, a principal in Atlanta-based Design Galleria Kitchen and Bath and Retrofit Ventures. Quinn helped the Smiths about 15 years ago with their kitchen design and installation during a whole house renovation in Brookhaven.

In the Sandy Springs home, Quinn suggested removing a wall that created more space for a larger kitchen and focal point wall, which includes a 48-inch Wolf range and a Scagliola stone hood with a cold cast copper stack from Francois & Co.

Other updates included: appliances integrated into the cabinetry (a Quinn signature); perimeter countertops made of marble with a leather finish; a nine-foot island that provides eating and work surfaces; an adjacent dining area; and charging station drawers to keep the familys phones, iPads and laptops (cords too) out of sight.

While the Smiths didnt have a clear idea of what they wanted when they first started the project, the couple had a few must-haves: a pellet ice maker (for Ed) and TV, hidden behind a painting. The painting rises at the touch of a button when the family wants to watch TV.

We got the clean, neutral and light-filled kitchen we envisioned, said Suzy, an Atlanta real estate agent. Its classic, timeless and a comfortable place to work, eat and hang out.

The Smiths wanted to update the kitchen for themselves and for their own enjoyment. But because a kitchen renovation is such as large investment, the couple hoped the finished project would look fresh for as long as possible or until they are ready to sell the house in a few years when their daughter graduates from high school.

While no one can say for sure which kitchen features will stand the test of time, Quinn, a leading expert in kitchen and bath design, has some ideas.

At a Sub-Zero/Wolf event earlier this year in Atlanta, Quinn talked about national and Atlanta-area styles and trends, according to the Kitchen and Bath Business magazine (K+BB). Additionally, General Electric and Mary White of Atlanta-based Guy Gunter Home also weighed in on a few appliance trends.

Atlanta-regional area:

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Cook up something new for the kitchen