When it comes to dream kitchens, bigger is often better, but Next Wave designer Jaqui Seerman knew her clients rarely needed more space. Their 11,000-square-foot (eight bedrooms, 11 bathrooms) home in the Beverly Hills Post Office District, an upscale neighborhood just outside of Beverly Hills, was already big enough. They weren't to their liking, either, with the aesthetic (high-shine finishes, mirrored finishes, Baccarat chandeliers in nearly every room) or the existing kitchen layout, which featured a gigantic T-shaped island.
“The goal was a relaxed, California-style space with a chic vibe. Dinner Party “This kitchen turned out amazing for family and birthday parties alike,” says the Los Angeles-based designer. She opted to replace the unusual island with a more functional rectangle and lay out the appliances in a traditional triangle to make the space more livable for a family that cooks every night. Seaman also bucked the “more is better” mentality by downsizing the space.
Countertop: Marble design by Lopez and Tristone & Tile Inc. cabinet: Dunzo Group Custom Cabinetry & Woodworking, Crunch by Farrow & Ball paint. hardware: Liz's Antique Hardware. Hood Finish: Peter Perez. pendant: Curry & Company. Counter stool: Clamp and squash.
“We decided to downsize the house to create a more intimate breakfast nook for more intimate family meals,” she explains. The layout changes, which involved pushing in a wall in the living room and cutting out a seating area in the previous kitchen, also made room for a dining room that previously didn't exist in the home.
Seaman says the best part about the kitchen itself was the Lacanche range. She came up with a brilliant solution that drastically shortened lead times for an appliance that would have been especially hard hit by COVID-19 delays. “Typically, a range of this size would take 12+ months to manufacture and ship from Europe,” Seaman says. “To speed up the schedule, we worked with Cooper Pacific Kitchens to source two smaller ranges they had in stock. Combining these into one seamless installation not only saved us months of lead time, but also reduced costs and shipping fees.”
On either side of the kitchen is a brand new butler's pantry. This prep space is outfitted with a warming drawer, ice maker, wine refrigerator and additional sink, keeping the main kitchen clutter-free and free of unsightly small countertop appliances. And because entertaining is a big part of weekends and holidays, the pantry includes a custom felt-lined storage drawer for silverware and a cabinet to display china.
paint: Farrow & Ball Wimborne White. Doors and windows: Nana Wall. Plastering: Peter Perez. stone: Tristone & Tile Co., Ltd. Woodworking products: Custom cabinetry and millwork from Danzo Group. pendant: Una Maran. counter Flights: A modern-day antique collector.
To keep the kitchen as clutter-free as possible, less obvious but equally clever storage was added to the main space. “We incorporated built-in spice drawers on either side of the double range, an integrated cutting board with an opening above the trash can for easy scraps, a cabinet with a pop-up KitchenAid mixer stand, and an integrated espresso machine with a little pull-out tray for coffee cups,” says Seaman. Small appliances are stored in cabinets in the garage. The walk-in pantry houses a spare fridge and a kid-friendly freezer (for easy access to popsicles) next to illuminated shelves for dry goods.
Cocktails are a must for any home party, so Seeman designed a custom bar where the couple could show off their cocktail-making skills. “The whole bar is so showy,” Seeman says, “but my favorite part is the window where they serve cocktails to guests poolside.”
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