A Light, Airy Kitchen by Fiorito Interior Design

Acquiring a new house is an exciting occasion but often has many challenges. So when my clients moved here to California from the east coast and purchased a home that was built in 1967, they came to me to help modernize and update the house that clearly had not been touched since the 70s. For the kitchen, we removed the dated orange oak cabinetry, tile counter tops (with pesky large grout lines), and cracked terra cotta flooring. This enabled us to start from scratch so we could create a light, bright kitchen in the soft fog and forest colors of the coastal mountain region of our area here in Northern California.

White cabinetry and light neutrals in the space create an airy, open feeling. European white oak flooring contributes to the organic feeling and grounds the space. New appliances (including a French-door Sub Zero refrigerator and a Wolf oven with coordinating microwave), hand-forged iron light fixtures, and a luxurious Crema Marfil marble counter and mosaic backsplash elevate this kitchen while the custom drapery panels, trestle table, and custom chairs in the dining area allow the kitchen to retain a casual, contemporary-California atmosphere.

All after photos by Bernardo Grijalva

Here is what it looked like before we gave it a new lease of life!

And here is the empty kitchen, just in drywall and ply sub-flooring, waiting to be made beautiful.

Do you have a dated kitchen that needs a lift? Call me!

Happy designing!

Like Jewelry For Your Cabinetry

As a designer, I am always on the lookout for the unusual, unexpected, special little details that can take a room from being just nice to being jaw-droppingly beautiful. Especially in kitchens and bathrooms where the opportunity for furnishings is diminished, it is important to pick elements judiciously. I like to tell clients that these kinds of finishing touches are like jewelry: fine silver cuff links on a tuxedo or a beautiful pair of diamond ear rings and necklace on an evening gown. Spaces benefit from such accessories.

Enter Hardware Renaissance, a high end company that handcrafts gorgeous door and drawer handles and pulls. Started by Anagha Dandekar in 2002, the company offers an original line of hand forged iron completely hand made by master blacksmiths. In 2004, the company introduced solid cast silicon bronze hardware with a commitment to environmental responsibility. The bronze hardware is made from at least 90% recycled material.

But the thing that puts these stunning products over the top is their new line of hardware inset with semi-precious stones such as chrysocolla, rotile, and black or red jade stone. These pulls would certainly give your interior doors and cabinet drawers a special sense of exquisite modern luxury!

Happy designing!