Sonora Project

High Contrast Minimal Modern

Danville, California

For an active family who love to entertain, the mission was to create maximum flow and function, support an elevated indoor-outdoor California lifestyle, and to design a kitchen that didn’t quite feel like one. We reoriented the layout to achieve significantly more usable space, comfortable access inside-out via a pass-through window and french doors, and natural flow to the family room. With a modern transitional aesthetic as our guide, we selected materials and designed elements to be highly functional and flexible – a beautiful coffee bar can be hidden away behind custom cabinetry. The dramatic focal point of the mixed marble step-down island offers extensive storage and space for casual dining on luxe seating, while looking more like furniture than a kitchen island. Unexpected finishes like graphite appliances and a matte white faucet add playfulness. A downdraft exhaust and grouping of smoked glass pendants over the island provide clean sight lines.

Photography by Thomas Kuoh

Modern kitchen with marble countertops, a large glass vase with green branches, and a view of a garden outside the window.
Modern kitchen with a marble island, wooden cabinetry, a vase with green branches, and a view into a living room with a sofa and artwork.
Modern kitchen with large window, marble island, wooden cabinets, and decorative glass pendant lights, overlooking a garden.
Close-up of a kitchen countertop with a marble pattern in white and gray, with a gray marble block, a small vase with green leaves, a green apple, and a round gray stone container on it.
Modern kitchen with a black refrigerator, white cabinets, a marble countertop, and wooden cabinetry in the background, with a green plant hanging from the ceiling.
Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, stainless steel refrigerator, marble countertop island, hardwood flooring, and pendant lights hanging from the ceiling.
Kitchen cabinet with open shelves containing stacked cups, a coffee maker, and a coffee grinder.
A modern kitchen with wood cabinets, a marble countertop, and a stone island. A tall glass vase with leafy green branches is on the island, accompanied by a small green lime and a gray stone. Hanging glass pendant lights are above, and a white cushioned chair is partially visible in the foreground.
Modern pendant light fixture with multiple glass shades and exposed bulbs hanging from black cords on a white ceiling, with a leafy green plant in the foreground.
A glass vase with water and green leaves inside, a round green fruit with leaves on a marble surface, and a small round dark brown stone in a dish.
Modern kitchen with white cabinetry, marble countertop, wooden cabinets, black oven, and window above the sink.
Kitchen sink with marble countertop, white faucet, and a white bowl of potatoes on the counter near an open window overlooking a garden.
Two modern wall sconces with frosted glass shades mounted on a light-colored wall, near a window with a view of a garden.
Modern kitchen with marble island and beige chairs, hardwood floor, window with patterned curtains, and decorative wall art.
Interior of a home with a black wooden sideboard decorated with beige vases and a black stone sculpture, a white wall with mounted white circular wall decor, and a view of a sunlit dining area with large windows and chairs.