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

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.

"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."

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."