Estancia Style

Sunset, Nov, 2000
By Ann Bertelsen

"It's warm and inviting. It's a kitchen that wants to be in." -jury comment
As one juror remarked, this space, with its stone walls, beamed ceiling, and antique maple chopping block, brings a South American estancia (ranch) to mind.

But it also easily incorporates the latest high-tech appliances. The judges loved a design that could be so charmingly rustic and contemporary at the same time.
The owners wanted their new kitchen to look at least 100 years old, so designer

Donna Vining added stone walls and dark-stained beams to give the illusion of a stone farmhouse. A soapstone sink with a wall-mounted faucet, maple counters and shelves, and saltillo tile flooring add to the country ambience. Stainless steel appliances--oven, dishwasher, and refrigerator--recede into the background, letting the stone, old wood, and terra-cotta establish the character of the space. It's Texan with a Spanish accent.

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