Cool trends on a hot day at House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year 2011

Cool trends on a hot day at House Beautiful's Kitchen of the Year 2011

in Rockefeller Center, NYC

Rolling storage cart contrasts against black cabinets
on one end of the kitchen island

Yesterday, I was thrilled to enjoy Tyler Florence's on-site meal prep

 at the House Beautiful Kitchen of the Year 2011 in New York City.  

It was a 'cool' presentation on a hot summer day. 

Renowned chef and designer of this year's Kitchen of the Year - Tyler Florence,

  graciously shared some take-home tidbits on cooking for the summer.

But, the kitchen Tyler designed had some refreshing things going for it as well.

Here's what made the kitchen memorable:

• Black cabinets - striking and edgy (really came alive with the overhead lighting and skylight)
• White subway tiles - great contrast against the black cabinets
• Stained wood cabinets/rolling cart at end of island contrasted with solid surface countertop and black cabinetry
• Breakfast Room table positioned close to one end of the large island
• Child-size table and chairs in an adjacent area of the kitchen
• Oversize faucet that stood out against the white subway tiles
• Open shelving to display glassware  - adds another element of shine
• Mismatched patterns on upholstered chair fabric for the Breakfast Room table changed the look from blah to beautiful

As Tyler said "The kitchen is the new living (family) room of today"


Mary Alice Smith of M. A. Smith, Ltd. Interior Design can be reached at: 732 690-2030