Ray’s Favorite Things for the Kitchen

When it comes to designing a kitchen, Ray loves bringing in the technical aspects that are needed to make the space functional for homeowners. Below, you’ll learn some of Ray’s favorite things that will make life in the kitchen enjoyable and convenient.

Wolf Dual Fuel Ranges

While offering a wide variety of top configurations and standard dual stacked surface burners, Wolf’s 48″ Dual Range is a great option for large families and those that like to entertain. The optional steel griddle, infrared charbroiler and French Top give you the freedom to customize your dual fuel range. The large electric oven features Wolf’s dual convection system that helps to deliver even temperature and airflow throughout.

Sub-Zero PRO 48 Refrigeration

Appliances have always been the bling of the kitchen when it comes to making a statement. With it’s bold stainless steel design, Sub-Zero’s PRO 48 Refrigeration is sure to have your neighbors talking. This model provides dual refrigeration that keeps foods fresher longer and prevents odor transfer.

Kohler HiRise Wall-Mount Kitchen Pot Filler

Ease and convenience are the two words that best describe Kohler’s HiRise Wall-Mount Pot Filler. You’ll love having its extensive 24″ reach capability for professional cooktops and ranges that will help you from leaning over the cooking area, or filling the pots at the sink. This model comes in two finishes, brushed and polished stainless, that will provide outstanding durability.

Radiant Floor Heating

For an efficient way to heat a room, radiant floor heating can help increase comfort and decrease your home’s energy bill. It’s a great option to help eliminate bulky radiators and baseboard heat, and to make your kitchen floor nice and warm to walk on.

Wood-Mode Roll-Out Trays

We’ll admit it, digging through you kitchen cabinets to find that pot or pan can be a major hassle. So, why not make life easier with the functional roll-out trays from Wood-Mode? They make much better use of the cabinets’ space and nothing gets lost in the back of the cabinet cave. Ray believes these are the best value for the money when you are selecting accessories for your kitchen.

The Functional and Modern Kitchen: The Flynn’s Story

Sometimes when people come to our showroom in North Greenbush, NY, they like to ask about the projects we’ve finished at CCW.  One that always seems to come to mind, and heart, involves the Flynns. 

Now the Flynns, Barbara and John, came to us because they were interested in renovating their kitchen.  Not only were they hoping to modernize their favorite room, but also make it functional for Barbara to move around and cook in her wheelchair.  As any self-respecting kitchen designer would know, it’s important for you to get to know your clients and learn the role the kitchen plays in their lives.  So Ray and I went to their home to learn more about the couple.  They had lived and traveled around the world and always shared a passion for cooking.  While visiting, Ray noticed that it was difficult for Barbara to reach certain elements of the room like the countertop and sink.  She also didn’t have room for her wheelchair under the cook-top.  Being Ray, highly detailed oriented, he returned to the showroom and began drawing sketches and renderings. 

   

It was then determined that 25” was the perfect work surface height for Barbara to be able to comfortably stir and chop.  That pretty much meant the principal workstation could not sit on top of a cabinet, so we decided on a center island. The only challenge was that is also where the family enjoys gathering for light meals. Our solution was to create a dual height island maintaining a comfortable eating height while at the same time accommodating the custom 25” workstation.

 

We then added one of my favorite features!  With Barbara needing room to get her wheelchair under the cook-top, an adjustable height cook-top seemed to be the perfect solution.  Ray rigged it with a simple lift mechanism, the cook-top can go up and down to allow Barbara to wheel her chair underneath and have access to all the burners.  A safety hinge was also installed to immediately stop the lift mechanism should it ever get too low and touch Barbara’s legs.

 

As for the rest of the kitchen, dozens of little details ended up making the kitchen work.  Barbara and John came back to the showroom to finalize the selection of the tiles for the flooring and backsplash. We selected some really chunky and fun cabinet and drawer handles that are easy for Barbara to manipulate. We shopped around until we found the perfect sink that was large enough for a soup pot but shallow enough so Barbara has easy access. The door to the Lazy-Suzan cabinet for pots and pans was designed to fold away inside the cabinet, making it easy for Barbara to maneuver around and gain easy access to the contents.

 

After the completion of any project, I like to check in and see how customers are enjoying their renovated rooms. Today, Barbara and John are very much in love with their kitchen.  They now have the opportunity to cook gourmet meals once again.  Ray, you definitely did an astounding job for creating this special space!

-Laura