I used to dream of a kitchen like the one pictured above, and in fact told Joni of Cote de Texas that this was my dream kitchen (back in January of 2009).  Our email conversation inspired one of my favorite posts from Cote de Texas – Kitchens 101: Elements to Copy.  In this post, Joni analyzes some of the most popular kitchens from the magazines over the past few years, and breaks them down element by element.  Joni thought that what really appealed to me about the kitchen pictured above (interior design by Christy Dillard) was the spectacular window as focal point, with a big sink underneath – and she was right. In that kitchen post, Joni noted that a trend that has gained in popularity in the United States is the use of a range with ovens underneath (as opposed to wall ovens), and the use of the range and range hood as focal point. As Joni noted, “Europe, with their less frequent use of wall ovens, has long made the range and hood the center of attention”.  I remember thinking that this was a very strange concept indeed – who would ever want a kitchen without a big window as the focal point? Joni used this kitchen to illustrate her point.  This kitchen has the back wall as the focal point, with a beautiful limestone hood flanked by two windows, and cabinets designed to look like armoires. Based on the light pattern, I suspect that the area to the right of this wall has windows, so there is plenty of natural light in the kitchen.  But still – no big window with a sink underneath! Although I admired this kitchen, I remember thinking ‘no way would I ever have a kitchen with a range as the focal point’.  Kitchen design by Michelle Allman, image via House Beautiful. Yet, there has definitely been a shift in the kind of kitchens that have become part of my kitchen files over the past few years.  Perhaps this reflects a change in the trends of kitchen design. Perhaps it reflects a more widespread use of the range with ovens underneath in the United States. Or, maybe it just reflects a subtle shift in what I like in a kitchen.  This kitchen, pictured above, is a favorite – probably because of the beautiful hood.  The kitchen gets plenty of sunlight (I went to this house last year for an event), but for this house it simply made more sense to place the range on the wall versus the the windows that face the backyard. Design by John Oetgen.   I looked through my inspiration file of kitchen pictures (428 pictures in total!), and noticed that very few (if any) of the older pictures of kitchens had this design.  Again, I am not sure if it is because it wasn’t ‘in vogue’, or if I did not gravitate to this look 5 or more years ago. It is definitely a look that I love now.  This kitchen, by Victoria Hagan, is one of my all time favorite kitchens.  I love the natural light that floods into the room from the windows on either side of the range, and from the window on the side of the kitchen.  I would like to see the rest of this room, or the rest of this house – has it ever been published? What’s interesting about this design is that it places the range and vent hood on the wall that is traditionally reserved for a big window with a sink underneath.  Also, in most designs, the sink is placed in the island.  Of course, the architecture of the home, the quality of the view, and the shape and size of the space all dictate what is best placement for a window and a range. Kitchen design by Christopher Peacock.   With the hood as a major focal point of the kitchen, all sorts of design possibilities are opened up.  This plaster hood was designed by architect Steve Giannetti, interior design by Brooke Giannetti, image via Brooke’s blog Velvet & Linen.  Note that the ovens are not under the range in this kitchen). Love the solid slab that is used as a backsplash in this kitchen, along with the glossy hood that matches the La Cornue range. (Sorry, don’t have the source on this one).   This kitchen really caught my eye last year.  It was designed by Design Galleria, with interiors by Suzanne Kasler.  The hood over the range is definitely the focal point of this room. This charming kitchen, by designer Tammy Connor, shows another great layout for the range in the center of the wall – two cabinets that flank the hood. The cover kitchen from the At Home in Arkansas Kitchen and Bath issue featured a kitchen with the range and hood on the main wall of the kitchen. When a kitchen is in a corner, it is possible to have both a range as a focal point, as well as a sink under the window.  Note the sink on the right side of the room – placed under a window.  Interior design by Scott Laslie. One of my favorite Atlanta kitchens (designed by Gwyn Duggan) has a great range hood as a focal point,  but because the kitchen is positioned in the corner of the house, there is also a window that is placed over the sink. The kitchen featured in my recent post (image via AH&L) has a central range flanked by windows, but notice what is on either side of the range: dual sinks.  So, this kitchen gets not one but two sinks under the windows.  This house is fairly close to its neighbors, so it made more sense to create a kitchen with more privacy – a big central window would have made the kitchen feel very exposed. Personally, I prefer when the sink is placed in the island across from the range (when this kitchen layout is used).  It is interesting how many of my current favorite kitchens utilize this design.  I have definitely had a change in heart about what I like in kitchen design!  Image via House Beautiful, kitchen design by Mick De Giulio. Another one of my favorite kitchens has all of the key components: interesting hood, flanked by windows, with mosaic tile on the backsplash, and a beautiful gooseneck faucet on the island across from the range.  Image via Traditional Home. Finally, I have been wanting to use this beautiful image from Tracery Interiors on my blog – such a great kitchen in so many ways.  I really like the layout – a ‘U’ shape of the design, with a range and beautiful hood centered on the wall, flanked by windows, a great faucet in a large island, built in cabinetry (and no overhead cabinets), a striking fridge. Perfection. So, what do you think of this design? Do you prefer to have a traditional sink under a big window, with wall ovens, or do you like the range and hood as the focal points?  In the end, it all comes down to what fits in the particular space, taking the architecture, the interior, and the exterior environment of the space into consideration.    To visit my store, Quatrefoil Design, click here. To subscribe to my blog by email, click here. To follow my blog on Facebook, click here.To see design, architecture, art, and decorative books that I recommend, please visit the Things That Inspire Amazon store.

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