2026 Kitchen Design: Drew McGukin and McGriff Architects

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Over the past decade, Benjamin McGriff ’s client—a philanthropist and art collector—had renovated his Mill Valley house, room by room. When it came time to address the kitchen, he enlisted the architect, who has offices in San Francisco and Brooklyn, as well as New York-based interior designer Drew McGukin. According to McGriff, the client expressed a desire “to live in my own custom piece of art, which I sometimes cook in.”

A ceramic light by Jeremy Anderson and copper shelving by Chris French are suspended from the ceiling, for which decorative artist Caroline Lizarraga devised a custom wash. Photo by Adam Rouse Photography.

To that end, “the project took customization to its furthest extent, with artisan layered on top of artisan,” McGriff says. While the kitchen abounds with bespoke copper elements by Chris French—from drawer and door faces, right down to the screws—multiple disciplines were involved in every aspect of the design.

Close-up of carved wood refrigerator panel: Caleb Woodard hand- carved various panels, including covers for the refrigerator.
Photo by Adam Rouse Photography.

Noting the work of Caleb Woodard (hand-carved black walnut cabinetry panels), Jeremy Anderson (hand-built ceramic lighting) and Caroline Lizarraga (the metallicized wash on the ceiling), McGriff describes the collaborative effort as “a celebration of creativity.”

The pantry is accessed by copper doors, whose faces were fabricated by Chris French; Jeremy Anderson wall lanterns provide illumination. Photo by Adam Rouse Photography.