Our Focus series shines the spotlight on the details: the extraordinary materials, spaces, and ideas that take great projects to the next level.

It’s not every day that an architecture firm gets to be its own client—and for the office of Tracy A. Stone, designing a new workplace kitchen offered an opportunity to take stock of the past and experiment with new ingredients.

“The goal was to make sure that it spoke the same design language as the rest of the space, which is a converted industrial warehouse,” says designer Abbi Naylor of the Los Angeles–based firm.

They also wanted to pay homage to their roots—before starting her own firm, Tracy A. Stone was a project architect for Ray Kappe, and Naylor notes that the firm’s aesthetic is heavily influenced by Kappe’s midcentury designs and use of natural materials.

“Our previous kitchen had 20-year-old Ikea cabinets,” says Naylor—and the commercial fixtures were simple and utilitarian. While concepting the look and feel of their new kitchen, the team was excited to introduce more color, texture, and materiality into the high-traffic space.

Before: The kitchen’s 20-year-old Ikea cabinets “held up wonderfully over the years...but outlasted their limited functionality,” says designer Abbi Naylor. The team invested in new custom maple wood cabinetry at a cost of $13,200.
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“We wanted to use this project as a case study to try different materials, appliances, and design details,” says Naylor. The team drew inspiration from colorful midcentury kitchens, but added a contemporary twist by mixing wood and stainless steel.

stainless-steel surfaces and maple cabinets with bold pops of color . " layout="" credit="Courtesy of Tracy A. Stone Architect" photoUserId=""/>

The project was originally slated to begin in 2020, but due to pandemic-related delays, the renovation did not get off the ground until 2023. “We were originally quoted $28,817 in 2020,” notes Naylor, “but we ended up spending $37,963.”

$13,200 Cabinets	$4,590 Countertops	$1,650 Plumbing
$2,850 Tile	$475 Paint	$1,250 Demo
$2,401 Overhead	$2,401 Profit	$1,500 Shelves
$270 Garbage Disposal	$983 Dishwasher	$1,209 Compact Fridge
$471 Faucet	$104 Cabinet Hardware	$323 Heath Tile
$304 Trash	$16 Trash Pull	$113 Air Switch Kit
$304 Trash Insert	$2,825 CO1	$725 CO2
Grand Total: $37,964

He attributes the jump in cost to rising construction fees and upgrades in design details. While the project cost more than planned, the team is thrilled with their revamped office kitchen, which nods to the past while looking to the future.

The budget was $28,817 when the team first began the project in 2020, but climbed to $37,963 by the time it was completed in 2023. " layout="wide" credit="Courtesy of Tracy A. Stone Architect" photoUserId=""/>

More Focus stories:

Three Families Tell Us How They Created a Perfect Kitchen

This Wisconsin Lake House Is Sheathed in Tiles Made of Post-Industrial Waste

In London, a Dramatic Blue Stair Amps Up the Allure of an Actor’s Apartment

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: Tracy A. Stone Architect / @tracyastonearchitect

Builder: Donoto Cortes, Cortes Construction LLC

Cabinetry Installation: T.H. Custom Cabinets

Tile Installation: Tile Marble Solutions