Private islands

Building Products, March-April, 2003 by Katy Tomasulo

Remember when a butcher-block island was an upgrade? Now that islands are all but standard in production homes, custom-home buyers are looking for a more distinctive touch. The furniture look that's popular across many price points is even more detailed in high-end lines with free-standing pieces--from islands to china cabinets--that incorporate or mimic antique-style furniture.

Habersham, for example, is a furniture manufacturer That offers a range of hand-painted reproductions and original designs, including kitchen islands in the style of English manor Homes and Italian-style vanities.

YesterTec Design offers "furniture for the Kitchen": functional, furniture-quality pieces, Including a sink workstation, a working pantry, and units that conceal all sizes of refrigerators and wall ovens. These styles, says company president David Beer, make an open kitchen more livable. "[The furniture] helps the great room-type room become a real room instead of just a kitchen and a great room," he says.

What's more, many kitchen designs coordinate with other freestanding pieces for the bathroom, home office, and living room, enabling dwelling to have a consistent look.

YesterTec. The company uses furniture instead of continuous cabinetry to create unique kitchen storage pieces. This refrigerator/pantry armoire conceals a Sub-Zero refrigerator while providing additional space in a side-open pantry. The distressed-pine unit measures 88 inches tall by 25 inches deep by 40 inches wide. A sink workstation is shown also. 877-346-4976. www.yestertec.com. Circle 261.

Crystal Cabinet Works. The firm's Signature Rub-Thru finish is designed to emulate the look of old furniture finished many times. The process involves rubbing paint over stained, distressed wood, which allows the under color to show through. The finishes come in black, blue, green, red, umber, and yellow stains. Distressing techniques and highlighting colors are optional. 800-347-5045. www.ccworks.com. Circle 262.

Habersham. Inspired by the furnishings of 18th-century palatial estates and Romantic styles of the European countryside, the company's hand-painted and hand-finished kitchen and bath furniture can be used for various applications. The hand-finished, distressed Sussex kitchen island, shown, features an English manor-home style. 800-422-3774. www.habershamdesigns.com Circle 263.

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