It's easy to feel a little bit envious of Cameron Diaz. The actress owns a Lake-Como-inspired Montecito estate – complete with sweeping high ceilings and a timeless color palette. But, just when we thought we were already jealous enough, we spotted her kitchen.
Cameron, known for Charlie's Angels and The Mask, recently teamed up with her Hollywood counterpart Gwyneth Paltrow (or, rather, her brand Goop Kitchen), who created a salad to pair with her Sauvignon Blanc in the kitchen. And while it's easy to get excited about the pair's collab, we admit we were slightly more distracted by Cameron's kitchen in the background.
Featuring veined monochromatic marble, sleek wooden cabinets, and understated gold hardware, the kitchen subtly radiates quiet luxury – this season's chicest design trend. But what is quiet luxury? And how does Cameron get it so right? Here, designers weigh in on the discussion.
'Quiet luxury is exactly what it sounds like – achieved using understated high-quality finishes,' says Chicago-based designer Paige Garland. 'If a client came to me requesting a "quiet luxury" style kitchen, I would think of patinaed unlacquered brass, subtle marble veining, and a little warmth – nothing too stark or contrasted.'
This is precisely what we see in Cameron Diaz's kitchen.
'Unless high contrast is your thing – I love to highlight an ultra-eye-catching stone [like Cameron's],' she comments. 'Instead of a traditional tiled backsplash, bring your countertop material up the wall' for a subtle yet powerful, quiet-luxe aesthetic.
Paige Garland is the principal designer at Paige Garland Interiors, based in Chicago, Illinois – but working nationwide. She works in luxury residential design – aiming to create a timeless aesthetic that fits her client's lifestyles and evolves over time.
And marble aside, Paige says that Cameron's high-quality cabinetry, woodwork, and finishes further pay homage to this ever-emerging kitchen trend. 'Care and attention to detail are key in this style,' she says.
Like the actress, the designer recommends a neutral color palette and encourages us to mix our materials. 'If you're going with painted cabinets, consider a two-toned look or pair your cabinetry with a stained wood island.' she says.
'Quiet luxury isn't overtly extravagant. You want to create a clean, peaceful atmosphere that doesn't feel boring. Mix in antiques and heirlooms when you get the chance to add a personal twist, and most importantly, make sure it's extremely functional – there's nothing luxurious about a kitchen with a poor layout. And, when in doubt, talk to a designer.'
In the past, Cameron worked with esteemed designer Kelly Wearstler – a pioneer of quiet luxury. The SoCal designer is famed for her exploration of materiality, color, forms, and an intuitive juxtaposition of contemporary and vintage, architectural and organic, graphic and instinctual: the fundamentals of the trend.
It's uncertain whether Kelly created the space in the footage, but we're still keen to read up on her most celebrated designs nonetheless. We're starting with this book (available via Amazon) below.
Looking for more kitchen inspiration? We're turning to this book by kitchen design master Barbara Sallick – also available via Amazon.
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