Magazine spotlights three contrasting properties where owners have restored or renovated with a distinctive style and panache, and a new duplex that reflects a craftsman's attention to detail.

When a couple is passionate about cooking and about modern design, the result is a streamlined, state-of-the-art kitchen.

And when they made the decision to rebuild their kitchen, the Pembroke couple engaged Onions, Bouchard and McCulloch Architecture and Interior Design, Gary Lamb Construction and Sterling Contract Sales to form the nucleus of the design team, who were also good friends of the clients.

"Because of the personal relationships and the design team's understanding of the owners' lifestyle, the owners encouraged input to the design,'' states OBMs Don Dessario. "The result was a common feeling of participation and ownership of the end product. Everyone made their best efforts to ensure it met the clients' lifestyle requirements and the ultimate success of the kitchen.'' The house was built around 1920 and is located at Between The Walls, just off Pitt's Bay Road. The furniture throughout the house is top-of-the-line contemporary with pieces which can be found in the Museum of Modern Art.

Sterling's Janet Patterson steered them towards their final cabinet selection.

"As soon as they started talking about a new kitchen for their house, I immediately thought of Snaidero because it was Italian and extremely modern, and I knew they would love it.'' With Gary Lamb's crew and their concern for precise detailing and quality of construction, the older quality Bermuda details were retained and form the backdrop for the "artwork'' furnishings within.

This style is eye-poppingly successful, the magnificent proportions of the Bermuda vernacular architecture playing perfectly with the clean lines of their furniture.

The owners are members of the Confreri de la Chaine des Rotisseurs, a world-renowned gastronomic society. "Entertaining is important to them and part of that entertainment is allowing the guests to experience the culinary process as well as the results,'' says Dessario. As the owners explained: "The idea was to incorporate my cooking in the kitchen, and entertain the guests as well. People can stand around and have a drink, and an hors-d'oeuvre.'' To achieve this, they opened up a whole wing of the house and made it into a single room. One section is the kitchen, and the rest would normally be considered a breakfast area, but in this case it is much more than that. A bar, wine storage and a stereo system make this a place for entertaining.

The two sections are divided only by a marble bar, designed by Dessario and constructed by Gary Lamb and Ray Durie of Bermuda Building Specialities, which seemingly floats on air, cutting through the column on one side of the room.

The result is a big and eminently practical kitchen with an arresting look, which revolves around a nine by three foot island. Food and utensil storage is located on one side, in easy reach of the Sub-Zero refrigerator. Everything necessary for food preparation is on the other side.

The two convection ovens, range and grill and hood are in stainless steel by Gaggenau. The hood, which is adjustable, was one of the first ten installed in the world.

In the owners' words, "I've given this years and years of thought. After a while you know exactly what you want and how you are going to deal with it.'' The result - a big and eminently practical kitchen with an arresting look.

Photos by Stephen Raynor.

The kitchen at Quickswood centres aroudn a generous-sized island. In the foeground, an eye-catching marble bar that `floats' through a column. Before and after: The kitchen at Quickswood, tranformed by state-of-the-art design and appliances.

RG MAGAZINE JULY 1993