2008 Kitchens For CASA

Originally built as a retirement home, David and Bertis Bramm decided to remodel the 1609 Drake House to suit their less formal lifestyle and personality. A merger of the couple's love of stacked stone and a contemporary kitchen they saw on vacation inspired this kitchen. Merging their two favorite concepts worked well giving the space a contemporary feel with cleaner lines. The kitchen soon became the heart of the home. The Bramms made the kitchen more accessible to the den and sunroom by removing a major wall and repositioning a few doors. The central island is a perfect gathering place and is large enough to accommodate guests, snacks and workspace. And, since they both love to cook, the prep area accommodates two. They raised the original eight-foot ceilings and updated the lighting, installing dimmers to facilitate different moods and needs. The appliances are from the GE Monogram series and the custom hood is by Rangecraft. The warm Brazillian teak floors compliment the natural maple cabinetry. The countertops are of Black Andes granite with stainless steel tiles for the backsplash. They also relocated the adjacent laundry facilities to the master bath. This space became a butler's pantry. In this room is additional storage for extra dishes, less-used kitchen appliances and an extra refrigerator. The tropical theme reflects David and Bertie's love of scuba diving in the Caribbean, the blues of the ocean and sunny yellow. The room is decorated with underwater photos and mementos from dive trips. The multi-purpose area is also great for flower arranging and gift-wrapping. Together the two spaces make entertaining a breeze.