By Avenidas' fall tour showcases five custom kitchens

Town Crier Report

When Robert and Montse Armitano became the new owners of a 1900-era Palo Alto home, they were thrilled with the sense of history it exuded. Their needs, however, called for several changes, including a more spacious kitchen for their growing family and for entertaining guests.

While a significant remodel was in order, the Armitanos’ situation was far from ideal - during both planning and construction, they were living 2,500 miles away in Atlanta, Ga., and Montse was pregnant. With design decisions to be made, practical problems to be overcome, and plenty of unknowns, the remodel was a tall order for the design/building firm contracted for the job. Despite those hurdles, the result was a warm, open kitchen with plenty of workstations, large pantries and cabinets, modern appliances and a computer/desk area.

The Armitanos’ kitchen, along with four others, will be part of the Avenidas Seventh Annual Fabulous Fall Kitchen Tour benefit, scheduled 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday.

“When relatives come to visit, we use the kitchen as the focal point of our social gatherings,” Montse said. “We like entertaining and having family members of all ages together.”

With a project full of challenges, the contractor, Harrell Remodeling, kept the Armitanos abreast of their home’s development through videotaped progress commentary. Though pregnant, Montse also flew in for two or three days each month to make the design decisions necessary for project advancement.

“Expanding the existing 4,324-square-foot home to 5,222 square feet allowed for the additional space and rearrangements necessary to accommodate their growing family,” said Iris Harrell, CEO of Harrell Remodeling. “Our clients wanted to eat together as a family without having to go to the big dining room table. They also needed a visual and physical connection with the family room so they could be in the kitchen and still watch the children’s activities in the family room.”

With the children in mind, designer Carol Gillum of Harrell Remodeling created a place by the breakfast table for them to work with and store their arts and crafts while still being near their mother as she cooked. A computer/desk area with Internet hookup, a place for cookbook storage, and large pantry areas were also added as more “grown-up” comforts.

The floor-to-ceiling Shaker-style cabinets were designed with the children in mind, as they are made from cherry wood that does not show fingerprints. Cabinet pullouts make the goods stored there easily accessible.

In a dramatic contrast to the warmth of the cherry cabinetry, stainless steel appliances were chosen. “The Sub-Zero refrigerator and Thermador range were selected because they’re serious about cooking and eating with their family,” Harrell said.

A long L-shaped island, complete with double sink, provides additional countertop space while keeping children and guests out of the working triangle. All the work surfaces in the kitchen are made of black granite.

Warm Spanish terra-cotta tiles extend throughout the space, bringing it all together.

To keep the kitchen open and airy, the Armitanos added glass-paneled French doors that provide access to their new deck. Providing plenty of cross ventilation, the doors also complement the large picture window in the breakfast area.

The Armitanos are avid wine collectors, so Harrell Remodeling custom-designed a wine cellar below the kitchen for their vast collection.

The Armitanos’ home is just one example of the various design styles available to homeowners today. The other kitchens in the Fabulous Fall Kitchen Tour reflect different design options, as well as the needs and tastes of their owners.

The second kitchen on the tour is in a large, 1920s Mediterranean-style home with formal gardens. It has a spacious remodeled kitchen with two dishwashers, a commercial gas range with griddle, a commercial refrigerator/freezer and a large work island with a maple surface - perfect for entertaining and, in the case of the owner, for developing new food products.

The kitchen in the third home features an underlit, elevated, S-shaped glass countertop, approximately 8 feet long. The designer aimed for a sleek, clean and uncluttered look.

The last two kitchens work for growing families. One of them, in a remodeled 1950s ranch house, was transported from the street side to the back of the home, where it opens onto elegant gardens. The resulting large, comfortable space includes the kitchen, the breakfast area and a sitting area in front of a fireplace and entertainment center.

The owners of the other 1950s home, remodeled four years ago, widened the kitchen to accommodate foot traffic and let in maximum light.

With a $25 ticket purchase, participants in Avenidas’ Fabulous Fall Kitchen Tour receive a map and program, which includes comments from the owners and names of architects, designers, contractors and suppliers. Proceeds benefit Avenidas, a multiservice agency for seniors and their families.

For more information, call 326-5362, ext. 20, daytime; 321-8802, evenings and weekends.