A Wood-Mode kitchen suite available at Riverhead Building Supply
 
  Find the Thermador Pro Grand Steam Range at P.C. Richard & Son

There are designers who have a specialist’s knowledge of the ins and outs of kitchen design. Including a Certified Kitchen Designer (CKD) or a Certified Master Kitchen and Bath Designer (CMKBD) on your architectural team can be a clever strategy that can accelerate completion of the job. A search on the National Kitchen and Bath Association’s website will yield a directory of these designers on the East End.

For storage, open shelving is replacing enclosed wall cabinets. This makes the room feel less boxy and lets you display collectibles and cookware. While white cabinets will never diminish in popularity, the up-and-coming look is natural, unpainted wood. Species like walnut and oak, with their distinctive, graphic grain, can make a statement in both traditional and contemporary styles. For base cabinets, deep drawers are an increasingly popular choice over conventional swinging-door cupboards, owing to their easy accessibility.

While it is a more complicated project than just switching out cabinets and countertops, modernizing the layout of the kitchen really can make the space both more pleasant and more efficient for you. Particularly in larger kitchens, the notion of the work triangle—the traditional, tripartite relationship between sink, stove, and refrigerator—is becoming outdated. Creating a series of self-contained work zones can reflect your personal entertaining style. For instance, a beverage center complete with a wine cabinet, drawer-style dishwasher, and undercounter refrigerator, in addition to the bar sink, can be located in a spot adjoining the kitchen but out of the way of the chef. In households where cooking is enjoyed as a social experience, an island equipped with cooktop modules, a downdraft vent (to preserve views through the house), a sink, and seating invites people to gather during meal preparation. A separate butler’s pantry is convenient for storing extra sets of dishes, glassware, and table linens.

DIRECTORY

Capuano Home Appliance
Specializing in innovative refrigeration technology, Liebherr produces award-winning wine coolers in a wide range of cellar sizes. 215A Central Ave., East Farmingdale, 694-0044

P.C. Richard & Son
As the only range to incorporate seven distinct cooking options, the Thermador Pro Grand Steam Range consolidates a multitude of cooking technologies into a single appliance. Another luxury choice: the Verona by Zephyr, the first range hood to feature a direct-current motor, clears the air quietly and efficiently. Subtle LED lighting along the edge of the glass canopy is a distinctive visual accent. To complete the package, outfitting a kitchen with drawer-style refrigerators by Fisher & Paykel, energy-saving appliances by LG, and Dacor cooking equipment can make entertaining a gourmet experience. P.C. Richard’s consultants can help you choose the best for your home. 15 N. Bishops Lane, Southampton, 283-5208; pcrichard.com

Riverhead Building Supply
Juxtaposing the natural-wood island with painted perimeter cabinets tempers the formality of the kitchen, while furniture-like details such as footed Regent-style cabinets, a corbelled chimney hood, and turned legs on the island highlight the dark floors of a beautiful Wood-Mode custom kitchen. 21 Railroad Ave., East Hampton, 324-0300; rbscorp.com

Village Home Goods
Miele’s 4066 Coffee System delivers cappuccino and other java variants at the push of a button. Installed in a master suite, it even saves a morning trip to the kitchen. 67 Jobs Lane, Southampton, 283-4310