Sometimes when the kitchen comes across from my desk, I just stop and stare. The truth is, there are a lot of kitchens. But there's something very cozy about this transitional, old-meets-new kitchen in Tarzana, California.
The second phase of a complete home renovation by vintage-loving designer Emily Brownell, founder of interior design firm Gilded Hearth, this colorful kitchen-diner-living room is full of charm. Designed to serve as a modern chef's kitchen for a vibrant family, it feels decidedly far removed from a functional kitchen.
Inspired by the colors found in spring gardens, Emily injected touches of navy and terracotta through natural stone countertops, and with blooming flowers in mind in her styling, weaving a strong connection to nature throughout the space. Ta. Here, Emily takes us on a journey behind this space and how she collaborated with the unexpected to create a family-friendly space full of color and flavor.
Take a peek inside the charming kitchen, which combines living room and diner.
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
The client approached Emily knowing this would be a multi-step process, starting with the renovation of the main bathroom and master bedroom. It all required complete guts. But with a baby on the way and new remote work (thanks to the pandemic), the couple also needed to transform her third bedroom into a Zoom-friendly space.
Phase 2, the kitchen space, was scheduled to begin in spring 2024, but unexpected rodent and flooring issues that needed to be addressed pushed the project forward, leaving the Gilded Hearth team with a very tight work schedule. Even though it was tight, I got to work. and. The complete kitchen-diner design took her four and a half months to complete, and it was a true labor of love for designer Emily. So let's see how she made it happen.
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
Not having enough square footage in her home, Emily decided on an open-plan kitchen layout with a dining room and lounge area that would entertain the whole family at once. A navy sofa reflects the navy island, and a terracotta coffee table matches the painted stucco hood, all forming the space's color scheme with tones drawn from the natural stone countertops. .
“We took down an entire wall with a non-working chimney and an old indoor grill to open it up to living space and make the island available to a family who loves to cook,” she explains. “The way this space functions now has changed dramatically and works much better,” she continues. “The family now has an easy-to-access pantry area, a refrigerator that can be opened without bumping into drawers, and a stove and island that can fit two chefs. And the best part is that it can accommodate many family gatherings. is.”
Emily's layering of lighting and rugs helps zone and define different areas, while also tying the space together with a unifying thread. “I'm a big fan of layered lighting. The sconces are custom powder-coated to match the island's navy, and everything is dimmable. One of our client's favorite stores is Anthropologie, so The chandelier in the room is from there and pairs perfectly with the island pendant.”
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
The standout feature of this space is the blue quartzite kitchen countertop. NAVY KITCHEN Sitting proudly atop his island was the starting point for designer Emily's entire plan.
“This stone was the first choice and is a wonderful quartzite from which many of the colors come from, including navy and terracotta,” explains Emily. “This stone caught my eye in an email from a local supplier. It looked so nice and I knew it would be the perfect hard-working stone for this family. The entire space was devoted to their preparation and cooking. , inspired by how we nourish our families, and I love that full-circle moment.”
“Initially, they wanted a more common white style stone and were hesitant about my slightly bold vision, but when the client went to see the stone in person, we ordered two pieces on the spot. We booked the slab and sat with the manufacturer for almost two years during that time, waiting to move into the kitchen.”
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
Emily paired the countertop with rustic tile under the window, but wanted the stripes behind the stove to extend over the wall and into the hood. But it wasn't without drama.
“I had a template pre-made with the manufacturer so that the big dramatic veins would be front and center at the back of the oven, but when I received the draft they book-matched it and… '' Emily explains. Describe how the slab is mirrored in patterns and stripes to create a continuous flow. “I jumped on them to make sure they didn't do something like that and had them retemplate the veins to look exactly like they would in nature. That's my favorite element in this space.”
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
The schedule was so tight that the team had to abandon custom cabinetry, but that doesn't mean they didn't get creative with their kitchen cabinet ideas.
