Kitchen & Bath Business April 2021 - 51

STAYING TRUE TO STYLE

Honoring the home's architecture remained the
driving inspiration of the project and helped Davis
make choices about the overall design. Knowing
how her family would live in and use the space
allowed her to tailor it.
" I didn't want it to be a non sequitur for a midcentury modern house, " she said. " By really paying
attention to that, it was easier to arrive at decisions
like the magnolia [paneling], wall tile, terrazzo
floor - those major items - then have fun with
the details. "
She knew she wanted a lot of storage and was
willing to sacrifice island seating to get it. The big
island contains almost all drawer storage with
room for just two bar stools, but her family did
not expect to eat at the island, especially with the
dining room nearby.
" The island is a great prep space, " she said. " We use
the kitchen in every way that we thought we would. "
The island sits in the center of the kitchen,
flanked by parallel walls. One side is tiled with
a stacked-brick backsplash in muted green Fireclay Tile that has a mid-century feel. Davis took
the tile across the hood insert. Below, a red range
makes a bold statement.
Most other appliances are hidden. The refrigerator is located on the other wall behind magnolia paneling that was salvaged from the original
kitchen and reappears in other areas of the house.
In addition to plenty of storage, the paneled wall
has a coffee station nook.
DESIGNING FOR SELF AND FAMILY

Some of the choices Davis made might have
seemed too daring to clients. She got questions
about whether the decision to close in the windows and the black countertops and cabinets
would make the room too dark. It didn't. She took
a gamble on the brass island legs, finding a local
metalworker to make them.

ABOVE Reclaimed magnolia
paneling offers a nod to the
home's architecture.
RIGHT The designer splurged
on Dekton countertops but
loves how durable they are,
and their thin profile is in keeping with the mid-century style
of the house.

Kitchen details like open
shelving, a statement range
and hardware from her own
studio perfectly speak to the
designer's taste.

SOURCES
DESIGNER: Jessica Davis,

Atelier Davis and Nest
Studio; PHOTOGRAPHER:
Emily Followill
BACKSPLASH: Fireclay

Tile; BAR STOOLS &

LIGHTING: Etsy; CABINET
HARDWARE & APPLIANCE
PULLS: Nest Studio;
CABINETS: Custom;

COUNTERTOP: Dekton;

DISHWASHER: Bosch via

AJ Madison; FAUCET:
Brizo; FLOORING:
Terrazzco; HOOD INSERT:
Kobe; MICROWAVE:
Whirlpool via AJ Madison;
RANGE: Smeg via AJ
Madison; REFRIGERATOR:
Fisher & Paykel via AJ
Madison; SINK: Kraus;
SKYLIGHT: Velux

" I didn't have to try to convince myself about what something would look
like, " said Davis. " I know myself and my family better than anyone else, so I
tried to tailor the design to our lifestyle and our needs. "
She is also an expert on the Nest Studio hardware collections because
she designs them. The company was in the process of prototyping the Deco
Collection she chose during the renovation. She incorporated handles, pulls
and large appliance pulls in brass and black finishes.
One aspect that did take a little self-convincing was the addition of open
shelving along the range wall. Although she had wanted to try this feature
in the past, she had been concerned about items getting dusty or greasy, but
she decided to move forward this time.
" The open shelves really highlight the backsplash tile from Fireclay,and I had
my friend Jonathan Castro make a set of hand-thrown dinnerware that I love
showing off on the shelves, " she explained. " I really like the open shelves. The
top shelf is for display and things we don't use that often. " Everyday items are
kept lower, within arm's reach - just where Davis knew they needed to be. 

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Kitchen & Bath Business April 2021

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