Architect Stuart Silk and his wife, Mary, aren’t afraid of a little chopped garlic or hot chili oil. “We do a lot of heavy, smelly cooking, with lots of spices and oils,” the Seattle-based Silk says. Cooking is such an integral part of their lifestyle that they designed the kitchen of their new house in the city’s Madison Park neighborhood to share one large space with the family room. ¦ Just because they like to cook, however, doesn’t mean they want the entire first floor wearing eau de roast chicken. The solution? A powerful range hood built directly into the wall. The hood and cooktop are framed with a custom precast concrete piece resembling—quite intentionally—an oversized fireplace surround. “Historically, cooking was done in the fireplace,” says Silk. In addition to the enclosure’s sense of tradition, it also provides a contained spot to trap and expel pungent cooking smells.¦ Built-in spice racks and extra counter space fill the nooks on either side of the range.
Ivory firebrick laid in a herringbone pattern makes a durable backsplash, and a pot filler above the range saves time and effort. While the kitchen contains a healthy amount of storage— in the island, flanking the stove, and in the cabinetry that stretches almost up to the 11-foot ceilings—a pantry behind the range holds even more culinary supplies.
Project Credits
General contractor/architect: Stuart Silk Architects, Seattle
Project size (including family room): 619 square feet
Construction cost: $285 a square foot
Photographer: Laurie Black Photography
Resources: Dishwasher: Asko; Hardware: Baldwin; Lighting: Lightolier; Oven: Viking; Patio doors/windows:Quantum; Plumbing fittings: Chicago Faucet; Refrigerator: Sub-Zero.
