A Bright + Classic California Kitchen Brings the Outside In

Our Chorro Project is close to the heart. It’s my business partner Kelly’s family home, after all. The remodel concept all started with her and her husband’s dream to move the original, tiny 1950s ranch style kitchen from right off the garage in the middle of the house to the rear of the home—facing out onto their creekside yard anchored by a wise, old Magnolia tree. Here on the Central Coast in California, the Mediterranean climate offers close to year-round indoor-outdoor living + dining opportunities. With three young children running around, and a cooking/hosting/gathering-centric lifestyle, the Lighty family wanted to prioritize the flow from inside to out by opening their kitchen and living space out onto the backyard.

This pivotal change in the floor plan shifted the way they live in their home entirely. Now, the kitchen has a large LaCantina bifold window facing out back, with the kitchen counter slab extending out onto the covered patio as an eat-in bar top for summer popsicles and lemonade, or as pass through / buffet line for serving outdoor dinner parties. The window offers a sink station with views of the kids playing, the beauty of the San Luis Obispo green hillsides, and sunshine and coastal breezes streaming in.

More musings on this beautiful project to come.

xx Emily