68 BEAUTIFUL KITCHENS & BATHS

Tall cabinets flank the sink to create symmetry along the back wall. Homeowner and designer Sarah Robertson extended the cabinets from countertop to ceiling to maximize storage and reclaim rarely used corner space. Upper cabinet doors are outfitted with hand-patinaed brass mesh to enforce the vintage-industrial aesthetic.

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WRITER Jess ica BennettPHOTOS Tria GiovanSTYLIST Anna Molvik FIELD EDITOR Karen Reinecke

A kitchen designer puts a decade of experience to work in her own home to create a bespoke blend of storage and style.

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WHAT MAKES A KITCHEN TRULY EXTRAVAGANT? Abundant natural light, beautiful

surfaces, and high-end appliances may play a part, but kitchen

designer Sarah Robertson has a more pragmatic answer: storage.

Beneath its sophisticated veneer, Sarah’s own kitchen packs

a trove of clever storage solutions that expand the capacity and

functionality of every drawer and cabinet. Wood racks mounted

inside cabinet doors hold spices, diagonal drawer dividers sort

pans and lids, and a toe-kick drawer pulls out to create a feeding

station for the family cat, Misty.

Divided into distinct work zones, the kitchen leaves no square

inch unused but makes no sacrifices on style. A warm mix of aged

metals and richly stained walnut imparts a timeless character that

feels perfectly at ease in Sarah’s 1920s Craftsman home, which has

been in her husband Bruce’s family since 1940.

When Sarah, Bruce, and their two sons moved in, the

kitchen, last renovated in the 1980s, revealed its age with a

choppy layout, dim lighting, and dated fixtures. To update the

space for her modern family, Sarah put her 10 years of kitchen

design experience to use in a gut renovation of the home’s main

level. She relocated the kitchen to the back of the house, where

new black-framed windows capture sunlight-dappled views of

the planWide clearances and defined zones for cooking, cleanup, prep work, and breakfast time ease traffic flow for the family of four. Three walls of expansive windows flood the U-shape space with natural light, while deep undercounter drawers and tall corner wall cabinets manage storage needs. Stools at the island invite kids and grown-up guests to join in on the cooking and conversation.

BELOW: Echoing the charcoal tones of the Jet Mist granite perimeter countertops, dark grout makes the 1×6-inch Carrara marble tiles pop on the full-wall backsplash. “You get a lot more impact out of the tile by extending it all the way up to the ceiling,” Sarah says. “It’s something I always try to convince my clients to do.” BOTTOM: Diagonal dividers keep pans and lids organized and easy to grab inside an extra-deep drawer in the island. The cabinetry’s dark-stained walnut interiors repeat the island countertop’s finish.

THIS PHOTO: A large range hood would have obstructed views of the backyard, so Sarah opted for a ceiling-mount ventilation system. She had the oven door powder-coated to match the zinc-look refrigerator panel.

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DESIGNER INSIGHTS:MIXING METALSKitchen designer Sarah Robertson shares her secrets to a metal mix that looks effortlessly polished. • Don’t overthink it. “A design can handle a lot more mixing than people might think,” she says. The mixed-metal effect looks most natural when you don’t scrutinize the assortment too closely. Go with your gut and forget about matching each element exactly.

• Work in multiples. The most important rule to follow, Sarah says, is to avoid isolating a finish in just one spot. Repeat each type of metal on at least one other fixture or accessory so it doesn’t look like a mistake.

• Look for authenticity. Time-honored metals that feel authentic to the home, such as aged brass or polished nickel, usually form a more cohesive mix than ultra-modern finishes. “I don’t think chrome is very good at mixing,” she says. “Nickel is much warmer, so it mixes well with anything.” When shopping for hardware and fixtures, check the quality to ensure it’s real metal, not a faux finish.

LIGHT IS REALLY IMPORTANT IN ANY ROOM, BUT ESPECIALLY IN A SPACE WHERE YOU SPEND A LOT OF TIME, LIKE THE KITCHEN. IT JUST MAKES THE SPACE FEEL MORE ALIVE. — S A R A H R O B E R T S O N , H O M E O W N E R A N D D E S I G N E R

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the backyard on three sides, taking full advantage of the southern

exposure that was formerly lost on a windowless powder room and

Bruce’s office. “The addition of the windows added so much light to

the rest of the house,” Sarah says. “It was absolutely transformative.”

The move also opened up the formerly closed-off kitchen to the

adjacent dining area and family room. “Now while I’m cooking in

the kitchen, I can talk to my husband in the family room or the kids

while they’re doing homework at the table,” Sarah says. To further

facilitate the flow, she opted for extra-wide clearances around the

island so all four family members can work in the kitchen without

stumbling over one another.

When choosing fixtures and materials, Sarah stayed true to her

vision for a space that artfully blends styles—including midcentury

modern, industrial, farmhouse, and contemporary—but retains its

sense of authenticity. If she couldn’t find the exact material or finish

she was looking for, she kept hunting—or fashioned it herself.

Her unwillingness to compromise paid off. At just around

250 square feet, this kitchen is a master class in space planning—

extravagant in the best sense of the word.

Resources begin on page 108.

OPPOSITE: After searching high and low for brass hardware to match the home’s original light switch covers, Sarah finally spotted the perfect pulls while on a family vacation in London. She stripped the cast brass pulls herself to achieve the precise unlacquered look she desired. LEFT: Metal-laminate panels disguise the refrigerator and toe-kicks with the look of aged zinc. A walnut-accented appliance garage conceals the microwave. BELOW: An avid tea-drinker, Sarah designed a custom pullout organizer to house an array of teas and hot-beverage accoutrements beneath the microwave.