Simply the Best

For the fourth annual luxury living show, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles builds a dream kitchen in the heart of Phipps Plaza.

Written by Clinton Smith Photographed by David Christensen

“With the idea that the kitchen feels industrial to some degree, we used a Cambria color called Wellington that felt the most ‘earthy,'” says architect and interior designer Joel Kelly of the countertop and range hood material. While the hood appears to be carved out of one piece, each leg is made from four three-centimeter pieces of material fused together. Adds Michael Bell of Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios: “Cambria quartz allows you to get an even flow of color without using a pattern that’s too dominant. There’s a lot visual interest in the material.”

“Part of the kitchen’s design is about exploring and uncovering the unexpected,” says Kelly of the orange-hued morning bar.

“Even with modern design, there has to be a softness and elegance to it,” says Bell. That elegance is most evident in the wood finish, which has three layers to add depth and subtly highlight the beauty of the pecan wood’s grain patterns.

European storage solutions, specified by Bell, allowed interior cabinet space to be maximized to its fullest potential. Plate holders can actually be removed, enabling the cook to carry an entire stack at once. A more traditional-style faucet is the perfect juxtaposition to the contemporary cabinetry.

Phipps Plaza, one of the city’s toniest retail centers, is best known as the home of stores such as Tiffany & Co., Saks Fifth Avenue, Gucci and more. For the fourth year, Atlanta Homes & Lifestyles partnered with Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios to build a Dream Kitchen at the mall that’s as stylish and chic as its well-heeled clientele.

Guided by Michael Bell, the project featured the inspiration of architect and interior designer Joel Kelly. This year’s kitchen showcased the best in contemporary design grounded by traditional elements.

“We’re used to thinking of modern design as something slick and unapproachable,” says Kelly. “This kitchen is somewhat of a library for cooking. You get what you need, use it, and put it up. The ladder adds an element of movement and approachability that begs you to explore the interior, just like at a library.”

And while the clean-lined space is functional, the look is approachable too. “I call it Southern contemporary,” explains Bell. “We’re not Miami or SoHo. There’s no lacquer here. This space has clean lines, but this kitchen could still anchor a more traditional Atlanta home. It’s modern, but you can still connect with it. There’s a warmth to it.”

CABINETRY, PROJECT MANAGEMENT & CONSTRUCTION Michael Bell and Courtney F. Shearer, Bell Kitchen & Bath Studios, (770) 751-7861; bellcabinets.com DESIGN Joel Kelly, Joel Kelly Design, (404) 221-0422; joelkellydesign.com COLLECTION Bell Cabinetry Metropolitan Collection FINISH Weathered Gray on Pecan Countertops & Hood MATERIAL Wellington by Cambria Quartz fabrication Atlanta Kitchen FLOOR Mohawk APPLIANCES Sub-Zero and Wolf FAUCET Bridgeford in chrome by Grohe SINK Elkay Hardware Inspiration Collection in graphite by Richelieu BACKSPLASH Palms glass mosaic from Traditions in Tile Kitchen ACCESSORIES Sur La Table FLORAL DESIGN Lush Life