{"id":2606,"date":"2024-02-03T18:33:50","date_gmt":"2024-02-03T10:33:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/2024\/02\/03\/kitchen-of-the-week-a-philadelphia-photographer-builds-his-dream-kitchen-with-ikea-cabinets-and-semihandmade-fronts\/"},"modified":"2024-02-03T18:33:50","modified_gmt":"2024-02-03T10:33:50","slug":"kitchen-of-the-week-a-philadelphia-photographer-builds-his-dream-kitchen-with-ikea-cabinets-and-semihandmade-fronts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/homeofmaterials.com\/nl\/kitchen-of-the-week-a-philadelphia-photographer-builds-his-dream-kitchen-with-ikea-cabinets-and-semihandmade-fronts\/","title":{"rendered":"Keuken van de week: Een fotograaf uit Philadelphia bouwt zijn droomkeuken met Ikea-kastjes en Semihandgemaakte fronten"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Over the course of 15 years of shooting interiors and food, Philadelphia photographer Jason Varney started envisioning his dream kitchen. It would have veined white marble counters, cabinets painted a pale gray, wood accents for earthiness, and a bit of an industrial vibe to \u201cbalance the softness.\u201d What he was picturing wasn\u2019t for his home but for his studio, where it could be used as a backdrop and prep space, and, on occasion, an after-hours party spot.<\/p>\n

As it was, Jason had plenty of room in his existing loft but its kitchen missed the mark. And so when two local friends, the creatives behind home furnishing and lighting companies Lostine, RTO Lighting, and Natalie Page Studio, mentioned they were turning the top floor of their headquarters into artist spaces, Jason was one of the first to sign a lease.<\/p>\n

The setup offered perfect natural light, high ceilings, and the opportunity to build out exactly what he had devised in his head. \u201cI\u2019m handy and have experience in construction from my photographer-turned-contractor Dad, so I knew I could tackle most of the work myself\u2014with some help from pals,\u201d Jason told us. Having contacts in the kitchen business and handy friends in the same building also helped. Join us for a look.<\/p>\n

Photography by Jason Varney (@varneyphoto), styling by Kristi Hunter, courtesy of Semihandmade.<\/p>\n


Above: The kitchen is oriented perpendicular to a bank of north-facing metal-framed windows. All of the appliances are from Bluestar: \u201cthey were selected first, so that set an elevated tone,\u201d says Jason. The cabinet fronts are by Semihandmade, which makes drawers and doors for Ikea cabinet boxes. Jason had used their designs on his home kitchen and when he posted the results, the owner of Semihandmade recruited him to shoot for them. <\/p>\n

The counters and backsplash are statuary marble, a splurge from a nearby stone yard. The floor is durable white oak procured from a mill Lostine uses.<\/p>\n


Above: The 36-inch matte white range is from Bluestar\u2019s RNB Series. Jason had initially envisioned boxing the Bluestar Pro-Line Hood in drywall with a plaster finish, then decided it ought to be more hard-edged. Michelle Kwiecien, a multidisciplinary artist in the building, fabricated what he was after: \u201ca cover made of hot-rolled steel that\u2019s torch cut leaving the flame banding.\u201d,<\/p>\n

Jason built the island himself. It houses the dishwasher and trash pullout. He added the reeded front to \u201cmatch the flooring and give it a little extra visual appeal.\u201d That detail wasn\u2019t as hard to create as it looks: readymade white oak tambour panels from SurfacingSolution got cut to fit. The Oletto Faucet and 33-inch stainless steel sink are both from Kraus. Jason painted the island\u2019s end panels a dark navy, Benjamin Moore\u2019s Blue Note: \u201cthe subtle blue of the steel hood ties in with the blue of the island cabs.\u201d<\/p>\n


Above: The cabinets are from Semihandmade\u2019s new collection DIY Quarterline by designer Sarah Sherman Samuel. They\u2019re a paintable version of her Quarterline fronts, which Jason describes as \u201cclassic Shaker style with a thinner border for a modern edge.\u201d <\/p>\n

The drawer fronts\u2014painted here in Benjamin Moore\u2019s Silver Song\u2014 pair with Ikea\u2019s Sektion cabinets. During the pandemic, Jason reports, the latter were hard to get: \u201cI had to recruit a photo assistant in Houston to pick up and ship two of the missing pieces to me; they were the only Ikea in America that had them.\u201d Go to Ikea Upgrade to see Sarah Sherman Samuel\u2019s own Semihandmade Kitchen from years back. And here\u2019s A Brooklyn Kitchen with Semihandmade\u2019s DIY Shaker Doors.<\/p>\n


Above: The Bluestar 36-inch Pro Built-In Refrigerator has a surround painted to match the cabinets. Jason notes that the matte black Berenson Metro Cabinet Pulls were well priced: about $15 each.
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Above: Wondering about the still-life painting on the kitchen shelf? Jason bought it at a taqueria in West Hollywood, artist unknown. The Grace Sconces and Gordon Stools came straight from the Lostine workshop in the building. <\/p>\n

Here are three more inspired kitchen designs belonging to photographers:<\/p>\n