Photographer's Paradise

Sometimes even new builds miss the mark when it comes to style. These homeowners found the perfect place to call home but it felt a little "meh" and called on design partner Studio Hemma to help.

Known for their bold and deeply intimate photography, homeowners Jeff and Cat Chang of The Apartment Photo now have a sanctuary in which to create, evolve, and perfect their craft.

"When you work from home, you need inspiration at your fingertips, and when you bring so much joy to others with your work, it's nice to look up and get to experience it in your own home as well.” - Meaghan, Studio Hemma

While the palette is still light and bright, the new materials were curated with a tranquil layered goal in mind. The softness from the custom off-white (Benjamin Moore's Halo) millwork married with the natural texture from the Coastal collection in Cove keeps everything fresh without being boisterous. To keep the space from being too sleepy, deep contrast through matte finishes in all the fixtures and finishes gives just enough edge to keep up with the artistic homeowners.

Integrated appliances lift a lot of weight in this space when it comes to creating a harmonious experience. In such a small and streamlined footprint, it can easily feel choppy or busy when your eyes bounce between many finishes. With integrated appliances, the fridge and dishwasher literally disappear allowing your eyes to experience the space without interruption. Going with a minimal cooktop pair with a wall oven below enhances that streamlined experience even more with their subtle profiles.

Finally, creating balance between open and closed spaces can be a challenge in a linear or galley-style kitchen but by both raising the upper cabinets above the range countertop to align with the hood fan and creating space for both counter seating and open storage along the backside of the peninsula, Studio Hemma physically created lightness in what could have felt like two long blocks of millwork otherwise.

Now all that's left for the homeowners to do is enjoy dinners, parties and quiet mornings in their new retreat.