Nina Compton: My husband‚ Larry Miller‚ and I live in a loft-style apartment above our new restaurant‚ Bywater American Bistro. People think I’m crazy for living upstairs from my work‚ but for me‚ it’s actually convenient. I don’t have to drive anywhere. I can go downstairs and check on people. And if I need a break‚ I can just come upstairs and decompress for ten minutes before going back down. I like it a lot.

The kitchen was already here when we moved in‚ and it’s pretty efficient. We wanted to keep the space open and informal‚ so the main thing we did was buy this wood table. We wanted something that was very simple and approachable. We have breakfast and dinner at it‚ and when I have friends over they can sit at the table and we can just chitchat and cook while nibbling on cheese and drinking some wine.

I’ve also decorated the kitchen with things from all my travels‚ including cookbooks and photos. It may look like a hoarder’s kitchen‚ but those personal accents really make the kitchen what it is.

Make It Yours

Mismatched Dishes: Nina’s collection of china and glassware includes many pieces from her mother’s home in St. Lucia. “Every time I go there‚ she gives me something she’s had for years‚” she says. “It’s about the memory. You can’t buy that.”

Open Storage: “I don’t like to have things hidden‚” says Nina. “I want people to feel my space and the energy of the kitchen.” For that reason‚ she uses a ledge above the kitchen counter to hold pots‚ pans‚ and cookbooks.

World Map: “We got that map because we want to remember all the places we’ve traveled—as well as where we haven’t‚” says Nina. “It’s a daily reminder of places we want to explore. Our goal is to try something different every year.”

French Press: For coffee‚ Nina likes nothing more than a simple French press. “It’s just slowly infused‚ and I think the taste is better‚” she says. “I drink the same thing in the restaurant‚ if I want to treat myself. It’s my reminder that I can slow down just a bit.”

Shop the Look

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Appears In

Kitchens We Love: Newly Minted James Beard Award Winner Nina Compton Shows Her Loft Kitchen