Homeowners in San Clemente, California, have a stunning view of the Pacific Ocean from the oversized kitchen window in their Highland Estates home, but it was time for a major kitchen renovation. They wanted to capture that organic and natural feel by bringing more of the West Coast vibe to their kitchen's interior design. Engineers by profession, the owners appreciate design efficiencies but requested that while the design should improve the kitchen's functionality with additional storage and easy-to-maintain surfaces, they didn't want the "practical" features in the kitchen to diminish the beauty and style of a streamlined appearance.
Interior designer Lynn Blaylock, principal at Etalyn Design LLC, found a beautiful balance between modern, streamlined function and stylish elegance that met the owner's design goals. Challenged by the homeowner's two requests for stainless steel appliances and incorporating their favorite color, green, Blaylock chose to paint the custom-built island in Sherwin-Williams Pewter Green. To help soften the stainless steel, she added two-toned brass and nickel cabinet hardware.
Blaylock found Crossville porcelain slabs and countertops to be the perfect material for surfacing the kitchen because the porcelain slabs in Lightning unpolished offered stunning style combined with unparalleled performance. The slabs also provided the simplicity of an uninterrupted expanse of countertops that reflected the organic nature of the Pacific Ocean outside the kitchen window. The design focused on clean lines, with white cabinets balancing the dark green island and the light-colored porcelain slabs providing needed brightness. The square edge option on the porcelain countertops enhanced the modern, streamlined appearance.
Crossville countertops are 100% porcelain slabs, providing an appearance that beautifully mimics natural stone. These 12 mm-thick slabs offer all the performance advantages expected of commercial-grade porcelain tile, including easy maintenance without worries about staining. From the sink area with the oversized window to the expansive island with the cooktop, the result is a bold, strong, yet modern appearance.
Adding to the streamlined appearance, Blaylock continued the Lightning porcelain slab as the backsplash from the counters to the bottom of the white cabinets. To further provide a consistent look and style throughout every aspect of the kitchen, she worked with the fabricator to replace a wood windowsill above the sink with porcelain slab material,
Blaylock added a heat-resistant space inside a cabinet with pocket doors to accommodate the coffee maker and toaster oven for a unique design element. The fabricator also installed the porcelain slabs as a backsplash and shelf to protect the space from the heat.
The island countertop installation was another design challenge beautifully solved with the Crossville porcelain slab. The owners requested an induction cooktop with downdraft on the island. Thanks to our porcelain slab’s easy fabrication, the fabricator could accommodate this challenging installation without the fear of the porcelain chipping along the edges.
The Designer’s Crossville Experience
“We have used Crossville porcelain slabs on multiple projects and have been impressed by their quality. Our fabricators enjoy working with the product because they know that the quality of the slabs will stand up to even the most challenging fabrication and installation projects.” — Lynn Blaylock, Etalyn design, LLC
Learn more about our porcelain slabs and countertops: Not All Porcelain Countertops Are Equal: Why Solid Surface Fabricators Love Crossville Porcelain Slabs And You Will, Too
Project Participants
Interior Design: Lynn Blaylock, Designer, Project Manager and Principal at Etalyn Design LLC
Fabrication and Installation: Bellisimo Tile & Stone Inc.
Photos: Reza Lotf with Property Media Services
Custom Cabinetry by Jerson Arreaga