2007 HC&G IDEA HOUSE TOUR

Located in the long, open space adjacent to the family room, "The kitchen is like a stage," explains Tom Vecchio of Bilotta Kitchens, the room's principal designer. "It's a large focal point and you can see it from the entire family room space. I wanted to blend it in with the family room so it almost becomes a part of it."

To do this, he asked builder Richard Gherardi to install a barrel-vaulted ceiling that mimics the archway separating the two rooms. In addition, the top level of the two-tiered island also curves outward. Made of mahogany, it echoes the warmth of the family room while providing a durable, attractive eating or working surface. The island's lower countertop, invisible to the family room, is limestone, and the space underneath contains a convection microwave oven, warming drawer and storage—very handy considering the limited wall space available for cabinetry and appliances.

Vecchio also chose mahogany for the cabinets, which were painted and glazed to attain a beachy, windblown effect. "We tried to keep things light," he says. "We chose mahogany because the grain is different from other woods and picks up a whole different look when you paint it and glaze it." Vecchio also applied mahogany paneling to some of the appliances, including the twin built-in refrigerators. (Two were installed to accommodate large parties, as built-ins are shallower than stand-alone units.) The 60-inch Viking range, which includes two ovens to take the place of a wall-mounted double oven that would've consumed too much space, has a stainless steel finish that's complemented by an earth-toned glass mosaic backsplash.

Ever since Viking introduced its first professional-grade range for the home in 1987, the Mississippi-based company has become a popular source for top-of-the-line kitchen appliances both large and small, along with cookware and cutlery. To complement his kitchen design, Tom Vecchio selected an array of Viking appliances, many in a stainless steel finish. These include a 60-inch gas range, warming drawer, convection microwave oven, over-under refrigerator freezers, seven-quart stand mixer, food processor, blender and that small but important amenity, a slot toaster. The outdoor dining terrace also features a 41-inch Viking gas grill. All are available through Delia, Viking's exclusive distributor in the Northeast.