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The new Echelon Grand Cayman model was designed with the community’s bay front location in mind. Set in tones of blue to evoke a coastal feel the entire model is bathed in a soothing hue of colors from soft blue to rich navy.
The kitchen’s light blue cabinets with vintage brush strokes plays off the glass tile backsplash and is complemented by the crisp white quartz countertops. With every detail from lighting to artwork carefully chosen the entire home has a cohesive feel of coastal elegance. Highlights include a vaulted great room with coffered ceiling and v-groove insets, a luxury owners bath with an oversized shower and a sculptural, freestanding soaker tub. Touches of crystal in the bath’s lighting is the jewelry that finishes off the space. The powder room is wrapped in a navy grass cloth set into wainscoting panels, showing that not one area of this home was overlooked. Even the laundry room will make every day chores enjoyable.
The home’s best feature is its location overlooking the golf course and pond. From every room of the house the views create a scene reminiscent of a painting.
Echelon Custom Homes just had the honor of winning Best Kitchen for the seventh straight year at the Annual Delaware Regal Awards. While we won many other awards this is the one that we have captured consecutively, something we take a lot of pride in.
Stainless steel sinks offer durability while the polished chrome plumbing fixtures finish off the crisp, clean look of this kitchen. The main sink faucet and secondary sink faucets are from Kohler and the pot filler by Danze. While all three are from different collections we were careful to choose fixtures with similar lines so they all tie together. You don’t always have to pull everything from one line, just be sure to pick items with similar styling.
The island which was also done in the Glacier White cabinets was topped with a Walnut, Edge grain wood top from Grothouse Lumber. This wood top was done with a Durata finish, which is a marine-grade finish, and will withstand the abuse that a kitchen countertop can endure. While more expensive than the granite perimeter the addition of the wood top adds warmth to the entire space. The lifetime warranty on the top makes the investment a worthwhile one. The island is finished off with beautiful, bronze pendant lighting from Rejuvenation. The lights, which are finished off with large glass globes, adds the final touches to a large and functional island.
On the outer wall of the kitchen we designed a wall of pantry cabinets as well as an area to set up a coffee/drink station. These cabinets were done in a rich Caramel Java finish to tie in to the finish of the walnut island top and add additional warmth to the space. On one end we added an ice maker with a custom cabinet paneled front (an essential item for filling up those coolers for the beach) with an oversized appliance garage above. This is a space for the client to set up a bar during functions but also a spot where guests can come and grab a cup of coffee without getting in the way of the person cooking in the kitchen. The opposite end houses a broom closet for all those kitchen cleaning items. In between is a wall of pantry storage. It starts with oversized, deep drawers in the base and then is topped with 21” deep pantry cabinets for all the kitchen storage needs. In order to get the cabinets to the ceiling we stacked cabinets above the pantry cabinets for storage of items used on special occasions. To access these items we added a rolling ladder for both function and a unique design aesthetic.
While the kitchen is beautiful, it was designed with a chef in mind. With appliances from Viking, Sub Zero, Bosch and Scotsman, this space was meant to be used. Anyone who knows there way around a kitchen would feel right at home whipping up culinary masterpieces in this space.
I recently returned from a trip to Wellborn Cabinets in Ashland, Alabama. With not much else to do in Ashland I understand why they put so much time and effort into building beautiful cabinets. Wellborn Cabinets has just had its largest increase in new cabinets, door styles and finishes that it has had in many years. These changes are being rolled out in 3 phases, the first happened in March with the rest being released in July and October of this year. 
For cabinets they have added lots of new sizes including 48, 54 and 60” wall cabinets. This is a great addition as it will allow us to install cabinets that will reach the ceiling of the spaces without having to add a lot of cost by stacking wall cabinets. Their distinctive bath catalog now allows us to order bath vanities that feel more like pieces of furniture than standard bath cabinets. This will give people the look of many of the high end Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn vanity cabinets. For door styles they have many new options to choose from. The new Antigua is a personal favorite. It has the look of a louvered door which will screams “beach house” and is due out in July. This and the New Haven door (shaker style door with a wider plank inset panel) are both welcome additions to our “coastal” style. The new Bali door offers a bamboo looking inlay in the face frame of the cabinet door. The new Charleston door is the sister to the Richmond, one of Wellborn’s more elaborate cabinet styles but has a recessed center panel, and it exudes elegance. For clients who prefer a more clean-lined door but a lot of style, the new Chelsea, Napa and Winslow should be big hits.
There are 3 new stained finishes and 1 new painted finish also rolling out this year. Since grey is all the rage now, they have rolled out a softer grey called Dove to counter balance the darker Willow rolled out last year. Blush (a redder stain finish), Cloud (a lighter white washed stain) and Drift (a browner, driftwood like stain) all of which are available with or without glazing options are all great additions to the finishes that Wellborn offers. I expect Drift to be a very popular finish here at the beach.
I am personally a big fan of wood countertops, but they do have their pluses and minuses. Wood can scratch, doesn’t react well with water and can be very susceptible to stains and bacteria…but nothing can warm up a space like wood countertops. We carry a line by Grothouse Lumber out of Pennsylvania, and they offer a wide variety of species, thicknesses and edges. They also offer a Durata finish which is a marine grade finish that will protect your tops from the damages of water and help minimize bacteria. You will still need to use trivets and I would recommend a cutting board if you want to maintain the pristine look, otherwise go with a food safe wood top and cut away. Periotic oiling of the food safe wood tops will prolong the life and keep them looking good. Prices can go from reasonable (maple or oak tops) to very expensive for looks like Mahogany or Tiger wood.
Newer products are always emerging in the market. Recycled glass products like Vetrazzo and Geos are making a strong foothold in the countertop market. With vibrant color options they are a great alternative to granite. They can withstand heat and bacteria (although I still use a hot pad under really hot items…guess I’m a little old school) and some, like Vetrazzo’s Bretagne Blue are a mix of brilliant turquoise glass, oyster shells and white, Georgia marble are a show stopper in any space.
Kohler has added some new sinks and faucets to their lines including a new spray that mimics the shape of a broom and allows for better sweeping of debris on dishes. Between that and the offset drain offered in a few of their sinks, Kohler continues to push the boundaries in reinventing everyday plumbing fixtures. Their Moxie shower head, introduced at last year’s show, continues to be a feature in their show displays, providing buyers with music in the shower that connects wirelessly with any blue tooth device. It brings singing in the shower to a whole new level.
Native Trails were showing their new sinks made from concrete with a Jute blend. While being a more contemporary look, the addition of jute to the concrete mix creates a sink much lighter than its all-concrete counterparts while offering a stain resistance not found in most concrete sinks. While priced for the higher end market, I am sure the price will come down on these over time as their popularity grows. I hope to have the chance to use these in a future product as they will become the focal point in any bath.
