A ground-up project by Los Angeles-based AAHA Studio, this family-forward house reinterprets traditional design with a twist on the usual, creating a dynamic and engaging living environment in the kitchen and beyond.
The homeowners needed the kitchen to be suitable for both daily meals (kids at the island for breakfast, quick lunches, etc.), as well as for entertaining. An oversized island where food or drinks could be provided to a large number of people was a must. The challenge was providing both of these contradictory functions at once. The solution: Go big.
The kitchen space is special because it is super wide: 32 feet, to be exact, with the other side measuring 17 feet-6 inches. The idea was to make it connected to the great room, but because of the ceiling height change it creates a kind of compression that allows it to feel even wider than it is. This change in ceiling height serves to exaggerate the size and shape of the space in a really interesting way.
Asked about their favorite feature of the room, the designers said, “The fact that the kitchen is so large, yet still has an intimate feeling to it. Despite its adjacency to a very large, double-height space, it has the feeling of a space people like to gather in.”
The look of the room balances the natural warmth of wood elements with crisp white finishes. “The aim was a neutral warm palette while trying to move in a lighter direction from the white oak cabinetry commonly seen today,” noted the AAHA team. The faucets are a darkened bronze, just a hair off from black to coordinate with the metal-framed Marvin windows and doors.
Sources for A Kitchen Designed for Flexibility
Design: AAHA Studio Photography: Amy Bartlam Engineering: Thang Le & Associates Contractor: Shorecal Real Estate Interiors: Jenn Feldman Designs/ShoreCal Real Estate Landscape: Gomez Designs KITCHEN Cabinets: Custom Dishwasher, Microwave, Refrigerator, Wall Ovens: Thermador OUTDOOR KITCHEN Countertop: Dekton Grill, Refrigerator: Coyote
