A Sociable Home

Enlarge Image Image Gallery South-facing floor-to-ceiling living room windows bring daylight deep into the house and blur the distinction between outside and in. Flowers planted at the base of the windows can be enjoyed from the comfort of indoors. Gil Stose

Of all of the fond memories of his childhood home, designed and built by his architect dad, Chris Larson remembers the kitchen area the most. “The informal-style dining room table was not quite in the kitchen, nor entirely out of it either,” he says. “Near the table were a love seat and a comfy overstuffed chair. And no matter how nice the rest of the house was, most activity took place in that kitchen and the hang-out zone near it.”

Chris built a home for his own family (wife Mary Ann Watjen and daughter Haley) in Asheville, North Carolina, that suggests he inherited his dad’s design sense. For his own  home, Chris, who also is an architect, had free reign to play with his two guiding principles—“sociable architecture” and natural forms—when designing the cozy 2,700-square-foot, four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bath passive solar home.

The sociable kitchen

Throughout his career, Chris has been intrigued by the home kitchen’s gravitational pull. “People would leave the comfortable living room sofa and opt for standing and talking in the kitchen,” he says. “So if folks are that determined to hang out there, I decided to focus on how the kitchen could be designed to enhance comfort.”

The Larsons’ “sociable kitchen” is a triangle that includes the kitchen, dining room and living room area, without dividing walls. “This allows space, view and light to flow freely,” Chris says. “Instead of looking out a window over a kitchen sink, we look across open space to windows and the view beyond. Even while cooking in the kitchen, we can still observe and feel we are part of the outside. We can see across the living area to the fireplace that adds to the warmth of the kitchen.”

At one end of the range and sink islands, an open space accommodates a small table that seats three or four. This serves as a convenient place for quick meals or for Haley to do homework (with help from whichever parent is cooking). Attached to the backside of the two islands, storage shelves create a “kitchen” feeling, keep everyday utensils handy and provide a screen that distinguishes the kitchen from the living room area.

A small sofa adjacent to the table allows guests to get comfortable and carry on conversation, yet be out of the way while the Larsons cook. “This kitchen was designed to promote that intimate social interaction,” Chris says.

To build the islands, cabinetry and shelves in the kitchen, Chris located recycled wood—oak, chestnut oak and heart pine—from 100-year-old barns a local cabinetmaker tore down. Chris also was able to save money on the granite countertops by buying slabs left over from larger jobs.

The patio off the kitchen is convenient for al fresco dining and adds to the living and socializing space. The gentle sound of Whisper Creek wandering through a quarter of woodland adds to the relaxing ambiance.

Heating and cooling naturally