Inside a Kitchen That Takes Design Cues from the 1950s
It has so many nods to mid-century style.
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These days, most people make their inspiration boards on Pinterest or Canva, but designer Keri Lainas, owner and principal design of Keri Michelle Interiors, had clients who went analog. “This client is the only client who has ever provided me with actual inspiration images cut out of print magazines, which was so endearing because usually I only receive inspiration photos via Pinterest or email,” she says.
It seems that the act of clipping out inspo photos was the first indication that Keri’s clients wanted something a little different for their kitchen remodel in their three-bedroom, three-bathroom home in the Point Loma neighborhood of San Diego. The couple live in Craftsman bungalow-style house with their cat named “Cat” and love to travel and live life to the fullest, so the design had to be far from boring.
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“They wanted a space that was open, felt inviting, and would be perfect for hosting family and friends,” Keri says. “The clients did not want an all-white kitchen. They wanted their space to reflect the 1950s mid-century modern charm of their home and neighborhood.”
The couple loves to entertain, but the original kitchen was not suited to that passion—it was closed in and not very functional. The appliances were spread out, making it tricky for people who love to cook.
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Taking the magazine clippings and using the mid-century style of the home, Keri worked to create a space that had both character and functionality. To start, she and her team knocked down a partial wall, which created more space to put in a long kitchen island that’s perfect for entertaining.
“We completely changed the kitchen layout, moved appliances, and designed the cabinetry style to reflect a mid-century modern vibe,” she explains. “We also had to install a massive beam that ran the whole length of the house when removing the partial wall.”
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Warmth (and nods to mid-century style) was added to the space with the perimeter cabinetry, which is custom VG Douglas Fir reconstituted mahogany flat slab. The clients requested to keep the original flooring from 1951, so Keri and team had it sanded down and refinished.
Keri added color by painting the kitchen island in Benjamin Moore’s Blue Note. And since the clients are serious home cooks, high-end appliances were installed, like the La Cornue CornuFé range and Miele fridge.
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Other interesting design details are scattered throughout, from the kitchen island pendants to the tile backsplash, which is three-dimensional. “The island pendants are handcrafted in Oaxaca, Mexico, where pottery-making roots started and the clay comes from local Oaxaca mountains,” Keri says. “I wanted to bring in something earthy and meaningful to add softness and interest to the design of the kitchen.”
Keri’s clients are still contacting her about their kitchen—and that’s a good thing. “Let’s put it this way, I get texts and photos at least once or twice a month of them using their space—especially of them cooking and entertaining with family,” she says.
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