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Steal This Look: A Los Angeles Architect’s Low Key but Elegant Kitchen

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Kitchen Shelving Issue 3 — Low-Key Glamour

Steal This Look: A Los Angeles Architect’s Low Key but Elegant Kitchen

Fan Winston November 17, 2020

We are fervent admirers of Reath Design, the LA-based interior design studio founded by Frances Merrill. This past September, we shared their latest completed project, a Mediterranean-style 1920s manse transformed into an elegant but warm home for architect Sherry McKuin and her young family. We took particular note of the traditional-with-an-edge kitchen.

Let’s take a tour of the space, then scroll down to learn how to recreate the look.

Photography by Laure Joliet, courtesy of Reath Design.

“the kitchen was a total gut,” says mckuin. “in keeping wi 17 — Above: “The kitchen was a total gut,” says McKuin. “In keeping with the period of the house, it had been set off on its own with a pantry and a formal dining room off it. We wanted a bigger, more open plan with an island and eating area.”

merrill and mckuin like the way the avocado hued stove works with the slight gr 18 — Above: Merrill and McKuin like the way the avocado-hued stove works with the slight greenish hue of the cabinets and the handmade backsplash tiles.

the cabinets are all custom. the counter is namibia white, a milky marbl 19 — Above: The cabinets are all custom. The counter is Namibia White, a milky marble sourced from a stone yard in the San Fernando Valley. (Note how the kitchen counter on the left drops down a step. Go here to learn why.)

next to the door, in lieu of a mud room, merrill created a “mud cabinet& 20 — Above: Next to the door, in lieu of a mud room, Merrill created a “mud cabinet” with places for coats, backpacks, schoolwork, and lunchboxes.

the bar/coffee station is next to a built in dining alcove. 21 — Above: The bar/coffee station is next to a built-in dining alcove.

three things to love here: the one handle brass faucet by watermark, the bullno 22 — Above: Three things to love here: the one-handle brass faucet by Watermark, the bullnose-edge counter, and the skirt of pleated plum handkerchief linen from Gray Line Linen of NYC, a notable affordable fabric source.

Here’s what you need to steal the look.

Lighting

a single porcelain and brass surface light from current collection hovers over 23 — Above: A single porcelain and brass Surface Light from Current Collection hovers over the kitchen sink.

a trio of o&#8\2\17;lampia&#8\2\17;s arch lights illuminates the kitc 24 — Above: A trio of O’Lampia’s Arch Picture Lights illuminates the kitchen’s main wall; available in multiple finishes.

pinch&#8\2\17;s beata light features a woven straw shade, available in nutm 25 — Above: Pinch’s Beata Light features a woven straw shade, available in nutmeg (shown) and white and in two sizes; from £595.

Neutrals

the custom cabinets are painted benjamin moore&#8\2\17;s laurel canyon beig 26 — Above: The custom cabinets are painted Benjamin Moore’s Laurel Canyon Beige; the walls are painted White PM-2.

merrill sourced the custom matchstick blinds from valley drapery, but you can f 27 — Above: Merrill sourced the custom matchstick blinds from Valley Drapery, but you can find something similar at many well-known retailers, including Ikea and Home Depot, which sells this 48-inch-wide Natural Cordless Light Filtering Bamboo Roll-up Shade by Radiance; $24.12.

smink things&#8\2\17; tiles from the after lowry collection in cream (al\10 28 — Above: Smink Things’ tiles from the After Lowry Collection in Cream (AL10) make up the backsplash. For more on Smink Things, see Subtle Imperfections: Screen-Printed Ceramic Tiles from a Small-Batch London Company.

Brass

the kitchen drawer handles are the gilby drawer pulls in antiqued brass from ji 29 — Above: The kitchen drawer handles are the Gilby Drawer Pulls in Antiqued Brass from Jim Lawrence; £12.

futagami shelf brackets 30

futagami s hooks 31

Above: Merrill discovered Futagami’s brass hardware via Remodelista. She bought both their Brass Shelf Brackets ($165 for a pair) and their Brass S-Hooks ($24 for two) at Dar Gitane. Futagami is also sold at Nalata Nalata.

futagami&#8\2\17;s brass towel bars are available in two sizes; from \$\100 32 — Above: Futagami’s Brass Towel Bars are available in two sizes; from $100 each at Dar Gitane.

newport brass&#8\2\17;s chesterfield bridge faucet is available in a slew o 33 — Above: Newport Brass’s Chesterfield Bridge Faucet is available in a slew of finishes; from $1,090. (See 10 Easy Pieces: Traditional Bridge Faucets.)

Appliances

bluestar&#8\2\17;s free standing 48 inch gas range with griddle (rnb486gv\2 34 — Above: Bluestar’s Free-Standing 48-Inch Gas Range with Griddle (RNB486GV2) is available in more than 1,000 colors, including the avocado hue in McKuin’s kitchen; from $10,495.

the espresso giotto timer evoluzione r by rocket is \$\2,600 at seattle coffee 35 — Above: The Espresso Giotto Timer Evoluzione R by Rocket is $2,600 at Seattle Coffee Gear. (Another of Rocket’s machines made our 10 Best Espresso Machines list.)

Accessories

reath design likes the ceramics on offer at los angeles based lawson fenning. f 36 — Above: Reath Design likes the ceramics on offer at Los Angeles-based Lawson Fenning. For a similar, more affordable look, try this Black Pedestal Bowl from CB2; $59.95.

for a similar rust colored kitchen towel, try linge particulier&#8\2\17;s l 37 — Above: For a similar rust-colored kitchen towel, try Linge Particulier’s Linen Dish Towel in Sienna; $26 at Nannie Inez.

this vintage brass bud vase is just \$\24.50 on etsy. 38 — Above: This Vintage Brass Bud Vase is just $24.50 on Etsy.

the wide weave leather basket is \$\178 at terrain. 39 — Above: The Wide Weave Leather Basket is $178 at Terrain.

For more kitchens we love, see:

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