Text By: Nancy E. Berry

You know a couple really loves their grandchildren when they install a Slurpee machine in their new kitchen. The clients, a retired couple in Quogue, New York, wanted a large kitchen where they could entertain their children and grandchildren, and this bright, beach house kitchen surely fits the bill. Built by Austin Disston Patterson Architects, it’s a serene space for three generations to connect with each other and the awe-inspiring Atlantic Ocean views just outside the bay windows.

Traditional Touches

Lead architect Stuart Disston used a traditional framework for the kitchen design. Disston finished the lofty cathedral ceiling in old-style horizontal board painted a crisp white. Exposed beams also offer a traditional feel. The simple Shaker-style cabinets give a timeless appeal while keeping the look minimal. A twelve-over-one window is placed above the sink and flanked by cabinets for dish storage. Above the window and cabinets, an arched window captures early morning light. An attractive bay of windows at the far end of the room overlooks the water and is the perfect spot for the breakfast nook. Customary white oak flooring is found throughout the home.

Modern Materials

Once the overall traditional design was established, Disston layered modern materials and amenities to give the space a clean, polished look. A large island takes center stage in the kitchen and is the perfect platform to multitask. Grandkids can munch on grilled cheese sandwiches at one end while Grandma preps veggies at the island’s sink opposite. The island’s marine blue cabinets and drawers, trimmed in dark walnut, offer loads of storage space for linens, pots, pans, and small appliances. The island and perimeter counters are topped in an ultra-contemporary white recycled glass and concrete. What’s great about using such a product, besides being nonporous and durable, is that it can be re-recycled. Another “green” perk: it doesn’t contain petroleum. White barstools by Artefacto furniture are a finishing aesthetics to the modern touch.

Metal Accents

Tucked into a wall niche, a custom brushed stainless-steel range hood with stainless-steel straps sits over the six-burner Wolf stove. For design continuity, the arch of the hood mimics the arched window above the sink, and the shiny metal is found again in the stainless-steel tile backsplash behind the stove. A pair of polished aluminum pendant light fixtures inspired by industrial lighting illuminate the island while a polished nickel chandelier over the breakfast table continues the cool accent. Stainless-steel appliances, such as a Sub-Zero fridge and two Wolf wall ovens, are incorporated into the space, offering state-of-the-art cooking conveniences.

This spacious kitchen designed for multi-generational use in a traditional-meets-modern style creates the perfect balance between form and function for family to connect for years to come.