Whether you are a casual cook or an accomplished chef, everyone can appreciate the advantages of a top-quality kitchen. Good food satisfies the body and stimulates the mind, and preparing home-cooked favorites is a thousand times easier when you have access to a proper workspace. When it comes to kitchens, the following examples from Howard Hanna’s Homes of Distinction program represent the crème de la crème.
3248 Route 98, Franklinville, NY 14737
More than 200 acres provide a spectacular setting for this four-season residence and its separate guest house, private lake, sledding hills, and snowmobile trails. Professional décor enhances the appeal of its extraordinary architecture and design, only minutes away from Ellicottville and the slopes. The island kitchen is a chef’s dream equipped with custom cabinetry, gorgeous granite countertops, a walk-in pantry, and a breakfast bar.
21440 Avalon Drive, Rocky River, OH 44116
Stunning views across the water are visible from this residence, one of Cleveland’s premier homes on the shore of Lake Erie. Its open-concept main level includes a great room, a chef’s kitchen with a full butler’s pantry, a spectacular dining room, and multiple sitting areas. A wood-paneled elevator provides access to all levels, and the finished lower level is a perfect entertaining space with a theater area, a second full kitchen, a recreation room, a spa bath, and access to the patio and lake.
781 Church Hill Road, Peters Township, PA 15332
Encompassing 12,000 square feet of luxurious living space, this private, gated estate on eight acres beside Scenic Valley Golf Course redefines the standard of luxury living. A foyer with majestic dual staircases is your point of entry to a main level that incorporates a banquet-sized dining room, a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry, a mahogany-clad library, and a private guest wing. Take advantage of the lower level’s fully equipped bar, billiards area, home theater, massage room, and archery range, or head outside to the pool and patio, a private oasis.
102 Antler Point Drive, Marshall, PA 15090
A governor’s drive shows the way to this elegant brick provincial, nestled on a wooded, 1.38-acre home site on a cul-de-sac in the community of Antler Point. Granite counters and stainless steel appliances, including a six-burner gas range, set the tone in the island kitchen, which also displays a granite-topped bar with a wine cooler. The vaulted master suite benefits from two walk-in wardrobe closets and a luxurious bath with dual granite-topped vanities, and a low-maintenance covered deck overlooks a fenced yard with landscape lighting.
16505 Majestic Oaks Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44023
The quality of this custom-designed, all-brick home is immediately apparent, as demonstrated by its detailed woodwork and refinished Brazilian hardwood floors. Its remarkable gourmet kitchen makes use of two large islands, a full-size Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, double ovens, and a Wolf gas cooktop. Enjoy relaxed outdoor living on the ipe wood deck and stone patio, or join the Wembley Club and treat yourself to year-round swimming, tennis, and dining.
1460 Hollow Tree Drive, Upper St. Clair, PA 15241
Part of the Blue Ribbon Upper St. Clair school district, this stately Colonial is designed around an open floor plan. The hardwood floors were recently stripped and stained, plantation shutters shade the windows, and the resident chef will appreciate a new gourmet kitchen with instant hot water. Breathe the fresh air in the screened porch, or follow winding paths across the landscaped yard, part of the Deerfield Manor neighborhood.
2 Edgemoor Lane, Fox Chapel, PA 15238
A private driveway and a marble entry welcome you to this stylish home, set amid a more than nine acres of land. The heart of the home is an extraordinary kitchen that combines granite countertops, an expansive island, a huge pantry closet, and appliances by Sub-Zero, Miele, and Dacor. An entertaining area to the rear incorporates a fully equipped outdoor kitchen, a covered wet bar, a heated in-ground pool, and a pool house with a full bath.
670 Knabb Road, Elma, NY 14059
Standing atop 5.8 acres with views of Buffalo Creek, this extraordinary estate exhibits extensive woodwork and impressive architectural detail. Just beyond the magnificent two-story foyer, its kitchen makes use of custom alder wood cabinets, granite countertops, Viking appliances, and an expansive dining area. The walk-out lower level encompasses 3,850 square feet, including a custom wet bar and a media room, and magnificent landscaping surrounds a covered patio with a fireplace, a hot tub, and an in-ground pool with a pool house.
2397 Route 381, Ligonier Township, PA 15677
Just beyond a guardhouse and a stamped concrete driveway, this custom, all-stone residence offering incredible views of the Ligonier Valley is part of an estate with a stocked pond and a stream. The main level includes a huge, open great room with a wraparound staircase and a stone fireplace, as well as a commercial-grade kitchen with chef’s stainless steel appliances and serving stations. An elevator provides access to all levels, and a cigar room, a wine cellar, a hot tub, and a sauna will help you relax and unwind.
1324 North Bay Shore Drive, Virginia Beach, VA 23451
Numerous updates enhance this classic brick colonial, beginning with rich hardwood floors, nine-foot ceilings, and five fireplaces. Remodeled in 2018, the designer kitchen features Wolf appliances, two full-size Bosch dishwashers, a full-size side-by-side Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer, and an island with refrigerator drawers. The master suite benefits from a walk-in closet and a bath with heated floors, marble countertops, and a soaking tub.
113 Ashleigh Drive, Chagrin Falls, OH 44022
Tucked away on more than 2.8 acres on one of the most prestigious streets in the Chagrin Falls School District, this sophisticated residence makes beautiful use of wood, limestone, and stained glass. A stone archway rises above the stunning kitchen and its granite countertops, eight-burner range, and double ovens. Pella windows with internal blinds look out at the outdoor living area, home to a roofed pavilion, a built-in grill, a fireplace, a fire pit, a waterfall, and an in-ground pool.
You can find more information on these and other prestigious residences in Howard Hanna’s Homes of Distinction program in our many eBrochures, and for ideas on how to make your meal preparation magical, don’t miss our blog post on Four Easy Kitchen Updates.
