Steal This Look: A Tranquil Kitchen on the French Riviera

by Alexa Hotz

French architect Sabine Bell and British designer Lauren Jennings took on the update of a 1927 historic carved concrete dwelling originally built by Jacques Couëlle. While preserving the identity of the original structure, the team built out a kitchen extension, extending the slate floors of the living room, building out hand-painted Shaker-like cabinetry, and outfitting with traditional fixtures and appliances, including a Lacanche range. Here we list out the key elements of the kitchen:

castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 0

Above: The cabinets are from Jennings’ family kitchen company, Neptune by Closa, of Tetbury, England, painted in a pale gray shade from Mylands. Photograph by Sarah Button, courtesy of Lauren Olivia Design from Organic Architecture on the Côte d’Azur: A Jacques Couëlle Villa with a New Kitchen Extension. castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 1

castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 1

Above: A view of the slate floor tiles and a flatweave rug anchor the kitchen, fitted with a traditional farmhouse sink and faucet. Photograph by Sarah Button, courtesy of Lauren Olivia Design from Organic Architecture on the Côte d’Azur: A Jacques Couëlle Villa with a New Kitchen Extension. castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 2

castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 2

Above: A Provençal essential: the Lacanche kitchen range. The sculptural built-in vent hood is inspired by Couëlle’s curved concrete walls. Photograph by Sarah Button, courtesy of Lauren Olivia Design from Organic Architecture on the Côte d’Azur: A Jacques Couëlle Villa with a New Kitchen Extension. castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 3

castelleras villa kitchen extension designed by architect sabine bell and desig 3

Above: The countertops and backsplash are built out in local limestone. Photograph by Sarah Button, courtesy of Lauren Olivia Design from Organic Architecture on the Côte d’Azur: A Jacques Couëlle Villa with a New Kitchen Extension.

Paint

Above: The kitchen has Closa’s Suffolk cabinets, designed and fabricated in the Cotswolds. They’re hand-painted in a shade called Cornice from Mylands.