Timeless Classic

Twin Construction teamed up with interior designer Shea Bryars to create a light, airy kitchen that sets the stage for cooking, music, and fun.

Photos by Jean Allsopp

Julie and Eric Jurotich might be Edgewood’s biggest fans. “This is our third house in a quarter-mile radius, ” Eric says. The couple wanted a smaller house in their favorite neighborhood with living and entertaining space both indoors and out. Julie found the perfect home at her workplace—Twin Construction. The company had recently bought a house to renovate and resale, and before work even began, Julie fell in love with the proposed floorplan. “The house sits on a double lot perched on a hill.  This allows for more privacy than most Homewood lots, ” explains William Siegel, co-owner of Twin. “The house was a one-story rancher, but we knew we could add some architectural interest.” Twin rebuilt on the original footprint, with lots of input—including many kitchen details—from the Jurotiches and from interior designer Shea Bryars of Twin Interiors. “It’s the most open space, both in terms of size and feel, ” Julie says. “It’s the heart of our home.”

THINGS WE LOVE

1. Windows “We wanted to maximize the light so we added multiple casement windows and raised the ceiling height, ” says William Siegel of Twin Construction. Directly opposite the wall of kitchen windows, “there is a matching wall of five windows in the living room, so the light streams through, ” adds homeowner Julie Jurovich. The kitchen and living room flow together to room accommodate the owner’s penchant for entertaining.

2. Island Since Julie and her husband Eric love to cook together, the kitchen’s design offers plenty of space for two people to prepare meals. “Our old kitchen didn’t have enough free counter space for us both to work, ” Eric says. “With the giant island, we now have that space.” A single sheet of marble covers the island in a beautiful, durable surface and provides the perfect contrast to the dark wood cabinets below. And the large doors and deep drawers offer plenty of storage.

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3. Hidden Hood The owners’ request for the range wall provided a challenge for the design team. “I did not want a big wood or stainless range hood, ” Julie says. So the team had to figure out how to recess the hood but keep it close enough to draw from the range. In the end, William designed a niche punctuated by a wooden beam and flanked with mirror-image spice racks. “I especially like how the beam header ties in with the beams across the ceiling, ” says Julie.

4. Appliances “I really think my cooking is better because of my fantastic appliances, ” Julie says. The gas range by Wolf was truly an investment. But the homeowners agree that the splurge was worth every penny. “We’ve also got built-in speakers so I can listen to my favorite Bruce Springsteen songs and dance around the room while I cook, ” Julie says with a laugh.

5. Storage Despite the lack of upper cabinets, the kitchen is packed with storage options and innovations. “To the left of the dishwasher is a built-in space that holds six bottles of champagne, and that makes me smile whenever I see it, ” Julie says. Eric adds, “We also have built-in bookshelves in the kitchen so that all of our cookbooks are in one spot.” And the best storage solution? A deep drawer with peg dividers for holding plates.

 

Left: Pops of color can be found throughout the space, as seen in the unexpected red handles on the range. The addition of a fire-engine-red pot carries the hue a bit further. Right: Organization is key when more than one cook is in the kitchen. For these homeowners, the deep drawer that holds plates for easy access is a favorite feature. “It has been a revelation, ” laughs Eric.

RESOURCES
Builder: William and David Siegel, Twin Construction, Inc. 205.802.3920 • twincompanies.com; Interior designer: Shea Bryars, Twin Interiors 205.802.3920 • twincompanies.com/interiors; Architect: Joe Ellis, Dwelling, Inc. 205.790.1389 • dwellingarchitecture.com; Cabinets: White finish Cabinets (color: Coconut), Dark wood island (color: alder): Diamond Brand cabinets from Classic Cabinets By Design 205.296.3568 • myclassiccabinets.com; Marble: Jonathan Lambert, Triton Stone Group 205.592.0202 • tritonstone.com; Plumbing fixtures: Ferguson 205.951.7800 • ferguson.com; Countertops: Premier Surfaces • 205.664.1440; Wood beams: crafted from river-bottom pine

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