Work Surfaces — An International Case Study

Nestled in the foothills of North Tustin, California, is the beautiful home of a well known interior designer, Hilary Hale. Amongst the well-appointed and stylish rooms, the kitchen received a visually striking counter-island to serve as the centrepiece.

- Neolith

Hilary’s overarching vision for the kitchen’s design was to open up the space to take advantage of her French doors and windows which open onto stunning westward sunset views.

A lover of ‘old world’ design elements, she knew she wanted to achieve a cosy, lived-in look in the kitchen. She uses a timeless palette, a design trend which will likely continue to be popular in 2021. However, she also wanted to add a touch of modern elegance and a twist of contemporary chic, leading to her choice of Calacatta Luxe by well-known manufacturer, Neolith, in a polished finish for the room’s countertops and splashbacks.

The colour takes white marble to the next level with its navy and amber veining, creating a more vintage, traditional look while remaining current and fresh.

A kitchen with character

Further inspired by the French and English countryside, the designer set out to create a smart yet welcoming room. Her first inclination was to install a vintage or repurposed island, but found this wasn’t an option due to the kitchen’s layout. To work around this, she knew she had to carefully curate the lighting and use exceptional countertop materials to give the kitchen character.