Past Perfect
Author:Lindsey ShookThis kitchen lives in a graceful, 1902 era Edwardian building near San Francisco’s Lafayette Park. However, the kitchen was closer to the Mediterranean in its aesthetic. The owner hired interior designer Will Adams of Will Adams Design to made the room speak to the era of the building, but also be modern in it’s outlook and function.
“It had a Tuscan style, and it out of place for the building,” says Adams. “It also had weird angles and jogs. We wanted to make the layout more functional and modern, but also be respectful to the architectural style of the home.”
The client wanted gray cabinets, so the designer started there. For the main kitchen, he selected Wood-Mode cabinets with a classic panel on the doors and drawers. For a bright contrast, he installed an aqua tile that matches the fireplace tile in the adjacent dining room.
Other features also make the room feel traditional. The designer “framed” the cooktop and range in a hearth-like way. He also opted to forego recessed lighting, installing a central fixture from Rejuventation and long, library-style sconces along the top of one wall. “The lack of recessed lighting make it look authentic, and we also avoided that Swiss cheese look,” Adams says.
The brass hardware is unlacquered, so it will patina over time. “It will seem like the hardware has always been part of the space,” Adams says.
Two features on either end of the room are notable. In what was probably once the butler’s pantry, Adams installed a home office, also crafted from Wood-Mode products, that folds away to hide the modern-day technology. The bright blue lacquer is Hague Blue from Farrow & Ball. On the other end of the space, the designer installed a petite, but high-backed banquette seat. “It’s meant to feel like a cozy banquette you’d find in a restaurant,” he says. The small cabinet on the end has a mail sorting drawer and a charging station. “People are always going to congregate in a kitchen,” he says. “And now there’s a space here for that.”
