All Things Considered

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studioHEIMAT leaves no detail behind in a San Francisco kitchen

The Kitchen is painted in C2’s Cadeau, the globe pendant lights are by Rejuvenation, the backsplash is in Global Tile Design’s Half Baked, and the counters are Caesarstone in sleek concrete. Photography by John Merkl.

“A PLACE FOR EVERYTHING and everything in its place.” Every inch of the kitchen that studioHEIMAT cooked up for a young family in San Francisco’s Richmond District conveys this adage. That’s because after living for eight years with an outmoded and cramped kitchen in their 1925 Edwardian, the clients had concrete ideas about the practical requirements for the renovated space. Designers Eva Muller Bradley and Alicia Cheung Lichtenstein brought that vision to life to classic and cool effect.

For starters, the pair removed two walls and reconfigured the kitchen, dining room and family room—merging them into one large, open-plan concept. Now the couple whips up meals and entertains in here, and their three daughters dine and do homework. A concealed appliance garage above the built-in microwave means the Caesarstone countertops can stay clutter-free.

Photography by John Merkl.

A small window in the corner delivers sunlight to indoor herbs. A bar area with ample oak shelving allows for mixing cocktails without impeding culinary duties. The dining table is situated next to the bar, while a sofa is positioned across from the island—further beckoning the girls and guests alike to socialize.

Photography by John Merkl.

The palette throughout draws inspiration from the ocean (the husband is a surfer) and clear skies on a sunny day (the neighborhood is often blanketed by the city’s famous fog).

In the kitchen, studioHEIMAT matched the walls to the blue backsplash tiles from Global Tile Design and painted the island’s base a lighter shade. The rest of the cabinetry is crisp white, adorned with polished nickel hardware. Other metals appear in the room, too: a pair of aged brass pendant lamps by Rejuvenation and leather stools with black waxed iron legs by Four Hands. The project is proof that even the most functional and family-friendly design can exude great style. – Anh-Minh Le