Building My Dream Kitchen
From the appliances I chose to the tiles to the paint color!
Building my dream kitchen was always going to be a challenge—but one that I was up for, because it’s the most important space in my home! What would be the vibe? The aesthetic? The appliances? Luckily, I had Ronen Lev to help me create a moodboard as a starting point. The inspo? English countryside, the mountains of Ibiza and the beaches of Amagansett—modern, chic and cool but nothing that looked austere or Tik Tok griege. It had to feel personal and utilitarian—maybe even a little quirky.
We had a small space to work with—no more than 140 square feet roughly where I could dream up a natural lit space where I could create, test and tools that work as hard as I do.
When it came to the appliances, I knew I would go straight to P.C. Richard & Son, which has always been our source for the best appliances even growing up in New Jersey. We worked with closely with P.C. Richard & Son and the SKS Appliances team, visiting their NYC showroom and scouring their website to find something that fit our space and needs exactly. Here’s what we chose!
Choosing Appliances That Elevate Everything
The appliances were at the heart of the transformation. I sourced them from PC Richard & Son because I wanted reliability, strong customer support, and premium options that would last.
The Refrigerator: Function Meets Elegance
Even with a small space, I wanted the kitchen to feel like a statement. When looking for our fridge, French doors were one of my non-negotiable so we settled on the Signature Kitchen Suite 36 in. 25.5 cu. ft. Smart Counter Depth French Door Refrigerator with Ice & Water Dispenser in stainless steel. We opted for sage green paneled doors, which felt a bit more sophisticated than exposed steel. This way it feels less like an appliance and more like part of the architecture.
Counter depth was essential and we designed the fridge to sit flush with the sage green cabinetry, maintaining the clean modern lines of the space. But beyond aesthetics, this refrigerator changed how I organize ingredients.
The generous 25.5 cubic feet of space allows me to store my farmers market produce, homemade broths, fresh herbs, and prepped components for multiple Bonberi recipes at once. The French door design makes everything visible and accessible—which is major! No forgotten greens hiding in the back. The ice and water dispenser adds convenience without disrupting the sleek exterior—plus my kids love pouring themselves their own glass of ice cold filtered water (we also pre-filter our house water supply with a Radiant Life home unit.)
The Range: Where the Magic Happens
For our oven and range, we went with Signature Kitchen Suite 36 in. 6.3 cu. ft. Smart Standard Convection Gas Range with 6 Sealed Burners in stainless steel that we also found at P.C. Richard & Son.
The four burners and touch panels give me complete control while making it easy and quick to use. I love that I can simmer a curry on one burner with a pre-setting while searing vegetables on high heat on another. I really love the middle grill for searing veggies and meat.
Whether I’m roasting winter veg, baking my kids fave gluten-free muffins, or finishing a one-pan dinner, the convection feature ensures even heat distribution. I also loved the professional kitchen stainless steel finish that feels rustic and utilitarian.
Other Design Details
Some design details that completed the space:
Soft-close drawers to maintain the peaceful, cozy atmosphere, we used these brass pulls that felt country but chic and strong, utilitarian fridge handles
White Cervino Stone that is durable and aesthetic, which we sourced from BAS Stone
Recessed lighting below the cabinetry
One of my favorite features of the kitchen are the tiles. We worked with Petra Palumbo on custom Delft tiles, similar to the ones we have at Bonberi Mart. We even custom designed a few like a RUSS Troll Doll and Bonberi Mart salad, motifs that were meaning to us like the kids’ zodiac signs and my favorite ingredients.
