Photography by Lauren Moore, courtesy of Studio Ritz Rabin (@studioritzrabin).
Last January, architects Annie Ritz and Daniel Rabin decided it was time to put their 1949 bungalow in LA’s Silver Lake on the market.
The gambit worked the bungalow sold right away the couple whose individual résumés include working for Herzog de Meuron XTEN Architecture and Barbara Bestor have recently opened...
...their own firm Studio Ritz Rabin and the project was a finalist in the recent Remodelista Considered Design Awards 2017 in the Best Kitchen Space Professional category
The architects introduced a minimalist, carefully crafted kitchen that Remodelista awards judge Sam Hamilton describes as “both Swedish and Japanese in sensibility. Joyful.” The unexpected detail?
Working within the existing kitchen footprint, the architects introduced a prominent skylight over the island and anchored the breakfast nook with a large square window that overlooks a tree in a planter (lesson: create your own view).
“The windows and skylight were a big part of the design, so for us the palette was: blush pink, copper, oak, and greenery brought in from the outside,” explains Ritz.
To keep the counters clear, the architects incorporated plenty of closed storage.
“Pink looks different throughout the day as the light shifts.” After settling on A Touch Of Pink from Benjamin Moore, they subtly diluted it by mixing in 20 percent Benjamin Moore Atrium White, one of our Architects’ White Paint Picks.
The metallic accents are provided by a Jewel Wall-Mount Lavatory Faucet in brushed copper, $375.79 from eFaucets, and Hamilton Bowes 1-Inch Satin Round Copper Round Cabinets Knobs, $4.49 on Etsy.
Getting all the details right takes finessing.
“Then I decided the kitchen needed more contrast and custom-painted them black at the last minute.”
The island is detailed with oak cabinets.
Original to the house, the floor is 2.5-inch red oak: “It was in great shape, but finished in a high gloss with orange hues,” says Ritz.
The kitchen opens to the living room. For help on choosing the right paint color, see Expert Advice: The 10 Best Pink Paints.