Douglas Cabinet Design | Irvine California Residence

Beauty may be a central tenet in design, but when re-imagining a space for a busy, multigenerational family with active grandkids, durability and cleanability are also essential. In cases like these, the right materials can make or break a project, so when the Orduna family contacted designer Doug Cooper of Douglas Cabinet Design to remodel their Irvine, Calif. kitchen/living area and guest bath, Cooper knew immediately that REHAU RAUVISIO terra HPL was the perfect material for the job.

“The material had to stand up to high traffic and children,” he explained, noting that he brought in a RAUVISIO terra shaker panel and ran demonstrations for the family, including pouring red wine and rubbing alcohol on it, and even leaving water to stand on the face of the door. This gave the clients confidence that the material would hold up to heavy use, while being durable and easy to clean.

Of course, working well is only part of the equation; the family also desired a kitchen that would be beautiful, modern and a bit eclectic. They wanted a light and bright, open-concept plan that would create an indoor/outdoor living space, and give them access to their impressive vegetable garden, which is the main view from outside the kitchen.

They accomplished this with 30-foot sliding glass pocket doors that maximize space for entertaining while bringing in plenty of natural light.

“Having the oversized sliding door that spans the length of the kitchen makes it feel open and airy when the doors are closed – and provides a spectacular usable space when open, so guests never feel cut off from a conversation running inside,” Cooper said.

“RAUVISIO terra board material was used to face all the cabinetry, and used as the material for the doors,” explained Fiona Paolino, marketing coordinator for distributor Peterman Lumber Inc. She noted that the custom-made five-piece shaker doors and shaker-style glass doors provide a striking design element in the space.

For the clients, the cabinet area with the glass inserts is their favorite part of the kitchen. “We love the combination and how the seamless looking wood product just flows! It’s a high-quality material that creates a lot of interest in the space,” the Ordunas noted.

Paolino said the clients were expecting the shaker door to be more of a linear pattern, “but once they saw the knots, they fell in love with the rustic element it brought into the space.”

The kitchen also features a custom-formed kitchen sink, a toekick made of flooring material folded up and a refrigerator with extended built-in doors that go up to the ceiling. Continued materials are a design element that Cooper has mastered, which adds durability to the space and will keep this kitchen looking current over time.

The Ordunas were so taken with the kitchen cabinetry, they used the RAUVISIO terra Northern Oak in their bathroom as well. The material is showcased on the floating vanity, which features two staggered open drawers, as well as a U-shape under the basin to allow for additional storage.

While the clients love the look of their new kitchen/living area and bathroom, they believe   durability and cleanability are what make the RAUVISIO surfaces ideal for their busy family.