Kitchens. They’re amazing spaces. They can be visually stunning. They must be total workhorses. They’re quite often the heart of the home. But they can also accumulate a lot of CRAP.

As I work to not only design but also fully outfit the kitchen for the Hood Canal Cottage, I’m starting completely from scratch. No hand-me-down casserole dishes, no knives I’ve carted around since college, no random herb scissors that I’ve never ever used. For once, I get to hand-select every tool and every object that comes into the space.

With that total blank slate, I find myself often thinking (ok, obsessing) about what I want this kitchen to have. As an avid cook, as we probably all are coming through Covid, I want kitchen tools that are really pretty, but also highly functional. And nothing else.

This kitchen, designed by Our Food Stories out of a refurbished old schoolhouse in the middle of the German countryside, is a total mood. Featuring deVol kitchen cupboards, tiles, shelves, light fixtures, hardware and more. This kitchen is certainly a showcase for the many of the pieces on my list of must-have kitchen tools – and of course, it does so beautifully.

This space immediately transports you to an idyllic rural retreat. I imagine walking through overgrown gardens, picking fresh roses and making multi-course Sunday lunches here.

I love how this kitchen keeps so many key kitchen tools close at hand. While I might not be doing quite as many open shelves at Hood Canal, there is a lot to be said for having key tools within arms reach.

There’s nothing that drives me crazier than a poorly outfitted kitchen. But an overcrowded kitchen can be equally crazy-making. You have to strike that balance.

For me, the key kitchen tools I turn to time and again include one good set of pots and pans, a cast iron skillet, a good set of wooden spoons and spatulas, a top notch cutting board (or several) and then all those little tools that you need when you’re in the middle of pulling together a recipe – measuring cups, knives, peelers, strainers, graters, zesters – all the speciality things that let you add the finer components of a dish.

Those speciality tools are the kinds of things that far too many kitchens lack. Or they’re the big bulky OXOX ones you get at a grocery store that feel chunky in my hand and will just clog up my limited drawer space in the new kitchen. She gonna be cute, but she’s not going to be big.

As the weeks have progressed, I’ve been slowly but surely amassing my ultimate kitchen wish-list. Each kitchen tool, appliance, or serving piece needs to have a very critical purpose and look damn good while doing it.

I thought I’d share my wishlist with you. It’s certainly not comprehensive. As I cook every evening some other thing in my San Francisco kitchen makes me think oh yes, I have to find the beautiful version of this for Hood Canal. But all the extraneous stuff I have in my SF kitchen also makes me want to pull my hair out. I’m constantly digging for my one favorite knife or pan or bowl.

I hope you find something below you’ve been searching for. If you spot a key kitchen tool that I’m still missing, please tell me in comments! I consider my ultimate quest to outfit the ideal kitchen.

I’m also regularly adding favorites for the kitchen in the Apartment 34 SHOP so be sure to check it out too!

all images by Our Food Stories

It feels extremely odd to focus on design this week, but I’m considering it a form of self-preservation today. We all need to do what calms us as we prepare for the inevitable storm ahead. Please tell me you’re voting today or tomorrow if you haven’t already. Click here to find your polling place. Every single vote matters – even if you think your vote won’t make a difference where you live – I promise you it will. Please please please vote.

While we all await our fate, please enjoy this stunning project designed by my go-to gal Lauren Nelson. It is incredibly soothing.

I have major entry envy.

Both a guest house and private tasting room for Petrichor Vineyards in Santa Rosa, CA, Lauren put her magic touch of approachable sophistication mixed with laid-back elegance in every single space she touched. Subtle Morrocan vibes, classic well-made pieces, and a muted yet saturated color palette work beautifully. I particularly love the use of the deep, rich blue tones in the updated kitchen. All the natural light and vaulted ceilings keep the space feeling open and bright despite the darker hues.

Lauren is the queen at beautifully impactful simple moments. This vintage chair and stunning cabinet make me feel like I’m somewhere in Italy.

Even though we’re in the heart of wine country, I am loving the Moroccan vibes peppered throughout the home.

This bedroom has such a mix of textures and styles, yet everything, from the rug to the bed to the curtains to the sconces all play harmoniously.

