‘Soft geometry’ no problem for local company
By Felicity Stone© Copyright The Vancouver Sun
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When, this autumn, the American National Kitchen & Bath Association told its 40,000 members of trends they might want to capitalize on, one of them was illustrated by a Whistler kitchen designed by a Vancouver company.
The company is V6B Design Group and the trend its work illustrates is called “soft geometry” (at the NKBA, at any rate).
In both contemporary and traditional kitchens, a news release from the trade association says, “rounded organic shapes can be seen in the edges of counters or island tops, arches over entryways or cooking hearths, the curved lines of a light fixture, and well-placed, space-defining soffits.
“The introduction of rounded islands and countertops carves a smooth-flowing traffic pattern throughout the room, while an appropriately placed arch will bring an overall softening to the more angular fixed features that are typical in kitchens and baths.”
The kitchen chosen by the NKBA to exemplify soft geometry was designed by V6B president Earl Lawson and senior designer Igor Selskiy.
In an 8,000-square-foot Whistler residence, the original kitchen was harsh, with straight lines and angles, says Lawson. The owners, who rented out the house for the Olympics, wanted to be able to entertain 100 people on the main floor and provide an inviting, functional space for their family of five.
After opening up the space to improve flow, Selskiy began sketching plans for a new triangle-shaped island. He then softened the lines of the eating bar, which evolved into a gentle S shape. Softly bowed stained-birch cabinets below the sink and coffee centre and an arch over the range hood create additional visual interest.
The key is to be subtle, says Lawson. The room should be comfortable and easy on the eyes.
In the ’80s and early ’90s, as manufacturing technologies improved, curves became more common, with standard curved doors used to round the ends of cabinets.
Some European cabinet manufacturers introduced kitchen models with multiple curved lines, everything round, with dramatic curves. It looked like a space shuttle had landed in your kitchen, says Lawson. “It’s cool they can do that, but it’s not comfortable. The kitchen should be a place you want to spend time in.”
At the same time, the basic linear kitchen with the classic work triangle of sink, fridge and stove is no longer relevant. It was important when the kitchen was a separate room where moms worked by themselves, but kitchens are now too big or too small for a traditional work triangle.
Today’s kitchens need four main areas — cleaning; preparation and cooking; storage and entertaining; and seating — designed for multiple cooks, entertaining and families.
V6B also designs many kitchens for people who don’t cook because they eat out, just use the kitchen for socializing or are too busy to cook every day.
Either way, kitchens now tend to be open to the rest of the home. “We are no longer designing kitchens in isolation, but to fit into the overall space,” says Lawson. “We need to take a creative look at the functional requirements and work them into the overall space design.”
For example, in an open-plan townhouse kitchen, also located in Whistler, V6B, working with designer Susan Parker, used massive log posts as anchors for two wood countertops, creating distinct spaces for dining and entertaining, while extending the kitchen space and encouraging an efficient flow of traffic.
Echoing the organic shape of the round log posts, the wood countertops were cut with an curve.
A sinuous line of red glass pebbles in the backsplash behind the range helps soften the dark slate, granite and stainless steel finishes, while conveying a note of both whimsy and sophistication.
The kitchen won an award in the 2010 International Wolf/Sub Zero design competition.
Countertops, especially wood or granite, are the easiest way to introduce curves into the kitchen. Cabinets are a different story. The reason many designers don’t bother with curves is many cabinetmakers won’t make them, says Lawson.
The industry was previously controlled by cabinet-manufacturers who make square boxes, he explains. “We are not inspired by putting boxes into homes.”
Cabinetmakers used by V6B include Crystal Cabinet Works and Neff. Neff’s cabinets range from the almost-circular, modern Chicago-style to traditional European-style cabinets that resemble fine furniture — which is exactly what they are, as kitchens become increasingly part of the living space.
V6B designers, all of whom have at least 20 years’ experience, work function into the overall space esthetic. Their focus is to design spaces with attention to proportion, balance and detail, rather than trends. But the ultimate goal is for the homeowners to love the kitchen every time they walk in.
As for curves, V6B designers have used them where appropriate for a long time. NKBA came up with the term soft geometry, says Lawson. “We call it good design.”
homes@vancouversun.com
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