Kitchen

Most of the furnishings are secondhand or otherwise creatively sourced. The desk in Léontine’s bedroom was picked up at a technical school in Caen, where it was a cabinetmaking student’s final project. The used dining table was bought online, and half of the chairs came from a Parisian bar that was being renovated, the other half from a charity flea market. The 1930s armchair in the living area, colorfully reupholstered, belonged to Isabelle’s grandparents.

Antique teak cabinetry in the kitchen and dining area brings a warm atmosphere.

"Maintaining sight lines to the outdoors and the adjacent den, we introduced a connectivity that transforms the kitchen into the center of family life,

Ultra-compact apartment with versatile custom-made carpentry furniture.

Ultra-compact apartment with versatile custom-made carpentry furniture.

The kitchen contains a hidden door leading to the primary suite.

To accommodate an island in the kitchen, they moved an interior wall. “It was the only wall that was relocated,” says Scott.

The kitchen contains countertops and backsplash in stainless steel, which offers a muted softness to the space. "The stainless steel has a very thin profile, so it continues that theme of delicate, light expression which we wanted for the house,

Apart from the kitchen, which was renovated in 1997, the home is all original.

Bertoia side chairs and an Aplomb pendant by Foscarini complete the dining area.

They selected panel-ready appliances from Fisher and Pico for a modern, slick look. Carlos was also adamant on opting for an induction cooktop: “I'm sorry to all the people who consider themselves home chefs, but I'm a big fan of induction. I cook quesadillas and scrambled eggs. I'm not making beef bourguignon,” says Carlos. "My friends have all these beautiful six-burner Viking stoves and it's like everything falls into the stove. Cleaning it is a nightmare. I'm all about efficiency. So I just finish cooking, spray it down, move on, and it looks great.”

The interiors, by Francesca's Interlude Studio, feature simple maple cabinetry and concrete floors.

The new stainless-steel kitchen is fitted with cabinetry and appliances and includes a floating island with a burner and drawers to conceal pots and pans. It’s set on wheels so Martin and Andrew can rotate it to free up floor space as needed while entertaining.

“Using only wood to form a cabinet results in artistic moments. Diagonals read as decorative, but these strong triangles are necessary when you’re not using plywood,” Caleb says. “It’s pure joy to use the kitchen, knowing that all parts of it are built with meaning and without compromise.

“Cocktail hour is sacred,” says Roberta. So, in a storage wall (shared by the living area on one side and the kitchen on the other) Bjorngaard tucked in an elegant bar (with a French Pyrolave lava stone counter and backsplash) that has everything she needs for drink service.

“Barbecue season never ends,” says Liz, explaining how they live with such a small kitchenette. “We even made a cake out there.”

In the kitchen, designers Alfie Koetter and Luke Studebaker worked with woodworker Aaron Hauser of Mason Haus to create custom new millwork inspired by the look and feel of the original cabinetry. Hauser sourced sequence matched natural birch that was rotary cut to create the cabinets.