Is that stainless steel on the countertops flanking the Wolf stove?
No, it’s nickel. The sink, the stove, and the refrigerator are all stainless steel, and I liked the idea of mixing metals. The retro hardware is also nickel. I think of nickel as a kinder, gentler metal. What’s it like to work with? It’s a little softer, and has an older feel. I put it next to the stove because it’s burnproof. What about scratching? Let’s just say that in the first year, it doesn’t look as good as it does in the third year, when all the scratches are there. The black-and-white tile looks great against the mustard-yellow paint, and I love that detail of the recessed shelf behind the stove. Usually there’s enough room back there to carve out some space. The recess is a lot more interesting than a plain wall, and it’s great for holding things like salt, pepper, and olive oil. Sometimes I’ll even change the tile pattern in the inset, but this time I decided it was better to be restrained. You’re very good at tucking in all sorts of storage. I notice the island has great bi
