1. Open Shelves
They relieve the mass of a wall of cabinets and keep cooking supplies within reach. More shelves flank the cleanup sink, holding everyday dishes on wood planks supported by pipe fittings. "Open shelves feel lighter than upper cabinets, and it's easy to grab whatever you need," Sutton says.
2. Flush-Mounted Wall Ovens
The versatile E Series Transitional Convection Steam oven and a companion microwave, both by Wolf, can be set completely into the wall, flush with the surrounding cabinetry. "It's nice to keep that seamless line going," Sutton says. "It gives you a clean, contemporary look."
3. Casement Windows
Original to the house, these are usually open to the breeze and create "a French country kind of feeling," Sutton says. He built on that aesthetic by reconfiguring the existing floor plan and turning an underused office into the lofty kitchen, with plenty of room for a family of five.
4. Distinctive Details
The backsplash, made of Valley Gold Vein marble, extends all the way up to the ceiling, where it ends in a modern version of a Baroque curve. "I always think of a backsplash as an opportunity to do something different," Sutton says. "The curve finishes the slab in an elegant way."
5. Waterfall Edge
"When you come into the room, it's not so attractive to see the end of the island, so we continued the London Gray marble down each side," Sutton says. And when you have a dark countertop, "anything you put on it comes alive. A bunch of grapes suddenly looks like a Dutch Old Master painting."