Bold, Beautiful & Built to Perform: A Long-Awaited Kitchen Dream.
In this thoughtfully designed kitchen, the ILVE Nostalgie II takes center stage, uniting European elegance with the warmth and soul of an American home.
Project Highlights
San Antonio, Texas
Featured Appliance: ILVE Nostalgie II 40” Dual Fuel Range in Gloss Black + Brass Trim
Designed by @cm.interiors
Photography by: Madison Kircher
A Long-Awaited Kitchen Dream
For designer Cammie Malaga of CM Interiors, this project was deeply personal. After moving through 11 different homes to accommodate her husband’s career, she finally found her “forever” home in 2023, a late ’80s-inspired residence that felt straight out of the TV sitcoms she grew up watching.
“It reminded me of the beautiful homes I dreamed about as a child,” she shares. “When I walked in, I loved it right away.”
But the kitchen? It was dark, cramped, and lacking storage. To transform it into her dream space, Malaga partnered with her daughter and design team member Madison Kircher, alongside builder KJ Works, embarking on a full renovation.
The European Touch
A key design goal was weaving in European-inspired elements. Take the island, for example. Instead of a monolithic block, Malaga designed it as a piece of furniture—crafted from white oak brushed to highlight the grain and stained in Minwax’s Provincial for a timeworn, European feel. Custom-turned Etsy legs give it an antique vibe, while modern drawers and seating deliver everyday functionality. The honed Nero Mist granite countertop, edged with a classic ogee profile, ties it back to the surrounding inset shaker cabinetry.
Meanwhile, the perimeter counters and backsplash showcase Calacatta Viola marble, bold with purple, green, and gold veining. “Marble patinas and tells a story,” Malaga notes. “I love that it adds soul to a home.”
Balancing Color and Warmth
To harmonize with the marble’s tones, Malaga selected Farrow & Ball’s Inchyra Blue for the perimeter cabinetry—deep, saturated, and undeniably rich. To balance the bold color, she wrapped the window wall in custom white oak veneer strips, stained to match the island and ceiling beams. The move not only warms the space but also enhances the European aesthetic, steering away from trend-driven shiplap toward timeless paneling.
Light floods in through a new trio of five-foot-tall windows that replaced an awkward exterior door, bringing brightness into what was once a dim space.
The Range Alcove
Pulling this kitchen project together and leading the way is our ILVE Nostalgie II 40” Dual Fuel Range in Gloss Black with Brass trim. Framed by an arched alcove lined in Calacatta Viola marble, the range becomes both a visual anchor and a culinary powerhouse.
Malaga extended cabinetry to the ceiling around the alcove, finishing the uppermost doors with reeded glass inserts for a touch of transparency and display. A slim brass tipping rail crowns the arch, a European detail perfect for showcasing art, plates, or future finds.
Inside the alcove, shelves keep cooking oils and spices within reach, while the soft curve contrasts the many square edges of the kitchen. “Homes have so many straight lines,” Malaga explains. “Curves add dimension and softness.”
A Kitchen with Soul
From the patina-ready brass hardware to the mix of pulls, latches, and knobs chosen for functionality and scale, every detail in this kitchen is designed to be lived in and loved.
“It’s a kitchen that embraces history, imperfection, and beauty,” Malaga says. “It finally feels like home.”