This officially might be my favorite bathroom vanity of all time. The counter top sink, the sconces, that faucet and yummy texture on the walls…it’s all delicious.

This space is going to serve as my moment of zen – I plan on revisiting it regularly between now and the end of the election day – whenever that may be. I hope this home tour brings you both some calm and some hope. I truly believe we have the capacity to bring ourselves back from the brink. We just have to show up and make our voices heard.

 

photos by bess friday courtesy of lauren nelson design

How’s everyone doing out there? It’s been another hot minute. How are you holding up? So much is coming at us seemingly every second – it can be hard to keep the day of the week straight. I don’t know about you, but I’m grateful to design for being a welcome distraction when I just need a moment. Even if it takes me three weeks to finally write about it.

Case in point, the San Francisco Decorator’s Showcase. It is one of my favorite design events of the year. I mean what’s not to love? You get to tour a mega-mansion in the city’s famed Pacific Heights neighborhood that’s been newly transformed by extremely talented designers who heap reams of creativity into their rooms.

The Showcase house is a go-to source for major design mojo and truly over the top ideas. After a six month delay, the 2020 Showcase is happening right now – just entirely virtual! While it’s sad to not get to physically walk through the space, the bonus of an online Showcase is anyone can see it.

But I do wish I could experience this beautiful kitchen in person. Designed by Regan Baker, this room showcases a unique mix of color choice and contrasting materials to create a light, airy – dare I say cheerful – kitchen. We could all use a little cheerfulness these days!

As you move through the expansive kitchen – the complete space actually includes two entry points, a built-in breakfast nook and a walk-in pantry – there is a truly unique mix of materials that juxtaposes warm and cool, light and dark, raw and honed yet they all play nicely together.

One such moment of dramatic contrast is the range area you see above. Everything comes into play here from the marble countertops to the custom ceramic backsplash created by local Bay Area artist Linda Fahey (whose store Yonder Shop was one of my mainstays pre-pandemic). All that is mixed with deep warm cabinets displaying spices and oils, while the brass hardware acts like jewelry. The disparate elements balance one another nicely.

A second moment of dramatic contrast is the placement of this custom black hutch. The hutch’s curved top plays off of other curved lines you find in the room, from an arched entryway to the rounded back of the dining sofa and even the beveled edge of the counters. I’m a big fan of furniture pieces that incorporate both closed storage but also room to display prized pieces. I spy lots of Tina Frey and Heath Ceramics in this hutch!

The dining nook continues the juxtaposition theme – pairing multiple wood tones with a custom dining sofa clad in periwinkle boucle. The black table and my favorite U-candle from Glaze also in black add drama and tie in the black hutch. It’s a truly unique mix.

As you move into the pantry the vibe shifts slightly. Gone are any pastel hues. While this is still a very elevated space, it has a more utilitarian look sticking with a consistent palette of warm wood, brass and marble. A built-in coffee station with Heath Ceramic mugs is always a good choice.

Aware of the fact that people of color have long been under-represented in the design industry, Regan Baker Design committed to doing the work to being part of the change.

Regan chose to use her platform to highlight the work of Black female artists throughout her Showcase space. Through the process of discovery and curation, the artists whose work and stories resonated with Regan and her team were Christa David, Marie Alexander, Lauren Pearce, and Tawny Chatmon.

Showcasing different art styes from portraiture to collage, these pieces add another beautiful layer of storytelling to Regan’s already wonderfully layered space. Scroll to see their pieces and be sure to watch the video of interviews with the artists at the end of this post!

 

 

design by regan baker, photography by suzanna scott, styling rosy friedman

If you don’t follow Apartment 34 on Instagram, than you might have missed the exciting announcement that official This Old Victorian – aka my five year renovation saga – is about to come its close. Domino Magazine announced its first ever Renovation Issue and I’m thrilled to announce that office tour of our house is included. If you want your first sneak peak into the our before & afters (and they’re rather dramatic), click here.

But I think once you try your hand at renovations, you catch the bug. And so I’m already designing my fictional future dream house in my hand. And I think I already found my dream kitchen.

