California Natural

Blending lifestyle, cooking functions and a clean Asian aesthetic gives a Marin County family their ultimate dream kitchen.

For a family of four—two children in school and two adults that frequently work from home—putting computer stations, dining and cooking functions closer together gave them more opportunities to be together. Their California lifestyle also includes healthy food prepared by the owner—an avid home chef—who designs her family's meals around what's fresh at the farmer's market. "She needed a command center," says Stacy Eisenmann of Arclinea San Francisco, who created the kitchen with her colleague Eriche Wilson.

Doors and low walls between an office and the kitchen were removed and the yellow surfaces and floral fabrics of the last kitchen remodel are also history. Today the space shares a palette appropriate to the rest of the Asian modern interiors. A huge wood ceiling beam—a feature that repeats throughout the home—now spans the kitchen, island and office. A large refrigerator was important to store fresh produce and the integrated Sub-Zero preserves the flawless minimalist design featuring oak cabinetry with Wenge stain. At the U-shape island with three tiers on one end, the homeowner can cook, plate, serve and converse at ease with family, and with friends during frequent dinner parties. The lowest tier is marble for dough preparation, the middle is work surface and the upper tier serves as family dining or buffet space. The Wolf 36-inch gas cooktop provides high BTUs for the Asian and other international cuisines she enjoys preparing, and its industrial-style burners make it easy to reposition pots, pans and woks.

Easy-clean matte-finish stainless steel counters, handles and toe kicks hide fingerprints, as well as nose and paw prints from the family's dog and cat—the crowning touch on this very family-friendly kitchen.