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The Drukteinis kitchen is a happy place, with a breezy vibe and elegant charm that fit the family’s lifestyle. As an open, free-flowing space that connects it to the adjacent great room and, ultimately, to the lanai and outdoor living space, the kitchen serves as the heart of the family’s Tampa home. “We love entertaining, and since we have young children, we end up having a lot of families over,” explains homeowner Jennifer. “We have found that everyone congregates in the kitchen.”

Elegant and kid friendly
Light certainly plays well off of the kitchen backsplash, a feature that catches everyone’s eye. The homeowners’ decision to take the backsplash tile all the way to the ceiling helps to elongate the wall and to accentuate the height of the room. “We went to the tile store and I saw a display and fell in love with it,” says Jennifer. “The backsplash is one of the first things everyone notices when they enter the kitchen.”

“We wanted a large island that could seat a lot of people, a place where you’re cooking, preparing, and grabbing wine, where host and guest are not separated,” says Jennifer. Her interior designer, Dee Marksberry with Gage-Martin Interiors, found the island’s bar stools, which blend into the landscape of the kitchen and tuck nicely underneath the island so as not to obstruct the view of the great room. And because they’re made of vinyl, the stools are wipeable and kid friendly.

Soft gray cabinetry from Amoroso Cabinets, set against the Vermont Danby marble of the countertops, creates a warm, classic look. The Eureka Calacatta slab that comprises the island took longer to find but was worth the wait, and the rich gray of the island provides a color boost. Amoroso Cabinetry created custom legs for the island, with nickel hardware at the bottom that, in conjunction with the brass light fixtures, creates a pleasing medley of mixed metals in the room.

Starting from scratch
The Drukteinises were thrilled to find a home in the vibrant and thriving community of Parkland Estates, but since the existing structure didn’t fulfill all of their needs, they tore it down and immersed themselves in the building process. Partnering with Jack Bartlett of Bartlett Custom Homes, Jennifer, and her husband Dan, were able to create a home that is fully customized to their needs. “We have three young children and wanted a place that was perfect for them to grow up in and one they would want to bring their friends to every weekend,” she says.

For his part, Bartlett says, “I often have high expectations to meet of my homeowners, but when it’s a referral customer, who stated she had to have Bartlett Custom Homes build her home, the level of pressure rises. But the entire building process went amazingly well.”

Light is a key component in Jennifer’s style, so she requested the room’s large picture windows and then worked with architect Todd Hittmeier to design them, ensuring strategic placement for plenty of sunlight and for visibility from the breakfast nook to the pool and play area. Distinctive metallic light fixtures also help to illuminate the space.

“My number one goal is to bring my homeowners’ visions to life and when Jennifer told me that I made her dreams come true, I felt so proud to be a part of such a respectable and reliable team that worked diligently to deliver perfection,” says Bartlett.

Guests and family alike can move easily from the great room to the lanai, outdoor kitchen and pool area, particularly when the sliding glass doors are pulled back, creating one continuous living space. “This was another reason I wanted the ‘central’ great room,” adds Jennifer. “I really wanted the kids to want to be where we are – and they are!”

Farmhouse sinks have gained in popularity over the past few years thanks to stars like Chip and Joanna Gaines, but really they’re nothing new.

There are many appealing qualities of an authentic farmhouse sink. They’re often much deeper and wider than a traditional sink basin, making them ideal for homes without a dishwasher.

These sinks come from a time when water had to be carried into the house from outside. The large, deep sink held water fetched from nearby wells.

The exposed, protruding front adds an extra dose of style to your kitchen. And with farmhouse sinks coming in so many fun materials including porcelain, enameled cast iron, stainless steel, copper and marble, you are able to customize your home to fit your style and needs.

Today, the farmhouse sink is a focal point for the kitchen, but it’s more than just a pretty kitchen feature.

While the kitchen has become a space for entertaining family and friends, it still needs to have functionality necessary for cooking and cleaning. The farmhouse sink adds a stylish touch needed to get the job done!

Modern Sophistication and Visual Appeal

Windows and Wood

Modern sophistication & visual appeal

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