This epic kitchen is another product of design savant Amber Interiors. She has figured out the magic mix of California casual, old world grandeur, and what I like to call elevated rustic style that combine to create warm, welcoming but also dramatic spaces.

Obviously, the architecture of this space lends itself to its awesome dramatic feel, not to mention all that stunning natural light. But that is probably one of my biggest leanings from our renovation – that a space’s bones are everything. If you happen upon some a home with some good architecture, jump on it! You can be confident that even the ugliest of toads can be transformed.

The use of various both refined and rustic materials offers really beautiful juxtaposition in this kitchen. Honed Calacatta marble counters and backsplash feel sleek and fancy. But then the reclaimed French limestone looks as if you could be in a farmhouse in Burgundy. The mix and match continues with smooth plasters walls abutting a white brick pizza oven. Brass hardware offsets the custom white oak cabinetry, but the cup drawer pulls reinforce the more country, rustic feel. Finally, a rustic beam holds residence above a sophisticated Lacance range. Yet it all works.

This space would feel fitting should it be in middle of wine country, in Europe or in downtown LA. In fact it resides in Malibu, CA but you certainly wouldn’t say it has a beachy feel.

I love how Amber switched the far counter’s top to a dark limestone to anchor the space and mirror the dark range across the room.

If I could get my hands on this space I might have thickened the countertops (I still love that fat look), selected more modern cabinetry hardware and swapped out the antique pendant lights for something more minimalist and refined. But that’s fun thing with renovating. Once you get to play with the details, you just want to play more and more and more and more.

Good thing I have my yard project to keep me busy at the moment, because I’d be rather tempted to start housing hunting again! Don’t tell my hubs.

design by amber interiors, photography by tess neustadt 

When you close your eyes and imagine your dream home, what do you see? If you said a mix between Oliver Gustav and Vincent Van Duysen, where elevated simplicity meets luxurious texture and pitch perfect restraint, then we’re meant to be design BFFs. If said I found such serenity, would you believe me?

Apparently, I want to live in the world of Zara Home’s new A/W 2019 campaign – A Life of Simplicity – because everything here is harmonious, soothing and when you stop to think about it, really oh so simple.. Be gone over-crammed shelfies and overloads of color – or stuff. What if you lived only with what you needed, but everything you have has to be beautiful. Intentional. This is where I want to call home.

This gorgeousness is no surprise given that this campaign was created in Copenhagen by some of my online faves including stylist extraordinaire Colin King and designer Rosie Seabrook. I love how pared back spaces like these force you to focus on the details – the texture of the plaster walls, the curves of the vases atop the dining table, the golden glow of the amber-hued glassware on the kitchen shelf. You miss nothing because it’s all meant to be seen – be experienced.

Hello dream kitchen, how you doing? You’re really making me want to redo mine right now.

Of course it helps that Zara’s new collection of tabletop, textiles and kitchenware have been paired with old world design classics (hello Jeanneret, Poulsen and Fritz Hansen), all in a timeless and soothing neutral color palette within a next level Scandinavian apartment. But all to perfect effect. I am sucked into this world and want to know how I can make any part of it my own (I currently have my eye on this vase and this bowl).

While of course I know a zen-like bedroom won’t calm the nerves of an overtired parent living in an insane world, I can hope that a perfect lounge chair or minimalist mirror might help. Or maybe I’ll just continue to look at these pictures. and deep breathe. Until the end of time.

What say you? Does this inspire you to up your style?

For more elevated design inspiration, CLICK HERE.

photography by frederik vercruysse, styling by colin king for Zara Home

I may be back in the office this week, but an overabundance of jet lag, emails, photos to edit and a general denial that my summer in Italy is over has made it a bit tough to get back on my blogging game. For that, I apologize. I’m determined to chip away and get eager to share all my Italy travel guides, the myriad of design updates I’m working away on and so much more. Sadly my brain works faster than fingers on the keyboard. So for now, I’m just going to keep chipping away, but then I spied this bright and cheery kitchen that stopped me in my tracks and made me smile, so I had to share immediately as I thought it might brighten your week too.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

