The Kitchen Island as a Sculpture

The kitchen is the heart of the home.
This sentiment resonated with me when I began designing the island for our new home.
It was the perfect place to set my creativity loose.
Inspired by global textiles, I carved individual panels to create a design that felt just right.
I also added steel elements to bring together the stainless appliances to make it feel cohesive.

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Carving individual panels and then arranging them to feel balanced was just the beginning.
Next, I decided to burn them. I like playing with fire :)
Burning can create an alligator texture which I wanted to see in specific places.
Burning also softens the edges to make it look aged.
I love the "worn-loved" look of antique textiles

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The next step was to add color to the wood. Creating the tone was a subjective process.
I like working up the tone slowly from the blackened wood.
I knew I was going for that special gunmetal color, with a little brightness, or maybe the vibrant blue in Turkish rugs,
or that beautiful color of the blue sky I see riding up chair 3 while skiing on Aspen Mountain.
In other words, I wasn't exactly sure until I saw it by layering and building until I loved it.

The "box" was custom-made to include the microwave and a cabinet on the backside
which had the layered blue color throughout.
The countertops are quartz and the iron range hood was commissioned.

With our open floor plan, the island becomes a visual statement that connects the
living room, dining room, and outdoor living space.
The Island is a piece of art that adds a special touch and
brings a sense of grounding to the heart of our home.

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Check out the video below

Creating the island was exciting for me!
It's a surprise element that blends perfectly with the decor and stands on its own.
It's always important to draw inspiration from the world around us and
follow our passions when thinking about the design of our living spaces.
xx
Andrea

P.S. Please reach out to Andrea@andi-le.com to discuss ideas and explore potential collaborations.