I’ve always believed that the most interesting spaces are created when you stop thinking of everything in terms of what it has to do.
A pantry, for example, has a very obvious job: storage. But when I designed this 12-foot pantry, I didn’t want it to simply disappear into the kitchen as a practical necessity. At that scale, it had the potential to become something much more.
So we made a moment of it.
The 12-foot ceiling presented its own design challenge. With so much vertical volume, the proportions needed to feel intentional rather than simply large. Instead of working around the height, I used it as an opportunity to create a strong architectural gesture.
Floor-to-ceiling brass inlay gives the pantry a custom presence. It still works exactly as a pantry should, but it also brings a sense of drama and permanence to the room. It became one of the first things you notice, and one of the elements that defines the kitchen.
That same instinct carries through the rest of the home: magenta drapery stretching nearly two stories, and a dramatic marble fireplace that looks through to the dining room. Each element embraces the scale of the architecture while adding warmth, drama, and personality.
I’m always on a quest to find that balance between function and beauty. Every element should work hard, but it should also evoke the feeling of the space. When you give a practical feature thoughtful proportion, material, and presence, it can become undeniably special.
