Alina takes the best of what a country's cooking and design tradition has to offer and brings it into her home. All the materials are natural and all the colors are warm. It seems that, aside from the food, everything about this kitchen will last forever.
The quality of the elements makes for a striking and envious cooking environment. Alina, a professional set designer, loves to curate. There is no question that she has brought these skills to her kitchen. Alina also loves to cook. Her travels have taken her around the world. At every destination she investigates that culture's traditions and rituals and the tools used therein. She finds the products used for generations — items people continue to embrace because they are at once practical and beautiful. In fact, she's gotten so good at it, that she started her own online retail store to sell these finds.
Alina finds fun and inexpensive fixes that yield sophisticated results. She also salvages great old pieces and occasionally splurges on quality products. The sum total is a warm, intriguing, thought provoking, jaw dropping, show-stopping space, full of character, integrity, sustainability, and the consistent impetus to create great meals.
Alina's kitchen, more than most, speaks for itself!!
10 Questions for Alina (and her Kitchen)
What inspires your kitchen and your cooking?
Far away places and forgotten relics. I like to enjoy stirring soups with a spoon that feels handmade. I use almost no plastic based materials in my kitchen; rather, I choose materials like wood, metal, cast iron, clay, ceramic, and glass. For example, I love cooking with my La Chamba pots and pans—hand-made in Columbia with black clay—and I think they add flavor to the dishes I make.
What is your favorite kitchen tool or element?
My wood workers bench which serves as my kitchen island. I use this piece all the time. It's such a perfect solid surface. It has a well so that things don't slide off, and dowels for hanging towels and pot holders. I love all the possibilities that it has to grow with my needs and since its and old piece it has some great patina and marks. It also makes for a great console for entertaining.
What's the most memorable meal you've ever cooked in this kitchen?
I think one of my most memorable meals has been with my friend Stephanie. She's a professional chef so I learn and proudly follow her every move. I always feel like we inspire each other with experimentation. But all of the memorable meals in my kitchen have been small gatherings with friends. I love seeing them cook in my kitchen, drink wine, laugh, smile, talk, and share food.
Biggest challenge in your kitchen?
More storage for my growing collection of glasses. I have a fantasy about constructing a wall size storage with glass doors.
Biggest indulgence or splurge in the kitchen?
Well, the immediate thing that comes to mind is my dishwasher. I'm not sure what I did before that. It's great for dinner parties. Oh, also my juicer, I love it! Especially in the summer.
Is there anything you hope to add or improve in your kitchen?
I plan to re-fashion the underside of my wood-workers bench. I think adding some drawers for linens and additional shelving for trays would make this piece complete. I also really want a kitchen-aid mixer, I think this would be a nice addition.
How would you describe your cooking style?
Simple but spicy. I favor my savory palate. I travel a lot so I'm always bringing back spices from all over the world for myself and much loved cooking friends. I love rich spices and sauces over simple ingredients. I also like fresh herbs, and combining crisp cool with hot textures.
Best cooking advice or tip you ever received:
Fresh herbs and some butter—the most useful ingredients for a delicious quick dish.
What is your favorite cookbook?
My Food Lovers Companion. It's my go-to for questions about ingredients. I also love Nigella Lawson and any of her cookbooks.
What are you cooking this week?
This week I am imagining roasted saffron chicken to make crisp salads, a cold cucumber soup, and a fava bean spread over toasted raisin bread. I also plan to make a mini chocolate cake with a simple crème fraiche frosting.
Resources:
• Frigidaire
• KitchenAid
• Big Sur table: Crate and Barrel
• Kitchen rack: Pottery Barn
• Restaurant industrial shelving
• Counters: IKEA
• Vintage salvage elements
• Cookware: La Chamba and All-Clad
• Many of the beautiful foreign sourced pieces: Dar Gitane
We're always looking for real kitchens from real cooks.
Show us your kitchen here!
(Images: Jill Slater)
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Gorgeous!!! I especially love the photo of Alina opening the wine. It looks like a Dutch oil painting! All of the colors and textures are so inspiring!
I also appreciate the little descriptive sentences on the photos. Sadly they seem less common, and they are harder to read now with all of the "Chip It" signage. I understand that they are a sponsor, and I understand that I can make a color pallet. Really. Might it be possible to leave the button, but get rid of "Watch the Video!!"?
What is the round thing mounted over the sink?
i LOVE LOVE the colors in here. this is almost what my dream kitchen is!
where is your molcajete from? do you use it often/really love it? i've been thinking about getting a lavastone one from world market (and i just happen to have won a 100$ gift card there) but i'm not 100% if i should go for it. i sure do love making guac, though.
also - i really love your open shelving and the colors of your dishes. i wish we were cooking friends so i could grab some awesome spices from you. you should like you can sure cook up some meeeaaannnn grub.
I had to pop back in to say that her shop is amazing!!! (There is a link above.) What an eye she has!
I also am intrigued by the round device mounted by the sink. Does anyone know what it is?
SO beautiful! My favorite kitchen to date!
@mandydavis~ it's a soap dispenser. :) It rolls over and dispenses your hand soap.
The round device mounted near the sink is a soap dispenser. You put your finger on that front tab part and tilt the bottle back and out pours the soap from the opening.
this is alina. thank you so much for all the lovely comments...we are gleaming here at dar gitane.
so to answer some questions.... the round piece rested on the sink is vintage moroccan tea tray... I use it all the time so it just stays out. trays similar will be added to our site in the next few weeks, they just came in from morocco.
the molcajete is from Oaxaca...the place of true love of avocados. its fabulous to use! I love the it holds your spice in the lava and just gets better with time! we will be offering these this fall in dar gitane.
so lovely sharing my kitchen with all of you...almost like you got to come over, wish I could offer you some ice tea!
