Photography: Jacqueline Marque; Styling: Suzonne Stirling.

New Orleans-based designer Carleton Young is known for interiors that exude Southern elegance—and the gorgeous kitchen she designed for a client’s home in Metairie, Louisiana is no exception. “I was working on her parent’s home when we met,” explains Young, “and it was just a serendipitous fit.” 

To keep to her client’s directive to design a kitchen that was not only bright, welcoming, and cohesive with the rest of the home (which Young also designed), but also highly functional for entertaining, the designer incorporated clean-lined cabinetry that adds a subtle decorative element while providing ample storage space. She also had the cabinet maker create a custom hood adorned with brass accents by a local craftsman. A Cristallo quartzite with gorgeous gold veining adds a sense of movement to the kitchen island—which is backlit for a fun and ambient entertaining feature—and backsplash. To add a pop of color, Young outfitted the Kravet custom counter stools with a pink-toned performance velvet that perfectly plays off the chair’s wooden frame and forms a beautiful counterpoint to the shades of white and mixed metals throughout the space. Pendant lights from Hudson Valley Lighting tie in all the brass and gold accents while a vaulted ceiling and ample windows allow the homeowners to take advantage of the natural light. “I love having layers of lighting for different moods and functions,” says Young. 

To continue with the elegant aesthetic yet ensure the client had high-performing appliances that cater to entertaining, the designer outfitted the kitchen with a 48” Side-by-Side True Residential unit in Stainless Steel and Brass that complements the stainless range. “We wanted the fridge to be eye-catching and unique while still maintaining the highest quality—the stainless and brass combination really added a “wow” factor and tied everything together,” says Young. “I was familiar with True, but mostly in regards to the commercial division. This was my first specification of True Residential—and the experience was very good. The residential options really added to the feel of a chef’s kitchen without looking too industrial—it was also fun to experience a glass door fridge and see into a typically closed-off area of the kitchen. It simultaneously adds practicality and an interesting surprise.”