A Handcrafted Kitchen Island for a Family-friendly, Chef’s-style Kitchen

The sketch that guided the design from space planning to finish selection.

A handcrafted butcher-block island top was a labor of love that became the heart of the Chorro Project kitchen. When Kelly and I were discussing hard surfaces for the kitchen, we knew we wanted to do an alternative countertop for the island to set it apart from the perimeter counters (which are a very subtly grained white quartz). Kelly’s husband Scott is a woodworking enthusiast and highly skilled craftsman who volunteered for the job of bringing our sketch to life. He spent many hours at his shop constructing this 2” thick maple butcher block top, which is a sentimental stamp on their kitchen design. I love how the blonde maple tones play with the white oak flooring and floating shelves, and the variation in counter materials (color and thickness) adds dimension and layers of texture and warmth to a mostly bright-white kitchen.

With cooking and gathering as priorities for the Lighty family, a cozy, family-friendly chef’s-style kitchen was sketched and designed. Complete with Wolf range, Sub-zero fridge, an oversized Elkay Fireclay sink and plenty of prep space on the food-grade island top, this kitchen is fit for a chef but designed for everyday use. We added thoughtful moments throughout with layered task lighting, a pot filler, and a variety of integrated storage features in the cabinetry (spice pull outs, hidden drawers, and just wait til I show you the sideboard buffet / coffee bar…) to really give this kitchen intentional functionality.

A clean geometric Fireclay tile backsplash was selected very early on in the process for its simple lines and a modern backsplash. A limewash finish from Portola Paints on the hood add subtle texture-play that mirrors the fireplace (also finished in limewash) across the open concept living room on the opposite wall. It’s a beautiful mix of metal finishes (stainless steel, brass, matte black), wood tones, hard materials, and lighting which, together, creates a warm and welcoming kitchen for loved-ones to gather in and enjoy homemade meals.

More musings on this beautiful project to come.

xx Emily