Things are heating up at the 2018 Coastal Virginia Magazine Idea House. The York Lane Cottage, situated on a spectacular deep water setting in Virginia Beach’s Bay Colony neighborhood, features 4,500 square feet of living space and more than 6,000 square feet of “under roof” space, which includes porches and verandas. The vibe of this brand new $2.6 million home is not new construction, but a modern remodel of a turn-of-the-century Nantucket-inspired home.
For this Idea House preview, Stephen Quick IV of Stephen Alexander Homes chose to spotlight the kitchen, where, as the old saying goes, they are cooking with gas.
- Room with a View. In many ways, this home is defined by its emphasis on luxury outdoor living and, by extension, the stunning views of the outdoors from inside the home. According to Quick, views of the water through the extensive walls of glass are nowhere more breathtaking than from the kitchen and adjacent casual dining room which, he notes, “is every bit as large as the formal dining room” in the front of the house.
- Light Up. In addition to natural light, illuminating the space is what Quick describes as “unique” man-made fixtures. In addition to LED can lights are three mid-century-inspired pendant lights over the island. These dramatic fixtures, with their linen shades, make a statement through both style and size, as each is an expansive 24” in diameter.
- Underfoot. Throughout the first level, including in the kitchen, 7-inch-wide white oak floors with a grayish driftwood finish create a cohesive flow and embrace the home’s location near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.
- Long Island. Measuring an expansive 12-plus-feet, this centerpiece of the kitchen, which houses dual dishwashers, is painted white and sports shiplap elements as well as decorative X-brace style details in a driftwood finish on either end. The top looks even more massive courtesy of thick square edges measuring 2.5 inches in depth.
- Count on It. Cambria countertops in a quartz product offer all of the beauty of natural stone without any of the drawbacks, such as porousness. The Stephen Alexander team chose a style with bold veining for the York Lane Cottage. For the backsplash, they chose a slab of authentic marble with gray and white veining.
- Home on the Range. A 48-inch WiFi-enabled Thermador range, with dual ovens, is the first on the market to offer a steam + convection oven. According to Quick, industry experts predict that steam ovens may overtake microwaves in popularity as a healthier alternative.
- Check Under the Hood. With steam ovens come steamed seafood and all of the lingering odors that implies. But not to worry. This European-styled hood, with all of its science and technology cleverly hidden, moves air at the rate of 1200 CFM. Plus, it is quiet as can be because its fan is located under the house.
- Cabinet Members. All maple, solid wood cabinets from Heritage Woodworks, boasting soft close doors and drawers and loads of function-enhancing accessories, stretch all the way to the 10-foot ceilings. Glass fronts create prime display space in those hard-to-reach upper cabinets.
- Cold Call. This kitchen offers 40 cubic feet of luxury stainless steel refrigerator and freezer capability, which is virtually double that of most homes. And it’s not just any cold storage. “If Subzero is the Ferrari of refrigerators,” quips Quick, “then True Residential culinary refrigeration is the Lamborghini.”
- Sink In. A Kohler heavy gauge stainless steel farm sink teams up with a handmade Brizo bridge faucet in a new polished nickel finish—not chrome and not brushed nickel—for an updated retro look.
And as if this weren’t enough, this is one smart cookie, er, kitchen with a multitude of features controlled by cell phone.
Coastal Virginia Magazine Idea House Preferred Partners
Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery
Esprit Decor Home Furnishings
Ply Gem
Susan Wilson Interiors
Visionscapes Land Design, Inc.
RediCarpet
Greenwich Kitchen Center
Inner Space Systems & Garage Concepts
Eagle Bay
Heritage Woodworks
Garage Experts
Cox Communications
Note: Those listed above are preferred partners as of June, 2018.
Betsy DiJulio
Betsy DiJulio is a full-time art teacher, artist and curator with side hustles as a freelance writer, including for Coastal Virginia Magazine, and a vegan recipe developer, food stylist and photographer. Learn more on her website thebloomingplatter.com.
