This Culinary Couple’s Minimalist Kitchen Is Designed Around One Essential Gadget
A pint-sized "garage" keeps Aya Amornpan and Note Mansawataphaiboon’s rice cooker at the ready, but out of sight.
A pint-sized "garage" keeps Aya Amornpan and Note Mansawataphaiboon’s rice cooker at the ready, but out of sight.
Our Focus series shines the spotlight on the details: the extraordinary materials, spaces, and ideas that take great projects to the next level.
When Aya Amornpan and Note Mansawataphaiboon bought a home in Oakland, California, they knew they wanted to renovate the kitchen first. After all, as restauranteurs who opened three Thai restaurants, including Yimm in Oakland, the place where they cook is the center of their home. It’s where their family of four gathers, and where they entertain.
Aya Amornpan, who co-owns and manages three restaurants, in her dream home kitchen. Behind her is the refrigerator and wine fridge.
Photo: Gregg Segal
The original Italian-style kitchen featured dark wood and open shelving, but Aya envisioned a contemporary, black-and-white space. "I dreamed of something very simple and minimal," she says. "I wanted to hide everything that we use for cooking and make it look cleaner."
Custom white oak cabinets with push latches provide plenty of storage space.
Photo: Gregg Segal
Aya interviewed several firms, looking for architects who would understand her cultural needs. Asian kitchens often make use of an abundance of ingredients such as sauces and condiments—and Aya wanted a way to hide them all but access them easily.
The renovated kitchen features a counter-to-ceiling backsplash. Aya liked the look of marble, but the material is heavy and costly. Blue Truck Studio sourced a porcelain stone finish, which is much lighter.
Photo: Gregg Segal
See the full story on Dwell.com: This Culinary Couple’s Minimalist Kitchen Is Designed Around One Essential Gadget
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