Minimalism is the Most

When it comes to kitchens, people generally have a sense of their own design style. Traditional, modern, Scandinavian, contemporary, and on and on. Sometimes, even if we aren’t sure into which category we fit, we know what we don’t like. As for me, I’m not a big fan of modern or minimalist design.

Or so I thought.

It all changed for me when I walked into this fantastic home on Elwyn Ave. My preconceived notions went right out the window. And while I’m on the subject of windows, picture this: the detail-minded folks in this home put a window where a backsplash should be. Right there under some gorgeous, wooden floating shelves. And it works. I’m kind of thinking that my fellow Kitchen Tour fans are going to notice that window, and more than a few are going to consider the concept for their next kitchen renovation. It’s all that and a bag of chips.

This Elwyn Ave home is one of 11 on this year’s Kitchen Tour to Benefit The Music Hall. The homes all are in the Little Harbour neighborhood of Portsmouth, and the tour this year is Saturday, May 12, from 10am until 4pm. Hint to all grateful children reading this: that’s the day before Mother’s Day, and mothers all around the Seacoast love this annual event. So, see ticket information below. You’re welcome!

Now back to the minimalist kitchen. What an interesting term for a space with such maximum attraction. And interesting, too, is that one of the goals of the homeowners was to create simplicity in a calm living space. In design terms, they succeeded. But this simplicity is rich and complex.

You’ll love the island, made of three different materials (flooring being one of them) and showing off a perfect waterfall edge. The lines are so clean in this kitchen, you hardly notice the refrigerator and cabinetry. The door to the basement is frameless. And there, just off the kitchen but fortunately within sight, is a beautifully rendered barn door made of Vermont white pine by the homeowner and his father.

Another simple (but complex!) addition here is a “magic corner.” It looks like a regular ol’ cabinet. But when you open it, out comes this storage area that is chock-full of pantry items.

There’s so much to like about this kitchen and the home it’s in, whatever your design style. The details abound and make me glad we’ve included a space in the Kitchen Tour program for folks to take notes on favorite features in each kitchen. You’ll be scribbling like mad in this home.

Advance tickets are $25 for Music Hall members and $27 for non-members. They can be purchased at the Historic Theater’s B2W Box Office at 28 Chestnut Street in downtown Portsmouth, online at TheMusicHall.org, or by calling 603-436-2400. Tickets are available at the box office on the day of the Kitchen Tour for $30. Read more on the tour here.