When creating this kitchen in a brand-new home on San Francisco’s Gold Coast, architect and interior designer Richard Felix-Ashman of Handel Architects faced an age-old design problem. “In new construction, interiors can feel so immediate,” he says. “We were looking for something layered and sophisticated.”

The goal was accomplished by a deft mix of materials and styles. “Old homes have different finishes that have been assembled over time,” Felix-Ashman says. “We replicated that.” To that end, the architect broke a rule that many designers adhere to: He mixed metals. In this kitchen, polished stainless steel, brushed stainless steel, blackened metal, anodized aluminum and glowing brass live together. “Out in the world, you see a mix of metals and they don’t clash,” says Felix-Ashman.

In terms of style, the modern Bulthaup cabinetry built with fumed oak and anodized aluminum and wall ovens exist side by side with
a traditional Lacanche range done in stainless steel and brass accents. “This range is made for real cooks, and it looks very classic,” says Felix- Ashman. “But because it is crafted with stainless steel, it fits here. In fact, it anchors the space.”

Bespoke details include an Arabescato Oro marble countertop with a unique edge, a custom range hood with insets of back-painted glass, and dramatic legs made of 18/10 stainless steel on the end of the island. The sum total makes for a kitchen that’s truly one of a kind.