Athena Calderone Is Swapping Her Marble Kitchen For Onyx and Cherry

Jenni Kayne, a Los Angeles-based designer known for her California style, completed a two-year gut renovation of her Santa Ynez ranch in March 2022. The 20-acre property, which serves as a weekend refuge, was inspired by architect Cliff May's iconic California ranches and holds sentimental value for Kayne, who spent her childhood visiting her godmother's ranch in the area. Although Santa Ynez has seen increased popularity with new tasting rooms, restaurants, and stores, Kayne believes it has retained its charm, describing it as a "baby Napa" with vineyards, olive groves, lavender fields, farms, and livestock. She also maintains a rescue donkey and a mini horse, as well as retired horses, on the property. Kayne's renovation focused on preserving the natural surroundings and the architectural integrity of the original structure. While some square footage was added, the core of the home was maintained, with significant interior updates. The kitchen, for instance, was transformed from a space with tangerine floors and countertops into a serene, light-filled area featuring a soothing palette of white, gray, and taupe. This redesigned kitchen now offers sweeping views of the Californian countryside, making daily tasks like cooking and dishwashing more enjoyable. Kayne's vision for the ranch was to create a beautiful, clean, and neutral California ranch aesthetic with an open floor plan, pitched roofs, and a natural color palette. The renovation involved stripping the house down to its studs, opening up ceilings and walls to maximize natural light and views. The previously sunken living room with carpet and drop ceilings was transformed into an airy space, revealing the original pitched, wooden roof. The small, dark kitchen was also expanded to become an open, functional area with an adjacent family room and expansive views, which Kayne considers her favorite room. The kitchen's design was inspired by Plain English, aiming for bespoke cabinetry that fit the ranch vibe. Kayne opted for a darker paint color for the cabinets while maintaining brightness with white Moroccan tiles for the backsplash and a pale stone countertop. The walls feature Portola Paint in Gem with a Roman Clay finish, creating a plaster effect that is both effortless and traditional. Open shelving in the kitchen displays Kayne's ceramic collection, making the space feel functional and inviting. A La Cornue CornuF 90 Albertine Induction Range serves as a focal point, described as the "jewelry of the kitchen." Kayne emphasizes meticulous organization and the use of high-quality accessories, such as an enamel bucket with an Amber Interiors bottle brush and natural dish soap from Koala Eco. Sentimental items, like a wooden dough bowl from her godmother’s ranch and Victoria Morris ceramics, add personal touches. For home décor, Kayne sources from 1stDibs for vintage items, Black Creek Mercantile, BDDW, and auctions. Her friend's online vintage curation, Galerie Provenance, also provides unique accessories. The ranch's furnishings are primarily Jenni Kayne Home products, with about 10% sourced from other designers to create a lived-in, authentic feel. Regarding white and cream furniture, Kayne advises using slipcovered sofas that can be removed for cleaning. She also suggests using painter’s drop cloths, softened by washing, to protect furniture during gatherings or from pets. To infuse California style into any home, Kayne recommends embracing effortlessness, using linen furniture, lighter woods, lightening wall colors, or bleaching floors. Bringing nature indoors through fresh flowers or olive branches is also a key element of her design philosophy, promoting a connection to the natural environment regardless of location. #JenniKayne #SantaYnezRanch #CaliforniaChic #HomeDesign #InteriorDesign #RenovationProject #NeutralPalette #CaliforniaStyle #LifestyleBrand

