Italian-Inspired Cottage Kitchen Full of Warmth and Craftsmanship
A design-build duo channels a social cooking life into a bright, functional kitchen in their own home
When design-build pros Ron and Elisa Scarpa added a new structure to their historic Winter Park, Florida, property, they wanted a kitchen built around the way they actually live. Elisa, who grew up in Italy, shaped the open layout around a social cooking life — lots of entertaining, lots of daily time in the kitchen. “It’s absolutely how we live our life,” she says.
Custom white Shaker cabinetry keeps things bright against dramatic soapstone backsplash and counters, while a maple butcher block prep surface and walnut plank flooring add warmth and craftsmanship. Smart storage — semiopen drawers, a baking sheet rack, open shelves for cookbooks and snacks — keeps the space highly functional. A spacious island with seating and a workstation sink anchor the social flow. And a walk-in pantry with a coffee and tea station and brick veneer floor adds charm and extra utility. Vintage finds and nods to the family’s Italian heritage complete this hardworking, warmly lived-in kitchen.
Custom white Shaker cabinetry keeps things bright against dramatic soapstone backsplash and counters, while a maple butcher block prep surface and walnut plank flooring add warmth and craftsmanship. Smart storage — semiopen drawers, a baking sheet rack, open shelves for cookbooks and snacks — keeps the space highly functional. A spacious island with seating and a workstation sink anchor the social flow. And a walk-in pantry with a coffee and tea station and brick veneer floor adds charm and extra utility. Vintage finds and nods to the family’s Italian heritage complete this hardworking, warmly lived-in kitchen.
An integrated prep table puts function front and center. The reclaimed maple butcher block top handles chopping, dicing and dough with durability and visual warmth. Large semiopen drawers with integrated pulls make contents easy to spot and grab. An open rack to the left keeps baking sheets within arm’s reach. “It allows me to just pull the cookie sheet, measuring cups or the glass mixing bowl I need,” Elisa says. “It’s all in there. That’s the area where the food gets made.” Unlacquered brass knobs and pulls will develop a natural patina over time.
A pair of painted custom wood shelves with brackets coordinate with the cabinetry, displaying candles, cookbooks, decorative items and snack canisters. Two operable windows flanking the shelves bring in natural light and fresh air. Screen-print canvas photos of Italy cover the lower panes — a quiet nod to Elisa’s homeland. “The light still comes through somewhat but they’re still there,” she says. The copper cookware displayed on the walls was brought from Italy.
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A pair of painted custom wood shelves with brackets coordinate with the cabinetry, displaying candles, cookbooks, decorative items and snack canisters. Two operable windows flanking the shelves bring in natural light and fresh air. Screen-print canvas photos of Italy cover the lower panes — a quiet nod to Elisa’s homeland. “The light still comes through somewhat but they’re still there,” she says. The copper cookware displayed on the walls was brought from Italy.
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A compact stainless steel French range with brass accents takes center stage on the cooking wall, delivering five powerful gas burners and a large electric convection oven. “I love the European-style range with different-sized burners,” Elisa says. “It has a super large one in the center for when I make pasta. We wanted to fill this space with things that work well but are also beautiful.”
A custom hood by the cabinetmaker conceals a powerful fan — and a surprise. “The front panel actually opens with a hydraulic lift,” Elisa says. “We have room inside to store an oven pan and a big pot for pasta.” A carefully selected soapstone slab backs the range. “I like soapstone a lot,” Elisa says. “It’s easier than marble in the kitchen.”
The terra-cotta canisters lining the counter are from Italy, chosen with intention. “Terra cotta is a material we use a lot in Italy,” Elisa says. “When you create a kitchen, you want to layer different textures and materials. It’s a way to honor a tradition.”
Range: Albertine, La Cornue
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A custom hood by the cabinetmaker conceals a powerful fan — and a surprise. “The front panel actually opens with a hydraulic lift,” Elisa says. “We have room inside to store an oven pan and a big pot for pasta.” A carefully selected soapstone slab backs the range. “I like soapstone a lot,” Elisa says. “It’s easier than marble in the kitchen.”
