February 05, 2004

By: Margareta Cohl
Website: http://www.1st-in-kitchens.com

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry Introduces Softer Spartan, a Moderately Modern Kitchen

What's the home remedy for the unsettling economic times, and our fast and furious American lifestyles? Calm, simple, streamlined interior spaces, as reflected by Plain & Fancy's newest kitchen interpretation called Softer Spartan, featuring the new Madison doorstyle in a rich Nutmeg finish over rift-cut Oak. Though sophisticated and modern, Softer Spartan isn't about fad or status. At its core, it demonstrates the movement towards living well, tastefully, while maintaining warmth and balance.

Three macro trends are at work in the Softer Spartan space. First, American consumers continue to be smarter and more discerning about their purchases. More accessible information means greater exposure to educated design and styling and, ultimately, better taste.

Second, Americans continue to be anxious about the economy and impending international conflict. As a result, they're turning home, the place that offers security, creating comfortable, uncluttered spaces where they can spend time with people who count most - friends and family.

Third, our life-speed, due to technological advances, makes us yearn for soothing spaces, unfettered by too much stuff. Organization through storage, and ease-of-use through efficient design are the goals for kitchen remodels today.

Vince Achey, vp of sales and marketing for Plain & Fancy, said, Home is where Americans want to be -- and where they want to invest their hard-earned money. And they are becoming increasingly involved in the process. We've never seen consumers enter our showrooms armed with more information than they are today. They're very specific about they want -- style, storage needs, accessories, materials - because they've done the research on the Net. They need help putting it all together, which is where the kitchen designer comes into play, but they are sophisticated and savvy. It's a new, smarter consumer now.

Softer Spartan features Plain & Fancy's new Madison door -- an uncomplicated style, softened by a curved outer edge and set off with simple, brushed nickel pulls. This combination of warm and cool materials (wood and stainless) and colors (Nutmeg and satin silver) illustrates the growing interest in taking the cold out of contemporary in the kitchen, and everywhere else in the home.

For those frequent dinner parties, there's plenty of space to prep and serve, including a shapely, square island with built-in Franke sink and Fisher Paykel dishwasher. Beaucoup storage comes in the form of a pantry with a view. Its full-extension, upper interior pull-out drawer offers easy access, front to back, as do its deep drawers below, also full-extension, which hold root vegetables from onions to sweet potatoes.

Another cool, efficient feature is the round, gurney-type table topped in Oak butcher block by Bally. It's hydraulically powered by a low-profile foot pedal that adjusts counter height to suit a task -- server, prep table, etc.

Between the stainless Best hood by Broan and Wolf stove, a Walker Zanger glass-tiled backsplash reflects the sun from the windows across the kitchen onto the Brooks Custom stainless and Green Velvet Askilan countertops.

Other kitchen highlights include a two-sided, pullout rack to keep a prized set of All-Clad cookware, organized and ready for action. A sizable Sub-Zero wine cooler trimmed in the same Madison doorstyle, with a matching sommelier nearby, gives a glimpse of the glassware for all that grape.

Lastly, a magnificent freestanding entertainment armoire, complete with lift-up and tilt-down panels, can hide a TV, stereo and mini bar. Whether you're mixing sound -- or something shaken, not stirred -- the armoire cleverly covers up when the party's over.

Everything complements an oversized parquet-style floor, to complete the mix of geometry and curves.

Plain & Fancy Custom Cabinetry, a thirty-five year old family-run company, stands for quality workmanship well within your reach. Each cabinet is built with the homeowner's choice of two time-tested methods: framed, mortise and tenon construction with dovetail drawers or full access (frameless) dowel construction, called Medley, also with dovetail drawers.

Plain & Fancy's standard and custom hand rubbed finishes are available with either style of cabinetry. Plain & Fancy carries no inventory; each kitchen is built to the homeowner's specifications from wood species to door style. Like every Plain & Fancy kitchen inspiration, Softer Spartan is designed to inspire and illustrate how, stylistically and practically, Plain & Fancy can help homeowners achieve their perfect kitchen.

About The Author:

Margareta Cohl is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-kitchens.com.  Everything for your kitchen to make it look great and make cooking a whole lot easier.