Petit Tresor's Kitchen

Deciding on the kitchen of Petit Tresor was difficult.  I knew an 18th century townhouse would have to have a kitchen that had been renovated at some point, so I decided to go all the way with a thoroughly modern kitchen.  I had purchased a stainless steel stove and hood from TYA at the Chicago International, so that was a starting point and really determined the direction.  Nonetheless, I made a lot of changes along the way until I got what I really wanted.

This is the TYA stove and hood.  The stove weighs a ton but is very realistic.  The doors open and the shelves come out.

Next I emailed Liz LePla of ELF Miniatures in the UK (http://www.elfminiatures.co.uk/), who made the kitchen in my big house and also pieces for my Patisserie kitchen.  Liz is, quite simply, the best in the world.  Once I saw one of her kitchens there was no going back for me!

Emails and photos flew across the pond for months, culminating in a design that worked in the space and took into consideration using the TYA stove (which I sent Liz and on which she had to pay duty in order to get it from the post office) my desire for lots of cabinets to display things, a US Sub Zero style fridge, and an island with a wine fridge.  LOL--the features I wish I had in my RL kitchen.

Here is the final plan.

Next I worked with Rita and Horst Kruger of Tiny Ceramics (http://www.tiny-ceramics.com/) who designed and handpainted the beautiful flower basket behind the stove and the tiles between the cabinets and the countertops.  The tiles add so much to the realistic look of this kitchen.

Bill McGuire painted the floor to look like the granite floor in his RL kitchen after I made and abandoned two other floors.  Jason Getzan made the hanging pot rack with lights, modifying one of his designs to fit the low ceiling.

Here is the finished kitchen looking straight in.  The copper is a combination of Country Treasures, Lara Copper, TYA, Getzan, and Phillipe Bourdelet.  Zara Thomson Ribeaud made the baskets and Elizabeth Causeret the ceramics.  Carrie Lavender made the cannisters, TYA made the stainless mixer and all the red pieces.  The "Cuisinart" was made by Delph.  The cabinets are filled with the good china by Christopher Whitford, along with the everyday china by Eileen Vernon and Peiwen Petitgrand.  The handpainted pitcher and glasses are by Victoria Fasken.

The stove side...

And the fridge side.



I love the island with the wine fridge!

What's your favorite?