Round Butcher-Block Counter Table by Christine Brun on Creators.com

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Round Butcher-Block Counter Table

Breaking rules sometimes yields the most appetizing results. California Pizza Kitchen has a divine caramel pudding with sea salt on top. It is the unlikely combination of taste sensations — sweet and salty — that is so compelling. The same can be true with remarkable interior design solutions. However, I will tell you that most of the time, it takes a pro to twist the pieces into an unexpected result.

I am well aware of the tidal wave of television programs whose aim it is to try and reduce interior design down to the idea that anybody can do it. Another false impression is that it takes no time at all to arrive at a solution. You just run to the nearest paint store or home improvement retailer and, presto, you have everything you need. It is time once again to give praise to the well-schooled, experienced design professional whose worth is even greater when it comes to challenging space.

How to find a small space specialist? There are stores in numerous urban centers that focus on products that perform double duty. Perhaps you've seen double space beds that offer a movable mattress over a sofa, dining table or library setting. A bed with a counter-weighted mechanism allows silent and easy operation with the touch of a finger. There are tables that change height via a hydraulic lift mechanism enabling it to be used at cocktail table height or a more functional dining table height. Generally a specialty store such as this also offers design consultation. You can expect to either pay by the hour or pay commission through buying furnishings.

Another place to find a good designer would be your local American Society of Interior Designers. Check to see if your area has an office or contact the national office in Washington, D.C. You can look at dozens of websites featuring the work of interior designers all over the nation. This specific room was sent to me by the folks that make the butcher block. It flows out from a kitchen to a multi-purpose room and to the deck beyond a sliding glass door.

It took a designer to conceive of a thickened butcher block round that rests upon the stone counter top. Space is not only conserved by eliminating walk-around-the-table room, but a design statement is broadcast! Notice too how the refrigerator design turns the floor-to-ceiling section into something that resembled an armoire. Above the twin doors of the refrigerator sit frosted glass panel doors.

Jennifer Gilmore, the designer of this particular waterfront home, blends deep walnut, crisp white painted wood trim and white Carrara marble with softer natural wood tones. Natural wood faces the graceful arched area between the painted beams and warms the entire space from above. This perfect blending of geometric shapes with the over all size of the contiguous space makes all the difference. Small spaces demand that each part of the puzzle be the optimal size. Should the columns on either side of the wet bar been any larger, the entire design would be off balance.

What you should pay for is the experience that allows a professional designer to intuitively go for the right solution. Look for someone with credentials and enough work under their belt to confidently prove their expertise. Check with other clients who have worked with the person. Very often you get what you are willing to pay for, so avoid the cheapest quote. You want someone who has gone to design school and can draw, either manually or on the computer, who is capable of producing floor plans, wall elevations and custom cabinetry designs.

Rules can be broken without any worry if the person who does the deviation understands what it takes to put together a balanced, safe and appealing room. Each piece selected or designed works together to become one beautiful statement in a room. It is not something that is done on the fly, in a hurry and for very little money.

Photo Credit: Jennifer Gilmore Design

Christine Brun, ASID, is a San Diego-based interior designer and the author of "Small Space Living." Send questions and comments to her by email at christinebrun@sbcglobal.net. To find out more about Christine Brun and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com.