Alex Bass, founder of Salon 21, an education and commerce platform for the art world, showcases how she curated a sophisticated yet youthful dining nook within her West Village studio apartment. Her approach reflects the same philosophy as Salon 21: a blend of traditional concepts with a contemporary, youthful twist. Bass skillfully partitioned her studio into distinct areas without structural walls, utilizing creative staging to define each space. The dining nook, a key focus, features a marble table and Cesca chairs, complemented by a gallery wall and an antique mirror, strategically placed to enhance the room's perceived size and openness. The article delves into Bass's design process, emphasizing how she created this particular nook to be both stylish and highly practical for small-space living. Bass highlights the importance of natural light and the pre-war architectural details of her studio, such as archways and iron-paned windows, which inspired her furniture and decor choices. She aimed to integrate pieces that matched the inherent sophistication of the apartment, opting for a neutral and warm color palette in the dining nook to foster a sense of focus and relaxation. This deliberate choice contrasts with the more vibrant colors used in her living and bedroom areas. The space is designed for dual functionality, serving as both a workspace with a drop-down desk and a dining area, demonstrating her commitment to practicality in a compact environment. Her design philosophy for small spaces revolves around being decisive and maximizing utility without accumulating clutter. A core tenet of Bass's design approach is the strategic mixing of colors, textures, and styles. While the nook predominantly features muted tones, rusted golds, and browns to create a classic, luxurious feel, she introduces an orange basketball planter for a subtle pop of color, connecting it to other pieces on her bar cart. She stresses that the most crucial element in design is the juxtaposition of old and new elements. For instance, she pairs mid-century modern metal, wood, and cane Cesca chairs with a simple white marble slab table, achieving a modern aesthetic. This blend of styles, she argues, is essential for creating intrigue and balance in a space. Her appreciation for 'older' design, exemplified by her love for the Breuer-inspired chairs that evoke childhood memories, informs her ability to integrate vintage pieces with modern twists, such as the burl wood cabinet that perfectly fits the space. The gallery wall in the dining nook holds personal significance, featuring seven film photographs taken by Bass herself, given to her by her mother as a gift for her first apartment. These photographs, framed in brushed metallic, were carefully placed around an antique mirror, demonstrating how she adapted existing decor to fit a new layout. This process of re-evaluating and re-positioning items when moving into a new space, considering both style and logistics, is a practical aspect she emphasizes. Bass also shares her sourcing strategies, preferring to independently scour the internet and enjoy the hunt for vintage pieces. She highlights Overstock.com for good deals on items like her Cesca chairs and praises Etsy for its array of high-quality vintage finds, including the drop-down desk/armoire and various light fixtures she has personalized throughout her apartment. Finally, Bass discusses her intentional approach to maintaining a clean and functional table space. She uses candlesticks for ambient lighting during meals and keeps fresh flowers, a reminder of the outside world, especially during the pandemic. Her philosophy, inspired by a high school English teacher, advocates for dedicated spaces for different activities—working at the desk, sleeping in bed, and eating at the table—to maintain mental clarity and prevent clutter from encroaching on relaxing areas. This intentional separation of functions contributes to the overall tranquility and efficiency of her studio apartment's design. #StudioApartment #SmallSpaceLiving #InteriorDesign #DiningNook #HomeDecor #ArtDealer #VintageFurniture #ModernDesign #SpacePlanning

The article details the transformation of 20-year-old maple kitchen cabinets into a bold, earthy green, drawing inspiration from celebrity kitchens. The homeowners, Meezan and her husband, had inherited a kitchen with light-colored maple cabinets and white countertops that, while functional, lacked personality and aesthetic appeal after two decades. The couple aimed to update the space to better reflect their style without undergoing a full kitchen renovation. Their primary goal was to introduce color and a sense of warmth to the kitchen. Meezan was particularly inspired by a green kitchen she saw in Dakota Johnson’s Architectural Digest video, appreciating the bold yet serene quality of the color for a frequently used space. This inspiration led them to choose a rich, earthy green hue for their cabinet makeover. The renovation process began with the careful selection of a specific green paint. They opted for "Billiard Green" by Behr, a deep olive tone that evokes a natural, organic feel. The next step involved preparing the existing maple cabinets for painting. This included thoroughly cleaning the surfaces, sanding them down to ensure proper paint adhesion, and applying a primer to create a smooth, even base. Precision and attention to detail during this preparatory phase were crucial for achieving a professional and long-lasting finish. Once the cabinets were painted, the couple focused on updating the hardware to complement the new color scheme. They replaced the original chrome hardware with brushed brass pulls and knobs. This choice of hardware adds a touch of sophistication and warmth, creating a harmonious contrast with the deep green cabinets and enhancing the overall earthy aesthetic. The new hardware not only serves a functional purpose but also acts as a decorative element, elevating the design of the kitchen. Beyond the cabinets and hardware, the renovation also involved minor cosmetic changes to integrate the new look. While the countertops were kept white, the combination of green cabinets and brass accents significantly altered the kitchen's visual appeal. The overall transformation resulted in a kitchen that feels refreshed, modern, and personal, moving away from its previous dated appearance. Meezan expresses satisfaction with the new green color, noting how it brings joy to her daily routines in the kitchen. #GreenKitchen #MapleCabinets #KitchenMakeover #HomeRenovation #InteriorDesign #DIYProject #EarthyTones #BehrPaint