Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

An Architect’s Dream Kitchen Channels SoCal’s Laid-Back Vibes With a Fusion of Homey Materials

An Architect’s Dream Kitchen Channels SoCal’s Laid-Back Vibes With a Fusion of Homey Materials

Eric Olsen layered lustrous finishes with warm wood surfaces to create an inviting space for friends and family.

After several years living at the same address in Newport Beach, California, architect Eric Olsen and his family were ready for a change. Rather than move, they decided to rebuild on the same plot-reorienting the new structure toward views of the Pacific Ocean and excavating 11 feet into the hillside to create a two-story sunken courtyard. The resulting floor plan allows natural light to flood the rear-facing living spaces, including a handsome kitchen that Olsen outfitted with moody hues of navy, grey, and wood tones.



Architect Eric Olsen imagined a space that employs contrasting colors, textures, and shapes to create a warm and inviting interior. One of many such details includes a custom light fixture above the island, which he designed in collaboration with Buzzell Studios.

"Our home is certainly modern in terms of the emphasis on rectangular forms, as well as clean, horizontal and vertical planes; yet, the combination of tactile and organic materials creates a warm feeling," Olsen says. "For instance, we opted for steel windows and doors throughout the home, along with reclaimed French brick walls, stained Douglas fir ceilings, and dark-painted wall paneling-all of which works together to create a very textural, layered space."



The kitchen features oak cabinets stained in a dark grey and navy tile from Heath Ceramics. These darker elements are balanced by the tongue-and-groove wood ceiling and floors, as well as ample sunlight entering through the steel-framed glass doors.

In many ways, Olsen’s material choices harken back to the overall philosophy he brings to each project. "I always like to combine a number of different materials that not only vary in texture and color but also relate to one another-for example, juxtaposing dark and light, or smooth and rough," he explains. "The doors bring a ton of sunlight into the open-concept kitchen and living/dining room, so I designed the space with dark materials that would absorb instead of reflect a lot of that light."



Flanking both sides of the backsplash are grey Heath tiles that were installed backwards to reveal the unglazed side. Leathered granite countertops add yet another contrasting texture within the space.

"When I was in college, I studied at the Institute of Architecture in Venice, Italy, for a year, and I was blown away by the work of Carlo Scarpa, a Venetian architect whose attention to detail and use of materials made his designs both approachable and emotional experiences," Olsen adds. "Similarly, I did not want our home to feel pretentious in any way; it needed to be a fun, comfortable family home."



The kitchen also features a La Specialista Espresso Machine from De'Longhi, which allows Olsen to prepare the kind of bold espressos he recalls from his time in Italy. With variety and simplicity in mind, the La Specialista’s easy-to-use features also provide café-quality lattes and cappuccinos at home, while a separate hot water spout enables the creation of authentic Americanos or teas.

Olsen’s appreciation of design and detail extends to the everyday objects he and his family chose to surround themselves. "When the architecture of a home is on display, what you display in rooms such as the kitchen is also a very considered decision," he says. The Italian-designed La Specialista Espresso Machine from De'Longhi is a statement of purposeful design and craftsmanship in itself. Having easy access to authentic, espresso-based drinks also lends to the home’s laid-back comforts.



Olsen enjoys a cup of coffee made by the La Specialista machine. "It’s the perfect fit in a kitchen that is personalized for our own style and life," he comments.

"There’s a notion that a premium coffee-making experience is difficult to replicate at home," adds Maria Colon, VP of Marketing and Consumer Experience at De’Longhi. "The La Specialista offers features that assist in every stage of the coffee making process, ensuring the perfect, desired result. Yet there’s enough flexibility for aficionados that are a bit more advanced."



Another view of the glazed rear facade shows the wall of steel windows and doors that enclose the living area and kitchen.

As an architect, Olsen relishes the tactile experience, but appreciates things like the integrated sensor grinder for ensuring the optional bean ratio, or the Smart Tamping Station that applies just the right amount of pressure. The ritual of coffee making is also a sensory experience, one that he views as rewarding and calming, befitting the warmth of the home’s living environment.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
×