Though its design appears effortless, this Carmel project presented a challenge to Poggenpohl kitchen designer I-Ching Ueng: She was tasked with providing the homeowners with the kitchen of their dreams—one that was clean-lined and had plenty of storage despite limited wall space, and which focused on a prime view of the courtyard and its glorious 100-year-old valley oak tree.
Ueng resourcefully created storage with a walk-in pantry and a multitude of cabinets, chose a soft, off-white finish for the cabinetry and countertops to maintain focus on the view, and specified a teak veneer for the island that echoes the texture of the beloved oak.
When remodeling the kitchen in this classic Eichler in Palo Alto, the designers at Henrybuilt had one objective in mind: Create a durable cooking and entertaining hub without sacrificing the home’s historic architecture. San Francisco–based Klopf Architecture made slight structural changes to the home to achieve the grand kitchen area, which unfolds in three separate zones: prepping, cooking and dining.
The prep island is equipped with Henrybuilt’s Bar Block, where the owners gather and which stores frequently used items. The cooktop island has an induction range and additional storage for pots and pans. And a large oval Knoll table defines the dining space, which looks out upon the landscape. The room’s plank-matched walnut cabinetry is a nod to the neighboring trees. The oven, steam oven and cooktop are Wolf; refrigerator is Sub-Zero; the sink is Elkay; faucet is Dornbracht.
The vision for this Portola Valley kitchen was a light, contemporary space full of entertaining possibilities. San Francisco bespoke kitchen company Studio Becker created a streamlined space by integrating the dishwasher, refrigerator and freezer into the cabinetry, and flush-mounting the Miele induction cooktop. The team also specified a discrete, downdraft Miele hood that blends seamlessly into the island countertop. Matte and lacquered white finishes and quartz countertops were paired with a light engineered-wood veneer, keeping the space bright but not sterile. And though the minimalist aesthetic might imply storage is slim, it is anything but: A concealed door leads to a large walk-in pantry outfitted with an additional refrigerator and storage. The appliance garages feature Hera lighting; the refrigerators, freezer, oven, microwave and dishwasher are Miele.
An entertaining space that integrated interior and exterior was at the top of the list for the homeowners of this Santa Clara County residence. Architect Steven Stept of San Francisco–based Feldman Architecture specified large Fleetwood sliding glass doors that fully retract, opening the living room, dining room and kitchen onto the outdoor entertaining area.
A patterned translucent screen subtly delineates the living space from the kitchen, while the opposite wall houses dual Miele ovens tailored to large parties. Twin stainless steel hoods from Futuro Futuro add a touch of futuristic flair. Kitchen system is Arclinea; dining table and chairs are Flexform.