San Francisco designers Charles de Lisle and Ralph Dennis built their off-the-grid Sonoma retreat by way of salvaged goods and stalwart industrial elements. Case in point: The plywood kitchen de Lisle designed features a steel workbench as countertop, a cast concrete laundry sink, and an industrial faucet. The result has a wood-shop feel but is entirely modular—and, for an unplugged weekend spot, it’s just enough. Here, we dissect the kitchen’s key elements.
![small but mighty, the kitchen is made of robust steel, concrete, and ply. photo 17](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/charles-de-lisle-sonoma-house-17-733x1099.jpg)
![a repurposed refrigerator is encased in plywood, pulls included, and built into 18](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/08/charles-de-lisle-sonoma-house-19-733x1099.jpg)
Furniture
![the makeshift countertop is a grainger workbench fitted with a custom butcher b 19](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/grainger-little-giant-workbench-gray-733x489.jpg)
![the chairs are vintage josef hoffmann caned chairs in walnut. the thonet no. 8\ 20](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/thonet-no-811-hoffmann-armchair-french-walnut-finish-733x489.jpg)
Faucets & Fixtures
![the industrial wall mounted faucet seen in the kitchen is a discontinued kohler 21](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/chicago-faucets-wall-mounted-service-sink-faucet-cross-handles-733x489.jpg)
![the sink is a repurposed cast concrete laundry sink saved from the original cab 22](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/houstonplatinum-concretti-designs-gray-bathroom-sink-733x489.jpg)
![for a similar electric cooktop to what\2\17;s seen in the kitchen, the d 23](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/duxtop-lcd-portable-double-induction-cooktop-733x489.jpg)
![the breville mini smart oven is \$\159.95 at williams sonoma. 24](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/breville-mini-smart-oven-733x489.jpg)
Lighting
![similar lights to the old metal pendant fixtures are the barn light original wa 25](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/barn-light-electric-original-warehouse-pendant-light-733x489.jpg)
![for a brass table lamp with a woven shade, the serena & lily larkspur petit 26](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/serena-lily-larkspur-petite-table-lamp-733x489.jpg)
Accessories
![the sugatsune hjt hook in satin stainless steel is \$9.90 from american builder 27](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/sugatsune-hjt-hook-american-builders-outlet-733x489.jpg)
![the mercer culinary acacia magnetic knife holder is available in acacia (shown) 28](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/mercer-culinary-acacia-magnetic-knife-holder-733x489.jpg)
![the chairs are softened with west african made chair cushions from tensira in b 29](https://media.remodelista.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/tensira-chair-cushion-black-off-white-733x489.jpg)
For more deconstructed kitchens, see our posts:
- Kitchen of the Week: 6 Low-Impact Deconstructed Kitchens
- The Unfitted Kitchen: 14 Deconstructed Spaces
- Steal This Look: A Makeshift Victorian Kitchen in London
- A Moveable Feast: A Modular Kitchen from an Italian Architect
N.B.: This post originally ran on March 7, 2023 and has been updated with new links and information.
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