Celebrated cookbook author Marcella Hazan moved with her husband
Victor from Venice to Florida, and asked Deborah Krasner to make "her
last kitchen". Located in a condo on the Florida coast, the building
featured fixed placement for water and exhaust systems, along with
an interior kitchen space that had both no windows and an irregular
shape. In addition, the Hazans had strong requirements for craftsmanship
that would equal Italian artisans, and workspace needs that were based
on a lifetime of extraordinary cooking. Pictures here illustrate the
difference that careful planning and thoughtful collaboration can
create. Designed by Deborah Krasner, with cabinetry from WoodMode,
and on-site work on behalf of WoodMode by Missy Cook from Cook's Custom
Cabinetry, this kitchen has satisfied all of the Hazan's requirements
and benefited from their ideas, suggestions, and experience.
Since Marcella wanted to face the ocean as she cooked, a peninsula
was created at an angle to place her at the best vantage point. A
custom made glass hood provides exhaust without sacrificing any light
or view. The peninsula holds a Gaggeneau electric cooktop and grill,
and has a custom made stainless steel half-round flap that lifts up
and locks for additional counter space. Under the peninsula, an open
area lined with steel holds pots, pans, and lids, and provides a staging/hiding
place for pots that need cleaning.
All overhead cabinets slide to one side, rather than opening on hinges,
as the Hazans preferred to protect their heads from bumps on open
doors. The doors feature a grooved glass front, which allows for some
transparency but is more opaque than clear glass. Both sides of the
kitchen are fitted with Rosle's steel rail system for suspending tools
-- keeping them off the counter but close at hand.
The sink side of the kitchen features more good ideas -- perforated
steel drawers under the sink for onions, garlic, and potatoes as well
as tomatoes. There's room for the drawers because the sink is a Franke
model with a drain in the rear, leaving room in the front of the undersink
cabinet. The arched faucet is Grohe's Ladylux. A pull-out rolling
garbage can is concealed in cabinetry box and can go anywhere in the
kitchen where it's needed. A pull-out table emerges from the end of
the run of cabinets as needed, so that the cook can sit and peel vegetables
without sacrificing a good view.
The interior far wall of the kitchen has a louvered appliance garage
that holds and hides small electrical appliances, and functions as
a breakfast bar area. It's near the all-refrigerator SubZero fronted
in pickled maple to match the cabinets. For additional storage and
convenience, every filler strip used in the kitchen was hinged and
fitted with pull-out rails for dishtowels and pot holders.
Granite counters and backsplashes that run from countertop level all
the way up to the bottoms of the upper cabinets serve to unify and
calm the whole space. Custom made sliding glass and wood doors can
open or close the kitchen from the adjacent dining area.
