Photography courtesy of Summer Thornton Design
Jessie Miller, of Jessie D. Miller Design, was charmed by this stylish kitchen made by Chicago-based firm Summer Thornton Design. Framed in white-painted brick, with touches of rustic and fine woods throughout, the design represents a departure for Thornton, who’s known for her use of color and feminine florals. Here, however, her facility for blending styles and materials is beautifully on display. “The range of finishes is balanced and nothing feels too designed,” Miller says. That effortlessness, coupled with a deep sense of luxury, creates intimacy even though the space is large: “I love the adjoining sunroom. I can imagine sitting there and having my coffee in the morning,” says Miller. The island resembles a piece of antique furniture, and conjures up the image of a family “baking Christmas cookies there together,” she says. “Overall, the kitchen appears as if it’s been there for years.” It’s a sensory space, says Miller, “which I think is what cooking’s all about.”
Photography by Tommaso Sartori
The Piero Lissoni HIDE Tall Units changed Susan Bower’s perspective on kitchen storage. The matte two-tone brown cabinets, with stainless steel ladder-pull handles are built into the wall, maximizing space and imparting a minimalist feel. “They’re an elegant solution to storage,” says Bower, noting the depth of the cabinets, which permit storage of an oven, microwave, or, as Bower sees it, the kitchen sink. “It leaves the possibility that you could just cram all the dirty dishes in there, close the doors, walk away, and not have to deal with them,” she says, laughing. Every couple of years, Bower, founder of Bower Leet Design, travels to Milan, which is how she became acquainted with the design company. “In the U.S., we don’t think about doing tall cabinets as much as the Europeans do,” she says. “We seem to be stuck on the base cabinet, the countertop, and the wall cabinets.” This new approach to organization has inspired Bower’s work, in which she strives to “respect the principles of solving some things simply and elegantly.”
Photography courtesy of deVOL Kitchens
Wendy Kuhn, senior designer at Karr Bick Kitchen & Bath, was scrolling through her social media feeds when a photo caught her attention: the Classic English Kitchen by London-based deVOL, a tour de force of hunter green cabinets, matching walls, and contrasting white marble countertops accented with vintage art and industrial task lighting. “Their use of color and aesthetic for the rustic and the elegant takes my breath away,” says Kuhn. “The St. Louis market isn’t as bold with color right now, so I try to guide clients to be braver with some of their choices and to choose less wall cabinetry.” Brass pulls and fittings provide an intriguing mix to the homespun wood ceiling. The antique table serves as a place to prep or dine. Kuhn says it’s reminiscent of her grandmother’s St. Louis kitchen: “I want to grab a coffee and sit down.”
Photography by Vicente Wolf
Every now and then, David Kent Richardson of DKR Interiors will purchase $100 worth of home décor magazines and curl up in bed with them. That’s how he discovered one of his favorite interior designers, New York–based Vicente Wolf. “I’ve been following him for at least 20 years, maybe even longer than that,” says Richardson. Exhausted by the popularity of waterfall islands and brass kitchen fittings, and with an aversion to granite countertops, Richardson finds Wolf’s combination of steel and marble counters refreshing. “I love, love, love the juxtaposition of the Verner Panton chairs with the Anglo-Indian chair and how the chair balances the wood in the island,” he says. The warmth of the Anglo-Indian chair, the legs of the island, and the green plants help balance these tones, says Richardson. The sheer blinds over plantation shutters and the African bowl set atop the marble island are just two of Wolf’s layering touches that Richardson admires. “It’s a constant battle to keep things at a minimum when you’re a collector and a designer,” Richardson says. “He keeps it clean.” Inspired by Wolf’s work, he continues to look for ways to blend old and new.
Photography by Lance Selgo, Unique Exposure Photography
Jenny Rapp of JCR Design Group first learned about EJ Interiors from her JCR colleague Natalia Reyes, who’d interned with the Dallas studio at the start of her design career. They marvel at the way Emily Johnston Larkin, the firm’s principal designer, uses color and works in a range of design styles. Rapp is drawn to this kitchen’s decorative cabinet fronts flanking the hood, the choice of backsplash, and the caged lanterns: “It’s a classic design, but the details make it look fresh and new.” The layout provides ample workspace, she notes, and the open floor plan makes it inviting for a busy young family without being too large for a couple. Kitchens inevitably lead to messes, but Johnston Larkin’s product choices minimize damage, Rapp says: “The light granite is a good low-maintenance choice, and the rattan stools with woven plastic seats from Serena & Lily can be wiped down as needed.” “Every detail feels intentional,” adds JCR designer Emily Koch. The lanterns are current without being trendy, and the tile backsplash, stone countertops, and cabinet color add a timeless feel. Johnston Larkin has styled the kitchen to seamlessly merge with the adjacent room. Says Rapp: “The use of consistent and complementary colors from the kitchen to the great room creates an easy and natural flow and beautifully unites both spaces.”
