FINDING BEAUTY
THE SOCIAL KITCHEN
1 November 2025
I’m a strong believer in the art of gathering, and the beauty of coming together around food and drink. It’s good for the soul as we nurture relationships and strengthen bonds. Preparing a meal for friends and family has been at the heart of our sense of community forever. That’s why I love, love, love to program a great kitchen.
The kitchen has established itself as command central for cooking as well as entertaining, and every kitchen reveals the rhythms and stories of the life unfolding in the home. When we think about our dream kitchen, we often think of huge, expansive spaces, with islands as big as continents, walk-in pantries, and storage for days. While it’s wonderful to have loads of space, even a smaller kitchen can be thoughtfully programmed to make cooking a joy. It’s all about planning, proximity, and organization.
When we design a kitchen, we start with layout and sightlines. Where is the kitchen located in relation to the entry, dining room, views of the outdoors, and garage? How do people enter and exit? How will they bring the things they need in and out? Where does the light fall at different times of day? Who is living in the house, and what are their daily routines? How are we accommodating guests? All of these things go into the mix as we begin shaping the flow of a kitchen. And while every house is different, there are certain principles that hold true in the composition of every kitchen.
Rethinking the Triangle
Most of us are familiar with the long-standing concept of the “kitchen work triangle.” Over years of designing kitchens—for clients and for myself—I’ve found that this classic framework doesn’t quite capture the complexity of how we truly live and cook today. My approach has evolved toward thinking in zones: unloading and storage, food prep, cleanup, dishwasher duty, and, of course, a zone for gathering. It’s really about breaking down the tasks of cooking and entertaining, then organizing the space to make each one as efficient and enjoyable as possible. Is everything within arm’s reach? Are items organized in the order they are typically used? Are the ingredients and tools I need positioned close to where the prep and cooking will happen? Are there clearly defined and separate areas for cooking and clean up? And is there space for family and guests to engage with me while I cook—without interrupting my flow?
Once we’ve established the layout, and we start designing cabinetry, we create a “kitchen map”—a map of where every single item in the kitchen will live. This gives our clients a chance to “walk through” the kitchen, in their heads and on paper, and feel how it will function for them, providing them the opportunity to think about how and when they use each item in the kitchen in their daily lives. We gently push them to think outside the box, moving from the most expected way to organize into a more customized mindset. For example, there is absolutely no need to store all dishware together—I like to organize everyday dishes in reach of the sink and dishwasher, with less-frequently used pieces tucked further away.
Defining the Hard Working Supermodels
When I talk about design elements, I like to think in terms of what we call ‘hard-working supermodels.’ To me, it’s about creating spaces—and especially kitchens—that are as functional as they are beautiful. The “supermodel” part speaks to the beauty, while the “hard-working” part is all about performance: how well the kitchen supports every need, from organization to cooking to entertaining. Think about the elements of your home you can’t imagine living without — they look great and do double or triple duty. In the kitchen, one key element is often the island. Islands can be highly customized and programmed in countless ways; the possibilities are truly endless. Large or small, they naturally draw people to gather around them, whether it’s to share a glass of wine with the cook, nibble on a charcuterie board, or do homework. They also provide an opportunity to bring personality into the kitchen, with unique finishes, bold paint choices, and as a stage for a beautiful bowl of seasonal fruit or fresh flowers. I also like to include a secondary sink whenever I can, and on an island is the perfect location. It supports food prep and is a great way to divide and conquer at the end of the evening, giving others space to lean in and help with cleanup. And who doesn’t love that?!
Let There Be Light
The right choices of architectural and decorative lighting will make a kitchen come to life in the most sublime ways. What’s important is planning a lighting layout for tasking as well as gatherings. Keep top of mind the idea of layering lighting to achieve success here. In the ceiling, we love the smallest diameter possible for LED recessed lighting, in a logical pattern, to achieve overall illumination and focus task lighting over sink and prep areas. As the eye travels vertically from the ceiling, consider using hidden, LED strip lighting inside glass front cabinets and at the underside of upper cabinets to highlight and sculpt the space. Next, think beauty….decorative pendants, wall sconces, and small table lamps are definitely hard working super models in the kitchen! Not only are they lovely to behold, they are a focused light source, and bring a lighting layer to a more human scale - particularly when the ceilings are high. I love a cordless table lamp in a kitchen - on an island to create an evening mood or as a nightlight - it’s useful and unexpected. And finally, be intentional about switching each group of lights separately for multiple choices in terms of dimming and setting scenes. Bright for cooking and homework, dimmed and sculpted for cocktails and apps. We love products like Lutron systems with their beautiful Alisse or Palladiom keypads.
At the end of the day, a well-programmed kitchen isn’t just about good looks—it’s about creating a space that truly serves you, your family, and your life. When beauty and function come together seamlessly, your kitchen becomes so much more than a place to cook; it becomes the heart of your home, where the life you dream of naturally gathers and unfolds.
With you,
Paulina
A Few of My Favorites For Your Well-Programmed Kitchen:
Beautiful boards are a must in my kitchen. My favorite board lives on my counter—an end-grain walnut beauty that I use every day for food prep and serving and I’m constantly oiling. It’s as hard-working as they come and worth every penny.
John Boos & Co. Cutting Boards
This past summer I traveled back to La Foresteria in Sicily. It was transformative — the food, the wine! — and one of the reasons for a return visit was Planeta Estate olive oil. It’s organic, grown on land that’s been in the same family for 16 generations. Nothing will transform your cooking more than great olive oil, and this one comes with a dose of history. My favorite is the Nocellara del Belice. If you can’t make it to Sicily, it’s also available from several U.S. retailers online.
This Savory Shitake Seasoning from All
Star Organics is like magic unicorn dust!
It makes absolutely everything better,
with a perfect umami flavor, and it’s
local. We pick it up at Woodland’s
Market with shops in San Francisco,
Kentfield, or Tiburon but you can visit
their website to learn more about them
and see a full list of retail partners.
I love a small rechargeable lamp for its versatility and style. Perfect next to a charcuterie board for guests gathered around the kitchen island, as a cozy nightlight on the kitchen counter, or outside to illuminate dinner on the patio. This one from Visual Comfort is super portable, incredibly functional, and available in four finishes.
Small touches make a big difference in the kitchen. I always have linen napkins ready to go. They’re beautiful, durable, and they effortlessly elevate a place setting. The washed Italian linen napkins from Williams Sonoma come in every color imaginable. Pro-tip: rather than putting them in the dryer -smooth flat and stack while wet for table ready napkins without ironing!