Hot Take: Marble Actually Has Easier Upkeep Than Synthetic Stone Countertops
And more surprises from this Venice Beach kitchen project.
PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMY BARTLAM
Published on June 19, 2021
Designer Stefani Stein came onto her client’s California new build later than she would have liked—by two whole years. By then the opportunity to nix unflattering downlights and adjust awkward window placements had come and gone. To top it off, the townhouse’s Venice Beach location meant a heap of strict building codes to follow. Her trick to softening all the utilitarian newness: adding warm, earthy details and antique accents. For this 160-square-foot kitchen, that included everything from Arabescato Orobico countertops to sculptural lighting.
Don’t: Forget About Mood Lighting
Downlights without dimmers lack in the ambience department; Stein likens their effect to an office or cafeteria. “To me, lighting is everything,” she says. By hiding her client’s blender and toaster in a quasi-appliance garage and freeing up counter space, she could incorporate a large table lamp—her go-to finishing touch, not to mention essential for the crucial transition from meal prep to cocktail hour.
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