Project Avalon

Timeless Isn't a Style

I designed this kitchen fourteen years ago, with one big question in mind: what will we still love in a decade?

My Main Dreams

• Space, above all — we had four kids at home, ages two to thirteen, and I needed a kitchen that could hold the whole family at once

• A large island to gather around — homework while I cook, and never cooking alone

• Room to actually work: 54 inches between the range and the island, well past the standard 36 to 40, because that's the pathway everyone stands in

• An integrated microwave and a pull-out pantry

• A dining room built around a six-sided table my husband grew up with, made by his father by hand. We crafted the walls around it

How I Overcame It

I chose as many natural materials as I could within our budget. Travertine tile, authentic walnut floors, stone countertops and quality cabinetry built to stand the test of time. I've always loved natural materials anyway, but I think that's the secret: natural materials help you stay away from fads, and fads are what go out of style. Also, natural materials get better in time, in my opinion.

And I leaned into what I love. I think that's the biggest clue for anyone: when you lean into what you really, really love, chances are you're going to love it five years from now — six years, ten years from now. Understanding yourself is the best thing you can do if you're trying to achieve a timeless look.

The Largest Design Challenge

I wanted the kitchen to have soul without being overwhelming, and without chasing anything that would date. The hard part 14 years ago was that I didn't yet trust myself enough to be certain of my taste. Every choice carried the same worry: Is this going to go out of style? Will I still love this in 10 years?

What Surprised Me — and What I’ll Carry Forward

At the time, interior design was my passion and my hobby. Looking back, it was my destiny, but not yet my career. Fourteen years later, I reflect upon the the choices I made, and I'm proud of how well they held.

And what I carry forward is this: don't compare, and don't copy. When I designed this kitchen, I had no inspiration for it other than what I knew I liked — it was well before Instagram, so I never had the decision fatigue and overwhelm so many of our clients struggle with now, with endless pretty spaces to look at.

I think people do themselves a disservice when they measure what they're doing against what everyone else is doing, or try to mimic a design exactly instead of letting it inspire them. I stayed true to myself, stayed in my own lane, and chose things because I actually loved them — not because someone else was doing them.