“We were able to give it a custom feel with small details like the oak apron on the navy blue island and the vintage hutch that was converted into an appliance garage,” explains Emily. A full-height pantry cupboard fits neatly into a corner for more practical storage. “We ditched the trendy idea of open kitchen shelving and moved the pantry to the back wall to improve ventilation.”
“Since we weren't able to fully custom the kitchen cabinets and island, we decided to give it more of a semi-custom feel by using vintage parts and incorporating larger freestanding units.”
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
“Our initial idea was to source vintage oak or pine cabinets, but this one came up from a local vendor so we jumped on it,” says Emily. “The depth was perfect to line up with the cabinets, and the color was something we considered in our very original design before custom cabinets were ruled out. That was what was intended.”
If you're wondering how to incorporate vintage items into your kitchen, a freestanding pantry is the perfect way to inject personality and practicality. “I think tall vertical cupboards or sheds make good use of space and add warmth in modern kitchens,” Emily explains. “Local antique stores, online sites like 1st Dibs and Chairish, or following small antique sellers on Instagram (as in this case) are great ways to source items to decorate with vintage. is.”
“We replaced the hardware with ceramic pieces that fit the hood, and had the contractor add electrical outlets and lots of shelves and hooks for things like mugs. It now houses a coffee station, wine bar, and some pantry items,” Emily explains.
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
A lucky vintage find inspired them to infuse the space with sage green, a hue the client had always been drawn to. But it was used in a much more unexpected way than the typical green kitchen idea. Emily elaborates. “The beams have been painted several times in the past, most recently painted white by the client. Normally we would have stripped down to the raw wood, but that wasn't the case for this project.”
“Instead, by pulling color from vintage cabinetry and incorporating it into the curtains, beams, and accent ceiling, we were able to add interest and cohesiveness to the otherwise eclectic space,” says Emily. continues. “Once we installed the cabinets, we knew we had to paint the beams a color to match. It was Benjamin Herb Herb Bouquet.”
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
We were talking about the similar color of the stucco finish on the range hood.
To transform the range hood into a stylish feature, Emily turned to the veins in the stone with tones of terracotta and burgundy running throughout, so she chose that thread in the painted hood using Benjamin Moore's Coyote Trail I decided to. “It looks like copper, but up close it's a very textured, warm and delicious plaster, topped with a sealer made specifically for kitchen hoods,” Emily explains. Masu.
(Image credit: Gilded Hearth / Photography Charlotte Lea)
Keen to include the same vibrancy that Emily witnessed in her clients' blooming gardens, the interior designers seemed to nod to their love of flowers in subtle ways of styling.
“When it comes to styling, many of the pieces are vintage and sourced to add the final touches to the vision,” says Emily. “Items include Ming vases, French tableware holders, and of course vintage rugs and oven runners.”
“At first we installed some floating shelves, but we realized that enclosed storage was really best for this family, so we added some wall art to the kitchen instead to give it a more playful and homely feel. “I decided to do it,” she continues. “The kitchen art speaks to the beautiful sea of color in their garden.”
“With all the other focal elements, like the beams, bonnet, and stone, we wanted the backsplash to be quieter, but not just your typical subway tile,” she explains. “So we chose Tilebar's rustic ceramic tiles and used pine moldings painted the same color as the beams to create the border. To bring out even more personality, we created the café with block-print fabric from India. I made curtains.”
Emily Brownell founded Gilded Hearth in 2018 after working at Homepolish and graduating from Syracuse University. Emily loves finding the perfect item for your home, and your home alone. When she's not creating unique interiors, Emily is enjoying the California sunshine with her husband and her two young children.
Blue bloom sugar bowl with lid
Navy Check Oven Mitt Pair
Thanks to her keen eye for vintage and love of color, Emily was able to provide this family with a versatile, transitional kitchen space full of character. Simple cabinetry gives way to a striking blue marble countertop, bringing the room and color scheme to life. Star of the show? Beams painted sage green. This is a real example of how bold design choices really pay off.
