Are you familiar with Cultivate? It's William Sonoma's online resource for kitchen inspiration and design. They offer really great insight on remodels, appliances, design mistakes and color selections. Every week, they showcase a spectacular kitchen and a back story on the designer.

I can't remember which one of my design magazines first introduced me to the talents of California designer, Karen Harautuneian. But one of my very favorite projects was the remodel of her own home, specifically, her kitchen. I mean, how fantastic are the leather koi chairs?! love her 'European Cottage-meets SoCal stye'. So, I was tickled to see it pop up as Cultivate's featured kitchen this week. 

With the eclectic selections, at first glance, it's hard to know that it's even a kitchen in the pictures.The  cabinets are stained a rich aubergine and topped with thick teak. The wall above the sink is painted pine paneling which is a great backdrop for her collection of vintage art collected from trips to France and antique shops. And what better way to cook and enjoy the beach breezes, than with a brick red dutch door.     

People get nervous about the storage they give up when choosing open shelving, but look at the loads of space she has under her window seat {also known as Karen's favorite spot in the house}

The knotty pine adds another texture while hiding storage. Let's just inventory all of the components, shall we? Clear sealed knotty pine walls, teak counters, painted clear pine walls, stained oak floors, stained maple cabinets, and natural oak dining table...I mean, that's a lot of different woods, in a small space, living superbly happy together. 

To check out more of Karen's portfolio, visit her at The Hub of the Houe.