Project Spotlight: Modern Kitchen in Beverly Hills

The Brief

Our clients had purchased a mid-century home in the Beverly Hills flats with beautiful bones but a kitchen that hadn’t been updated since the 1990s. They wanted a space that honored the home’s architectural character while delivering a fully modern cooking and entertaining experience.

The existing kitchen was closed off from the dining and living areas, had limited natural light, and featured outdated cabinetry and appliances. The homeowners — avid cooks who entertain regularly — needed a kitchen that could keep up with their lifestyle.

Design Approach

We began with the architecture. The home’s post-and-beam construction allowed us to open the kitchen to the dining and living areas without compromising structural integrity. A new 18-foot steel beam replaced the load-bearing wall, creating an expansive open-concept space that maintained the home’s clean mid-century lines. We worked closely with a structural engineer to ensure the beam was concealed within the ceiling plane, preserving the original roofline the homeowners loved.

The material palette was carefully curated to bridge the home’s mid-century DNA with contemporary warmth. We selected rift-sawn white oak for the cabinetry — its straight, consistent grain is a hallmark of mid-century furniture — finished with a natural matte Rubio Monocoat oil that enhances the wood’s golden tone without adding sheen. The countertops are Calacatta Borghini quartzite, chosen for its soft gold and taupe veining that complements the warmth of the oak without competing for attention. Brushed brass Kallista fixtures and hardware thread through the space, tying together the sink, faucet, cabinet pulls, and open shelving brackets. The result is a palette that feels distinctly European in its restraint while honoring the home’s California heritage.

The 10-foot island anchors the space with a waterfall quartzite edge and integrated storage.

The Island

The centerpiece of this kitchen is a 10-foot island clad in book-matched Calacatta Borghini quartzite with a dramatic waterfall edge on both ends. It houses a secondary prep sink (a Julien stainless undermount), integrated trash and recycling pull-outs, and a 36-inch Wolf induction cooktop. The opposite side features a 16-inch cantilevered overhang for casual seating — three Bensen Counter stools tuck beneath it — creating the spot where our clients say they spend most of their time. Internally, the island contains 14 linear feet of drawer storage, all fitted with custom walnut organizer inserts for utensils, spices, and cookware.

Materials & Specifications

Appliance Integration

The appliance suite was designed for invisible integration. Panel-ready Sub-Zero refrigeration columns flank a full-height pantry, creating a seamless wall of cabinetry. A Wolf double wall oven sits at ergonomic height, while a Miele dishwasher disappears behind a matching panel. The only visible appliance is the statement La Cornue range hood — a sculptural element that doubles as the room’s focal point when viewed from the living area. According to Architectural Digest, this approach to appliance concealment is now standard practice in high-end residential kitchens, as homeowners prioritize architectural cohesion over brand-forward displays.

Lighting Design

We worked with a lighting designer to create four distinct lighting scenes: bright task lighting for cooking, warm ambient lighting for entertaining, a focused island scene for casual dining, and a soft night-light mode. Linear LED channels integrated into the cabinetry provide under-cabinet illumination without visible fixtures, while three hand-blown glass pendants from Apparatus Studio above the island add warmth and scale. Recessed LED downlights on separate circuits illuminate the countertops and cooking zones, and LED tape within glass-front upper cabinets creates a soft glow that highlights displayed objects in the evening.

White oak cabinetry with integrated LED lighting creates a warm, layered atmosphere.

The Result

The completed kitchen transformed not just a room, but how our clients live in their home. The open layout connects the kitchen to daily life — family gathers at the island during meal prep, guests flow naturally between kitchen and living areas during parties, and morning coffee has a new view of the garden through the expanded window wall. The new kitchen added approximately 85 square feet of usable space by removing the wall and reconfiguring the former butler’s pantry, bringing the total kitchen footprint to 340 square feet.

The project was completed in 14 weeks, on schedule and within the agreed budget. Six months later, our clients told us it was the single best investment they’d made in their home. Their real estate agent estimated the remodel added between $180,000 and $220,000 in property value — a strong return on a project that was designed first and foremost for daily enjoyment.

You can see more of our completed work in our project portfolio, and if you’re considering a similar transformation for your home, our kitchen remodeling services in Orange County and LA page outlines our full design-build process.