When I moved to Marin a while back (with one husband and three young children) after a stint in Los Angeles, I found myself longing for a loft-style kitchen. In keeping with the spirit of urban imperfection (and budgetary concerns), I sought out purveyors of reclaimed building materials: our battered maple factory flooring came from Restoration Timber in Northern California (and cost less than $6 a square foot) and our lighting consists of a trio of factory lights from P.W. Vintage Lighting in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. I haunted the seconds room at Heath Ceramics in Sausalito during our remodel, in search of one-off materials (backsplash tiles, dinnerware, canning jars). It's not Soho, but it's close.
Architecture by Kenneth Holder of Holder Design Associates; photos by John Merkl.
Above: After many visits to Heath, I accumulated stacks of Chez Panisse dinnerware (seconds and thirds). The Magno Radio, designed by Singgih Kartono for Areaware, is made of sustainably grown wood ($270 at Design Public) and is ideal for listening to NPR while cooking. The New Warm White backsplash tiles are from Heath, set in French Gray grout.
Above: I specified brushed stainless Decora Switchplates from Leviton ($10.44 at Amazon) throughout the kitchen.
Above: We installed stainless bullnose countertops and shelves (sourced from Lambertson Industries) and cabinets pulls from Hafele. Stacks of French Picardie Glass Tumblers are stored in easy reach; Williams-Sonoma offers a set of 24 glasses in various sizes for $79 (down from $93). The Stainless Steel Compost Pail is currently on sale at Williams-Sonoma for $29.95 (down from $45).
Above: The Cain Counter Stools are from Staach and the reclaimed factory lights are from P.W. Vintage Lighting.
Above: The microwave and cutting boards are tucked away beneath the sink in the kitchen island.
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