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The kitchen island received blackened steel supports at the seating end, and a marble stone top.

The kitchen is from Ikea and the dining chairs by Arne Jacobsen, but the table is pure Bornstein.

Bornstein and his daughter Velma sit at a table the architect designed himself; the dining chairs were designed by Arne Jacobsen for Fritz Hansen.

Exposed pine dominates the downstairs reception area.

Black and blond are a natural match in Bornstein's largely wooden kitchen.

MIZA Architects completely renovated the Capilano Crescent Residence. Nestled in the trees, the home is filled with light and plenty of space. The black kitchen offers a contemporary contrast to the white walls and light hardwood floors.

The smooth, raven-hued island in this kitchen is made of oak with a thin stone countertop. A Foscarini Gregg Pendant hangs overhead.

The kitchen is located in a bespoke timber joinery unit that divides the “living shed.” The timber has been stained black to contrast with the surrounding timber cladding, and brass counters and backsplashes echo the use of brass details throughout the interior. “Brass was a very special material—used sparingly—that has come to be a hallmark of the project,” says architect Ben Shields.

“We wanted the entry to give a sense of the house without giving too much away—and to draw the eye to the glazed entry gallery and the beach and hills beyond,” says architect Ben Shields. “We also wanted to start to materially tell the story of the house.”

Entry bench and wire-brushed fir wainscoting.

The house may appear conventional at a glance, but a closer look shows how Oostenbruggen has pushed the boundaries of the traditional gabled typology. It has an asymmetrical roof, with slate shingles that extend down the eastern side to close it off completely.

"Around the time we were thinking of moving back [to San Francisco], I took a trip to Marfa, Texas, and fell in love with the agelessness of Donald Judd’s work," says Amy. "I liked the idea of having a classic American reference to the space, since we are influenced as much from America as we are by Asian culture."

The space's neutral palette was intentional, since Amy thought that it would naturally connect with the outdoors. "By keeping things neutral, our space always feels peaceful," he says.

The kitchen countertops are soapstone and the faucet is by Axor.