2021 Design Awards: Kitchen Design by Cooper Pacific Kitchens
Author:Abigail StoneTHE RENOVATION ON the Bel Air home was well underway and the kitchen had been completely gutted by the time Steven Cooper of Cooper Pacific Kitchens arrived. “They hadn’t been able to find a design they loved,” he recalls. “We’re entirely custom so we have complete flexibility and innovation in what we do.”
Cooper found inspiration for his work in the interior’s hand-painted Portuguese tiles in dusty blue tones. “They were central to the home’s look, so we began there,” he says, “Then we considered the appliances because they define the space.” A 60-inch BlueStar range commands the cooking area, which also includes Wolf ’s speed and steam ovens and a warming drawer, all features the husband—a skilled chef—desired. “We chose it because it comes out of the commercial world and in that very specific color,” says Cooper.
Solid oak worktops with integrated chopping blocks round out this zone. “Then it’s a big family, so they need tons of refrigeration,” says Cooper. To accomplish this task, he chose a mix of Sub-Zero’s towers, drawers, wine storage and under-counter pieces. “It’s a big suite of stuff,” says Cooper, who commandeered an adjacent pantry to ensure everything fit. The soft tones of the cabinetry’s bleached cherry with hand-applied stain finish echoes those found in the courtyard just beyond the room’s large windows. Organic touches, including hand- forged iron bands encircling the islands, a backsplash crafted from a marble-etched ink tile discovered at Creative Environments and durable gold-flecked Taj Mahal quartzite counters, complement the modern elements. “Successful kitchen design is a delicate balance of beauty and craftsmanship, excitement and efficiency,” says Cooper. “It’s both a working space and an entertainment space and it needs to make sense with the overall flow of the home. It’s a lot of boxes to check.” Cooper’s expertise ticks them off with substance and style to spare.