It just so happens that this lovely space belong to my amazingly talented friend Rosy, so it’s no wonder the design is picture perfect. I actually shared this kitchen in this post after I hosted this event in Rosy’s beautiful home. The change from this kitchen’s previous look is rather dramatic. As someone who very publicly eschews the use of color, I don’t know that I would ever think to paint my kitchen peach, but after seeing the affect of this amazing makeover I’m all for it.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

The secret to success when using a hue like this, is to use it as a pop of color. I actually did something similar, albeit with a dark hue, in the Sunset Bungalow project. Using color as an accent gives a room an extra dimension and a jolt of interest. Imagine if the kitchen niche was simply white. You’d hardly even notice it at all. I also love the addition of shelf, painted in the same peach hueIt adds another layer of texture and it quite practical in a kitchen. You always want a (good looking) kitchen tool or two at the ready.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

While certainly a touch feminine, the dark woods and mix of terracotta tones keep things from tipping too girlie.

 A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

I spy the perfect amount of terrazzo with that nicely placed tray.

A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34A Peach Kitchen on apartment 34

I don’t know about you, but this is the midweek pick-me-up that I needed!

For more color inspo, CLICK HERE.

photography by seth smoot for domino magazine

I know last week I was opining about the mystique of all-white monochromatic spaces, so I figured why not flip the script today and share a multifaceted space without a hint of white in sight. And I’m quite positive you’re going to love it because this room is just.so.good!

Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34

Designed by my girl-of-the-moment, Leanne Ford, this all gray kitchen resides in an 19th century row house in Pittsburg, but it takes a totally fresh take on the concept of a kitchen (it’s like she was reading my mind). Ford gutted a back addition of the house to extend the kitchen down the middle of the first floor and I am drunk in love!

Reason number one: a fireplace in the kitchen! Swoon. You know how I love a good fireplace. The only other timeI think I’ve seen that is the Nancy Meyers set of Anne Hathaway’s in the movie The Intern. Google it – it’s a seriously good kitchen too.

But of course the second reason I love this space is all the gray! Ford applied Portola Paint’s Roman Clay in Sasha to the walls and ceilings to give the space a really textured plateresque look (taking notes for a project I’ll be revealing to you later this week!). To ensure the room felt cohesive, Ford lime washed all the brick in a lighter gray to meld the two surfaces together. All of the oversized windows flood the space with natural light keeping it from feeling too cave-like.

The third thing I really love about this kitchen is that epic island. Clad in cascading soap stone it houses all the kitchen’s essentials – sink, range and oven are all nicely tucked in there with ample counter space to spare. Vintage pendants with black accents draw the eye up.

Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34

Wood elements dotted throughout the room soften and warm up all that gray. Salvage wood floors, oak shelving and even the logs styled in the fireplace add light, fresh accents.

Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34

Since this kitchen was designed for couple who love to entertain, at the back of the kitchen Ford added a seating area rather than an eating took. It’s the perfect spot to enjoy a morning cup of coffee or hang out during a dinner party You know the action is always in the kitchen.

To play homage to the original structure’s age, all of the accent pieces from the club chairs to the art and accents are all vintage.

Home Tour: Gorgeous Kitchen in Gray Scale on apartment 34

Another favorite moment, while technically not in the kitchen, is the powder room Ford created. She used a Willy Guhl Planter to create the coolest looking sink. To amp up the rustic vibe, the water source pipes were left exposed. I’m obsessed.

This kitchen is the ultimate example of something completely custom, personal and truly special. I’m very tempted to move to Pittsburg right now.

For more inventive kitchen ideas, CLICK HERE.

photography by reid rolls for leanne ford

In typical American design, kitchens are the heart of the home. And said kitchens are typically big, bold and eye catching, crammed full of every design element under the sun. Think flashy ranges, huge custom hoods, major marble, open shelving upon open shelving, giant islands, chandeliers…it’s all just…a lot.

That’s why kitchen design in Scandinavia felt like such a breath of fresh air. I was so inspired by the understated, minimalist kitchens I saw while in Sweden and Denmark last week. Rather than wall-to-wall cabinets, miles of tile or crazy bells and whistles, what if our kitchens were quieter. Simpler. More like furniture?

What if we all had downsized kitchens?

Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34

I was lucky enough to visit the Frama showroom in Copenhagen and see the Frama Studio Kitchen. This design is the epitome of the minimal kitchen idea. The Frama Studio Kitchen is designed to be a free standing element in a space without mounting to any walls or floors. As the brand describes,

“The Frama Kitchen portrays the light expression of a piece of furniture within the kitchen environment. Every Frama Studio Kitchen is built upon a powder coated metal grid, providing an industrial but light approach. The free standing units encase top of the line appliances while retaining a low-tech and analogue expression.”

While this kitchen design has won major awards, I really love that this look takes out the ostentatiousness of kitchen design without taking out any style.

Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34

Completely customizable, you can use different components to meet your storage needs. And this design also begs the question – how much stuff do we really need to cram into our kitchens?

This type of kitchen is perfect show off the architecture or other materials used in a home. While it seems an obvious choice for an industrial space, this look would also look minimalist and beautiful in a really refined home.

Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34Is it Time to Downsize the Kitchen? on apartment 34

What would it be like to have a kitchen you could change around with relative ease? It could shift to meet the needs of a growing family or to satisfy someone’s design whims (hello!). And think about the cost savings you would enjoy if you aren’t dealing with built-in custom cabinetry, slabs of expensive stone or jumbo sized ranges.

I’m thinking I probably should have done my Scandinavia trip before finishing This Old Victorian. Maybe I just need another project!

For more kitchen design ideas, CLICK HERE.

images via frama / 1st dibsour food stories / residence mag / vogesparis / frenchrosa / ignant

Alright friends, how’s that Christmas shopping going?? Assuming many of you are as behind as I am, I thought I’d dive into the gift guides in earnest this week. So you’ll being getting a daily dose of shopping ideas each morning, along with the day’s regular post each afternoon as well. Don’t worry, these guides are helping me too. They’re forcing me to track down unique pieces for everyone on my list! Oh and I’d love to know what gift guides you would find most helpful. For the kiddos? The guys? In-laws?? I definitely want to offer whatever helps the most.

I’m kicking things off with one of my personal favorites – guides for the design-loving cook. I’m certainly a sucker for any pretty kitchen gadget, so you might consider this a personal wishlist as much as it is a gift guide! Continue to scroll for eight deliciously gorgeous options.

Gift Guide for the Design-Loving Cook on apartment 34Gift Guide for the Design-Loving CookWhile it took me a really long time post kiddo to get back into cooking, I’m finally diving into new recipes, cooking family dinners, dreaming up recipes and loving every minute of it.I might even try my hand at baking this holiday season. But I am very particular about what comes into my kitchen. And these days you do not have to sacrifice form for function. Any one of the kitchen accuerumounts listed below would certainly help motivate me to keep on cooking. Or at least hang out in the kitchen and stare at my pretty tools while I await Thai takeout. No judgements.

1. The Perfect Whisk. While the handle on this whisk looks like faceted stone, it’s in fact made of easy to grip silicone!

2. Your Secret Weapon Spice. Za’atar is the perfect finishing touch for soups, salads, even sprinkled on yogurt or in your olive oil. Your guests will think you’re a genius.

3. A High Design Cast Iron.Everyone needs a good cast iron pan but who says it has to be big and bulky. This thin, sleek modern version does the job, beautifully.

4. When Spoon Meets Spatula. Multi-use tools are a must and this Spoonula can scoop. It can scrape. It can withstand 500 degree heat and cleans like a dream. Kick all those old sad spatulas good-bye.

5. An Above Average Bowl. A handmade stoneware bowl adds a touch of art to the kitchen.

6. Really Nice Rice. This traditional hagama rice cooker will ensure you get a perfect batch of rice each time. Or look perfect on your counter. Both are equally good reasons to need one.

7. Compost Trés Chic. Just because you compost can get kinda disgusting, that doesn’t mean it’s container should be. Finally a compost bin I wouldn’t mind sitting out on the counter.

8. The Fundamentals. Every home cook needs the proper set of tools. This set of seven offers the pieces you’ll reach for on the daily. But most importantly, each tool in this set is as good looking as it is useful.

 

image by nicole franzen for eyeswoon

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