The kitchen is planned for two cooks. A waterfall island in grey-veined marble anchors the room with at least 42 inches (about 1,070 mm) of clear aisle around it, enough for one person to open the dishwasher while another passes behind. Tall storage, the oven and a glazed pantry door line one wall, keeping heavy appliances in one zone. Open shelving in blackened metal shows ceramics and books without clutter. Dining sits in the same palette, so the kitchen and table read as one continuous room. White is layered rather than flat: matte plaster, satin lacquer and veined marble each reflect light differently, a quality Steen Eiler Rasmussen describes when he writes about how texture changes the way we perceive a surface. Herringbone oak warms the floor. Furniture references makers such as Poliform and Minotti, whose low, precise lines suit the calm of the envelope, set beside sculptural, Deco-influenced pieces and mirrors that give each room a point of character.