Interior: The Heart of the Office

Some of the most thoughtful spaces I’ve been asked to design aren’t in homes at all—but in the in-between places where people gather, pause, and find a sense of belonging during their day. This kitchen was exactly that kind of place. Tucked inside the office of a landscape design firm, it was meant to be a shared break room—but also a reflection of the people who worked there, and the roots they were trying to grow together.

When I arrived, the wish list was long—but charming. One person dreamed of a fresh all-white kitchen, another of leafy greens, another of calming blues, and another still just wanted all the warmth of wood. Rather than pick a favorite, I proposed this: what if we honored all of them?

We started with the walls—a rich clover green that instantly grounded the space in nature, giving the whole room a sense of life and calm. From there, I added large off-white subway tiles halfway up the walls—classic, clean, and full of farmhouse charm. The cabinets, simple and sturdy, were stained the most delicate duck egg blue, a color that feels like it belongs to both sky and sea. It tied everything together effortlessly.

Above the cabinets, we hung open shelves in raw wood, anchored with rustic black iron brackets—practical, but also a little poetic. They’re the kind of shelves that feel like they’ve been there forever, even when they’re brand new.

The rest of the kitchen was dressed in wood—flea market finds and worn-in pieces with dings and scratches that told quiet stories of meals shared and coffee cups set down in laughter. The chairs didn’t match perfectly, which made them perfect. The tables were simple, sturdy, and unbothered by a little mess or conversation.

Decor came naturally. Tiny potted plants, old wooden boxes, well-loved books, and framed quotes—some funny, some quietly powerful—lined the shelves. A few nods to the company’s name and mission found their way into the space too, but nothing too obvious. Just enough to remind everyone that this space was theirs. Built from different visions, held together with warmth.

It’s a kitchen that doesn’t try too hard—and maybe that’s why it works. It simply welcomes.