Serenity

For a residence at Reynolds Plantation at Lake Oconee, Atlanta designer Suzanne Kasler created an inviting kitchen by using a soft gray-white palette and natural materials. Limestone was used for the countertops.

DESIGNER INSIGHT
“Kitchens are rarely serene and calm places while they are being used,” says Matthew Quinn of Design Galleria and the recently opened Matthew Quinn Collection. “However, a well-designed and appointed kitchen can alleviate some of that stress and make the culinary experience more enjoyable. Color can be the chamomile of the kitchen. Harmonizing the aesthetics of form and comfort with function often involves bringing together the tonal variations of stone, woods, paints and the soft luster of metals. Honed surfaces are warmer in appearance because they reflect less light. On the other hand, stainless-steel appliances can create too much contrast with their surroundings, becoming giant metal coffins or crates. I love accents but consider their frequency throughout the space. Sometimes, a simple change of a light bulb is all that’s needed to accentuate whatever makes you smile—and brings you to your Zen iron chef.”

A minimalist white kitchen in a Buckhead condominium features upper cabinets with no hardware and restaurant-style, stainless-steel countertops. Wood floors keep the space from feeling austere.

PERSONAL THOUGHTS
“I'm no whiz in the kitchen. In fact, I just recently turned on my stove after about two years of having it. (The oven, for the record, had been used many times, even if it was just to heat up a frozen pizza). But I have lots of fond memories of being in the kitchen as a kid and “helping out”—canning farm-grown vegetables with one set of grandparents, frying up beignets and making tea cakes with another. Somehow, little of the mechanics and artistry of cooking stuck with me but, surprisingly, I love reading cookbooks and food memoirs. In fact, it's one of my favorite pastimes. And although I can barely boil an egg, I don't mind doing the dishes and am happy with my place in the kitchen. After all, too many cooks can spoil the pudding!” – Clinton Smith, Editorial Director

Produced by Clinton Smith

Page 2: Serenity

Page 3: Comfort

Page 4: Simplicity

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