Designer Jenni Kayne fell in love with Lake Arrowhead, California, at first sight. Tucked away in the San Bernardino Mountains about two hours from Los Angeles, this quiet community was a welcome departure from the sprawling city she left behind. The area’s sparkling natural scenery and serene temperament presented a comfortable escape to expand her creativity. And while Jenni liked the general atmosphere of cabins surrounding the resort town’s namesake waterway, she preferred the view from one home in particular.

“Nearly every room has a view of the lake, with endless potential to create something special to enhance its natural environment,” she says. “Lake Arrowhead sort of felt like an untapped treasure.”

At the time, the home could only be seen as a place of potential. Set on a cul-de-sac high above the lake with soaring trees as neighbors, the property hadn’t been updated in decades. Windows provided sterling views of the water, but the outdated floor plan and well-worn materials made the home appear to take its perch in the woods too literally.

Before: The Layout

In the kitchen, a slight entrance opened to wraparound wood cabinetry that made the room look dark and closed in. The tarnished hardware and decorative carvings were relics of the past, as were the off-white countertops and matching floors. Nevertheless, Jenni saw what could be done. In her eyes, this 225-square-foot kitchen could one day be a contemporary gathering place complete with the minimalist beauty that defines Jenni’s “California casual” look.

“The kitchen was an important space for us to get just right,” Jenni says. “We hoped it would be a central feature of the house, always filled with homemade meals, fresh produce, and family.”

Before: The Cabinetry

After: The Cabinetry

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Jenni wanted to give the kitchen a “mountain-like feel” without relying on the heavy-handed rustic features that pigeonholed the original design. She and her team hired a local carpenter to custom-make new cabinetry that would fit into the same general footprint, while maximizing light and providing the illusion of spaciousness. Most of the upper cabinetry was swapped for open shelving, and the once-tiled countertops were replaced with smooth marble. Jenni also opted to paint the cabinets in Farrow and Ball's Light Gray for a trendy-yet-classic touch, and she chose chicken wire fronts for a textural finish.

Before: The (Non-Existent) Range

After: The Range

“We loved the way the grey cabinetry played off the white paint throughout most of the other rooms in the house,” she says. “It set the kitchen apart, but also complemented the shade of white we used as well.”

Although there’s much to see in this finished lakeside home currently up for sale—including four bedrooms and baths, a separate bunkhouse, and a private dock—the kitchen could be the reason potential buyers fall in love at first sight. That’s exactly what Jenni hopes people feel, since it’s what she felt when she first gazed at this home’s views.

Before: The Countertops

After: The Countertops

“We saw that with the right updates to brighten the space, it could be completely transformed into an inviting room,” she says. “The kitchen really evolved into the hub of the home.”

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Project Credits:

Interior Design: Meghan Murphy

Builder: Price Builders, John Price

Other: Arrow LA Project Management

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Before & After: Jenni Kayne’s Renovated Lakeside Kitchen Reimagines the “Rustic” Look