Beautiful kitchen, I saved a few pics for when I get to design my own somewhere in the future. Especially that woodworkers bench (or how do you call it), it makes me want to touch it! Seems so sleek and soft.
mmm maybe i will hold out to get a molcajete through dar gitane. decisions, decisions.
your kitchen rules so much! also! where are your salt and pepper mills from? they look fabulous.
This is really gorgeous! I love the interplay of light and dark colors, and lots of glass. I would love to cook there. Or just stand around drinking wine, and letting her do the cooking! :)
Such a lovely and inspiring kitchen. And I'm so glad other people asked about the soap dispenser--I was wondering, too!
The black pepper mill is from france made by an old company called marlux they have been making their beautiful pieces since 1875. the silver white pepper mill is vintage and made by tre spade in italy.
soap dispenser I purchased many years ago from a company named napa style...it makes using soap easy and its beautiful!
Such soft colors, which is neat considering how much dark, intense color there is. The wood worker's bench-turned-island is the best. A lot of character in this kitchen.
To agree with @Pamela at Clockworkcrow, I wish there was a "like" feature for commenting. I too have been slightly annoyed by the "Chip it!" pitch on every photo. I understand the sponsorship as well, but I find it distracting and I miss the descriptions, which I find really helpful.
Soooo beautiful. Everything in the place, Alina, the photos-- all simply stunning. There is a very old-world, painterly feel to the space and how it's been photographed (the first comment was spot on about a Dutch master painting), but I love how the modern touches have been so seamlessly integrated. I vote that the entire loft get a house tour, please!
Stay tuned for Alina's house tour next week! Photographing Alina's home was easy because everywhere I aimed my camera, a gorgeous vignette filled my frame.
I. LOVE. This.
i CANNOT wait for her house tour. i am sure it is going to be AMAZING.
also, alina, where is that soap dispenser from? (basically, i just want everything in your kitchen. when you decide to move out, feel free to take nothing with you and invite me to take over your lease:) )
the soap dispenser was purchased from a company called "napa style" some years back... I am not sure if they have it anymore... but one thing I do know, is that not only do I love it but everyone else does... I will try to track it down : )
Where is that industrial shelving from?! I love it, and have been looking for something very similar.
I have been reading AT for 6 years and this is my favorite kitchen ever. In fact, I think I love this kitchen more than the ones I see in House Beautiful and Elle Decor. Your styling is impeccable. What kind of sets do you design? I'd love to see your work.
A truly wonderful and inviting kitchen. My grandfather's woodworking bench is piled with junk in my parents' garage. Time to rescue it!
Please help me find that soap dispenser! I looked at Napa Style's website, but it looks like they no longer carry it. Google magic didn't work either. Any help would be greatly appreciated... I'm in love with the thing.
^ i'm in the same boat. there was ONE on ebay that is in less than good condition, different brand and everything though.
thank you so much for your appreciation of my kitchen... : )
the soap dispenser was purchased some years ago from napa style and I can see that they no longer carry it : ( but I promise I haven't given up yet.... I'm gonna continue to find it .... i will keep you posted.
the stainless steel shelves were purchased here in NYC on the bowery but can be purchased from any industrial kitchen supply... these shelves are wonderful, durable and come in many different sizes.
One day I will have a kitchen that sophisticated.
you better make sure you source all of your stuff during your house tour, i'm pretty sure you will get a million questions :) haha
Alina, may I ask how you hung the curtain under your sink? It looks like you used some sort of hook system, but it's difficult to tell how it's attached. The apartment I just moved into has a similar sink, and I've been at a loss as to how to hang a curtain on a ceramic surface.
Also - I am in love with your kitchen. Please come work your magic in my apartment.
Where is Alina and her kitchen located? USA or?
Lauramarloo,
I used a tension rod right underneath a the ridge of the sink... it was a simple easy solution and non-damaging.
Eva Gorman,
I am in New York City, Brooklyn : ) you can check out our online store at www.dargitane.com
Thanks! Do you remember what store you bought the shelves from? I checked out a few of the ones in the bowery but none of the shelving seem to look exactly like those, with the flat front.
hello PI,
I purchased another set from this place...Thewebrestaurantstore.com
I attached a link : )
http://www.webstaurantstore.com/72-stainless-steel-wall-shelf-16-gauge/600WS1272HD.html?utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=600WS1272HD&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=CJ-Ars7rj7ICFUfd4AodeGYADQ
Thanks!
Honestly, I think this has got to be the nicest kitchen I've ever seen! The lightning in the pictures is also quite amazing... Just perfection!
Those soap dispensers are the standard option for cheap restaurants, bus stations, etc. here in Brazil. I loved it too the first time I saw it, too, but it's certainly not high design here! Maybe Alibaba.com or a Brazilian supplier would have them.
quick note for JAJA Claire:
the standard ones you find for restaurants are quite different with respect the soap dispensing apparatus... trust me I looked at these thoroughly. many were created for powdered soap... I later learned from the original place I bought my particular dispenser was that they were fabricated exclusively for them. : / this particular design is for liquid. they even placed an extra bar with a small paddle so you don't have to touch it.
you did however bring up a really good point. I'm sure the cheap ones made for restaurants could be reconfigured so they work well used in this way. I think this presents an excellent alternative.
alina
Totally agree about the photo of Alina. Beautiful photos!
Dying to know what that dark wall color is!