SAN DIEGO — There are kitchen islands, and then there are kitchen islands such as the one in this San Diego, CA, kitchen. Its unique, multiple waterfall design was created by Gabriel Sepulveda-Villarini, who transformed the previous basic version into a one-of-a kind statement piece that sits focally at the center of the recently renovated kitchen, which was part of a larger whole-house remodel that included the adjacent family room and a beverage bar tucked between the kitchen and dining room (see sidebar below, “Upscale and Glamorous”).
“My clients waited 16 years for their renovation and new kitchen,” says the senior interior designer at Jackson Design and Remodeling in San Diego, CA. “Before, it was a ‘spec’ kitchen that wasn’t very conducive, functionally or aesthetically, to the way they lived.”
Now, however, the homeowners, along with their son, can more fully enjoy their spaces.
“They have created certain rituals now that just weren’t possible in their old kitchen,” he relates, drawing particular attention to those that happen at the island, where each side is focused on a particular function.
For example, seating on two sides gives the husband options for joining his wife in the kitchen when she cooks. As well, they can sit together and enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, the latter of which can be brewed in the built-in Miele coffee station conveniently located along the perimeter wall. The island’s prep sink, accented by a pair of Brizo faucets, is flanked by a Miele dishwasher and pullouts with specialized storage for cookie sheets, trays, etc. Additional storage, and a pull-out trash can, continues around the remaining sides, tucked into the Caramel Apple-colored quarter-sawn white oak cabinetry supplied by R.D. Henry & Co. and intermingled with waterfalls of Taj Mahal quartzite that cascade from the matching horizontal surface.
“The island, with its four waterfalls, was a bit of an evolution,” he explains. “We started with just two, but as we sat down and talked about it, we explored the possibility of doing a waterfall on every side. We had the resources, budget-wise, and since most of the time it’s just the two of them, they didn’t need a lot of seating. That gave us the opportunity to create a really interesting island.”
Creating Consistency
Sepulveda-Villarini continued the quarter-sawn white oak as base cabinetry around the perimeter of the kitchen and extended the oak into the adjacent family room where he created a 20′-long built-in shelving unit/TV surround. The recurring use of the wood ties the two rooms together and matches the panels for the Miele refrigerator and freezer, also sited around the kitchen’s perimeter. The concealed cooling appliances flank a suite of Miele cooking appliances, including a convection oven, speed oven, steam oven, warming drawer and the coffee station.
“She especially loves the steam oven,” Sepulveda-Villarini relates. “She had never really cooked with steam before, but now it has become her predominant way of cooking.”
The cluster of cooking appliances was painstakingly pieced together like a puzzle to create an eye-pleasing balance.
“As a designer I’m always looking for balance, rather than pure symmetry,” he indicates. “This cluster of appliances is an example. The cluster isn’t necessarily symmetrical because I don’t have the same elements on the right and left sides. But it is very balanced. I also have balance on both sides of the window above the sink where I have cabinets to each side. But I also added the floating shelves for a bit of drama, which is also something that I like to include in my designs.”
Sepulveda-Villarini repeated the island’s Taj Mahal quartzite as the perimeter worktop surface, chosen for its neutral, yet rich, aesthetic.
“We looked at several different slabs,” he indicates. “We especially liked this one because it offered some interesting veining. Often Taj Mahal can be very ‘consistent,’ but the slabs we used have a little bit more wild veining, which is great for the waterfall edges.”
Sepulveda-Villarini complemented the oak and quartzite with custom wall cabinets painted in Sherwin Williams’ Drift of Mist, where the uppermost tier is illuminated with LED lights, offering a bit of display space for his clients.
“She had a really dark kitchen previously, with dark cabinetry and dark countertops,” he says. “We wanted to lighten it up while keeping everything ‘warm’ with an updated look.”
To further brighten the space, the designer used Sonoma Tile Maker’s Market Collection ceramic tile, in an Ashbury Pebble color, as the backsplash behind the Miele cooktop and ventilation hood. He continued the tile – set in a herringbone pattern and accented with a light-colored grout – around the window and behind the floating shelves. Its crackle finish adds interest without being busy.
“The tile has a subtle handmade look,” the designer explains. “It isn’t consistently a single color, but rather several different shades of the same color. That’s what makes it look interesting and rich…which adds to its beauty.”
Finishing touches for the kitchen include a trio of Kichler Edmar pendants above the island, all lined up perfectly to create a continuous line of light. The pendants feature a frosted half-globe design and an open top.
“I didn’t want lights where you would see a lot of bulbs through clear glass,” he says. “And I love how light can flow out of the top to illuminate the ceiling.”
The pendants’ polished nickel finish matches the polished nickel Brizo plumbing fixtures and Berger Hardware cabinetry pulls and knobs.
“We wanted something that would give some warmth to the space,” Sepulveda-Villarini explains. “The polished nickel elevates the kitchen, too, and adds a little bit more sophistication.”
- Puzzle-Pieced Appliances: Creates balance via precisely positioned elements
- Focal-Point Island: ‘Cascading’ quartzite distinguishes one-of-a-kind statement piece
- Rich, Interesting Herringbone Tile: Brightens the space while also adding beauty
Upscale and Glamourous
The team at Jackson Design and Remodeling, headed by senior interior designer Gabriel Sepulveda-Villarini, renovated most of the interiors of this home. Part of the remodel included creating an official beverage bar between the kitchen and dining room, thereby eliminating the make-shift bar cart, accompanied by an unsightly trash can, previously parked in the pathway between the two rooms.
The new space features a Taj Mahal quartzite countertop and custom white painted wall cabinets – with glass doors and LED lights – to offer a connection to the kitchen.
“I wanted to create some consistency between the spaces,” he says. “Otherwise, it can be chaotic.”
The designer also included a Miele beverage refrigerator. Wine glasses, stored on a rack beneath the wall cabinets, are reflected in the smoke glass mirrored backsplash.
“I believed that a traditional mirror would be too metallic,” Sepulveda-Villarini explains. “This smoke glass mirror adds depth and warmth, and it makes the space feel more upscale and glamourous.”