The terra-cotta canisters lining the counter are from Italy, chosen with intention. “Terra cotta is a material we use a lot in Italy,” Elisa says. “When you create a kitchen, you want to layer different textures and materials. It’s a way to honor a tradition.”
Range: Albertine, La Cornue
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The two doorways flanking the range open to this butler’s pantry and mudroom. White cabinetry wraps one side while a chestnut armoire on the other handles shoes and coats. Brick flooring in a herringbone pattern sets a durable old-world tone. “It reminds me of old cottages,” Elisa says. “Since this was designed to look like a cottage, I love the look of the brick and it’s easy with my dogs. It’s functional and beautiful.”
The Tempest quartzite countertops and backsplash bring quiet elegance — swirling grays, reds and greens that tie the space together. “It was about color and the moment of the stone,” Elisa says. “It brings in my entire pantry palette really.” Brushed nickel cabinet hardware and a polished nickel pull-down faucet are a subtle shift from the brass accents in the main kitchen.
A 30-inch steam oven anchors one end beside the coffee and tea station, stocked with everything from mugs to strainers. Upper shelves hold sugar, honey and a few cherished decorative pieces — including one of Elisa’s mother’s tea sets. “It’s a one-stop shop,” Elisa says. “That was the goal.”
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The Tempest quartzite countertops and backsplash bring quiet elegance — swirling grays, reds and greens that tie the space together. “It was about color and the moment of the stone,” Elisa says. “It brings in my entire pantry palette really.” Brushed nickel cabinet hardware and a polished nickel pull-down faucet are a subtle shift from the brass accents in the main kitchen.
A 30-inch steam oven anchors one end beside the coffee and tea station, stocked with everything from mugs to strainers. Upper shelves hold sugar, honey and a few cherished decorative pieces — including one of Elisa’s mother’s tea sets. “It’s a one-stop shop,” Elisa says. “That was the goal.”
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The kitchen flows into a light-filled dining area with an antique table Elisa refinished herself. The living room is just out of view on the right. “The kitchen has always been the center of every home I’ve lived in,” Elisa says. “The more inviting the kitchen is, the more time you can spend in it without fuss.”
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Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here: Ron and Elisa Scarpa and their two dogs
Location: Winter Park, Florida
Size: 205 square feet (19 square meters), plus a 105-square-foot (9.8-square-meter) walk-in pantry and mudroom
Design-build pros: Ron and Elisa Scarpa of Barefoot Brothers Construction
The open kitchen was designed for both daily cooking and easy entertaining. “We entertain a lot and have a lot of our daily lives there,” Elisa says. Shadow White by Farrow & Ball — a soft white with a hint of gray — covers the walls, custom Shaker cabinetry and ceiling. Trim in Farrow & Ball’s Shaded White, a warm white with subtle green and gray undertones, adds quiet definition. “It’s very tone-on-tone throughout our home,” Elisa says. “These colors lend themselves to the different seasons. There’s always a way to bring color into the house with flowers or whatever.”
A 7-foot island grounds the space, fitted with a 33-inch workstation sink and an unlacquered brass pull-down faucet. Soapstone covers the island top, most perimeter counters and the backsplash. It’s a classic, nonporous, heat-resistant choice that pops against the lighter cabinetry and walls. Three rattan stools purchased at a local estate sale add texture and a natural touch.
The lighting throughout — two sconces, four schoolhouse-style ceiling fixtures and a pendant over the island — was custom-made by an Ohio designer. “I tailored the fixtures exactly to the materials I wanted,” Elisa says.
A paneled refrigerator and freezer share the right wall with a cabinet for everyday dishes and a large pullout pantry cabinet. Doorways at the back lead to the butler’s pantry and mudroom. Above them, two wall clocks display the time in Florida and Italy — a detail that says it all. “This kitchen was designed to reflect how I have one foot on one continent and one foot on another,” Elisa says. The flooring is walnut plank in a natural finish.
Cabinetmaker: Cabinet Designs of Central Florida
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