In the heart of Sierra Madre, California, Lauren Gardner of Canyon Collected Design embarked on a journey to restore the kitchen of her 1894 Victorian vernacular home. Her vision was clear: to create a space that honored the home’s historical roots while incorporating modern functionality. The result is a kitchen that seamlessly blends the old with the new, offering a wealth of design inspiration.
Gardner’s initial plan included two islands—a traditional workspace and an antique dairy table—to bring warmth and character to the newly renovated space. However, as the gut renovation progressed, it became evident that the original layout compromised the essential kitchen triangle, affecting the flow between the sink, stove, and refrigerator. Rather than abandoning her vision, Gardner got creative, extending the quartzite island with a custom butcher block table to maintain a clean footprint while achieving the desired functionality.
Smart Design Solutions for a Functional Kitchen
The extended island, with its open shelving beneath the wood portion, helps the piece feel more like furniture than built-in cabinetry. This design choice softens the transition between the kitchen and the adjacent living room. A brass strip connects the seam where the two materials meet, turning what could have been an awkward transition into a standout detail.
Gardner’s attention to detail is evident throughout the room. Oil-rubbed bronze and antiqued mirror light fixtures, along with glass-fronted hutches, were chosen to stay true to the era of the architecture. These hutches offer a glimpse into Gardner’s antique tableware collection, a nod to her love of flea markets and estate sales. “I wanted something that felt collected and lived-in, not overly new,” she says.
Custom Storage Solutions
Custom wood drawers with food-grade mesh fronts were stained to match the hutches and are used to store fresh produce. “They’re one of my favorite parts of the kitchen,” Gardner says. “Everything has a place, and it all feels intentional.”
With a focus on functionality, Gardner designed the kitchen with zones for prep, storage, and baking—each with its own dedicated organization systems. Just steps from the fridge, a bank of drawers is stocked with food containers and Ziploc bags, ideal for school lunch prep. Near the range, knife storage and a pull-out cutting board with a hole for scraps over the trash bin make produce prep and cleanup a breeze.
Connecting Indoors and Outdoors
In the dining nook, Gardner carved out space for a dedicated coffee bar, outfitted with a marble countertop, floating shelves, and a hidden appliance garage to keep small essentials out of sight. A deep, compact sink by Ruvati features a removable tray insert, allowing the surface to double as additional counter space—ideal for serving extra guests or simply streamlining the morning coffee routine.
At the far end of the kitchen, fourteen-foot bifold windows swing open to an outdoor bar, continuing the same quartzite used inside. “My husband really wanted a big bifold door that opened out into the garden, and while I loved the idea, we just didn’t have the wall space—we needed it for cabinetry and storage,” says Gardner. Instead, they opted for a bifold window which is now one of her favorite features. “It’s such a lovely way to connect the indoors and outdoors,” she says. It serves as a natural gathering point, embodying the relaxed, refined spirit that defines her home.
About the Designer
The co-owner of Canyon Collected Design in Sierra Madre, California, Lauren Gardner loves to mix vintage pieces with modern elements in a harmonious way. Her aim is to reflect the personality of the homeowner and elevate the environment to make the home feel like a sacred space. She lives in an 1890s Victorian she has renovated and lovingly curates to reflect the seasons and her family’s changing needs.
