Kitchen of the Week: One Man's Vintage-Modern Mash-Up

After real estate developer Jay Lappen purchased this Los Angeles cottage from its longtime owner, he was eager to transform it from shabby-and-not-so-chic-anymore to a bolder, updated style. Rotting wood, overgrown ivy and dated decor mandated a gut renovation. For the kitchen, Lappen’s directive to interior designer Shelby Wood was that he loved a white kitchen and he rarely cooked anything on a stove. Though he loves to entertain, he’s more of a barbecue and microwave kind of chef. This meant creating a space where the kitchen was the heart of a party that could easily spill out into the yard.

Photos by Meghan Bob Photography

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Real estate developer Jay Lappen and his beloved dog, Dolce
Location: Los Angeles, California
Size: 250 square feet (23 square meters)
Designer: Shelby Wood Design

Before, the kitchen had its charms but the narrow galley layout meant it was all work and no play. Most of the elements had become dated, and Lappen wanted an indoor-outdoor feeling with a more significant connection to the outside.


Wood pushed into an existing office to transform the room from galley to eat-in. The new kitchen’s style is a mash-up of old and new, with clean lines, bright white cabinets and light white oak floors lending a modern look while eclectic pieces add vintage touches. “My client loves antiques,” Wood explains. This kept her on the hunt for unique accessories and furnishings for the project. She found the vintage scale at the Rose Bowl Flea Market.

In the back corner you can see one of two large pantry cabinets — the other one is on the opposite side of the room. One is for humans, the other holds all of Dolce’s dog food and gear.


Wood sourced the chicken wire glass on these cabinet doors from Pennsylvania. They show off favorite vintage pieces such as seltzer bottles, martini shakers and other barware and add some interesting texture. Another vintage touch is the hardware. The pulls look like they came from antique library drawers, but they’re actually brand-new from Pottery Barn.


Lappen isn’t much for cooking but he does love to entertain. The bar cart is vintage and belonged to Lappen’s grandfather. It sits in front of a reclaimed-wood sliding barn door that’s used to close off the bedroom hallway.

The barn door and the table were made by local furniture maker Scott Pezzini. He’s a surfer who’s always on the hunt for old barn wood while on surfing trips in Northern California. The table base is from an antique sewing table that Wood scored at a favorite local source, Pepe’s Thrifty Shop.

Range and vent hood: Dacor; wood accessories (on shelves): West Elm


Using smaller-scale textures throughout broke up all the white and kept it from feeling too stark. The textured sink and small-scale white tiles with gray grout helped accomplish the look. Light white oak floors add a Scandinavian modern touch.

Sink and faucets: Kohler


The sconces are clean and modern yet get a vintage look from Edison bulbs.

“I love everything Ann Sacks, where this tile is from,” Wood says. “What most people don’t realize is that they have a bargain wall, which is where I found this tile.”


Two new wide, modern doors open to the yard, which was also part of the renovation. Wood tapped ETO Doors to make custom French doors that were as wide as possible. They swing out to completely open the kitchen to the yard.

The yellow chairs were an eBay find and the designer scored the rattan chandelier at One Kings Lane.

Door paint color: Rainy Lake DE5852, Dunn-Edwards


The new backyard is also party-ready. The fire pit and custom bench are made of poured-in-place concrete.


Here’s a wider look at the outdoor room. Lappen wanted to incorporate some grass for Dolce, but otherwise Wood focused on drought-tolerant plants. There are also plenty of spots for lounging, gathering and grilling.

Contractor (including landscaping): Santiago Gonzales, Southland Building and Remodel
Developer: Riviera Property Group

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