We are in New York City, in a wonderful vintage apartment in the luxury Upper East Side district, overlooking Central Park. New York designer Julie Hillman, in collaboration with Peter Pennoyer Architects, designed a kitchen with professional performance that was perfectly integrated with the home’s eclectic furnishing full of precious vintage details. In this elegant project, Officine Gullo created the kitchen and its furnishings by applying custom solutions that allowed the designers to meet the needs and wishes of the client. In fact, the kitchen was designed to be experienced in everyday life, as Julie Hillman tells us: “We wanted a space that could act as a kitchen but could visually appear as a room. The challenge was to separate the professional kitchen from the family space, but at the same time make it practical and in tune with the rest of the environment.” In the environment thus designed, the cooking area plays a prominent role, and Officine Gullo’s OG Professional stove is the protagonist. It is a professional high-tech cooking unit extremely functional and extremely versatile, offering multiple cooking methods thanks to its large dimensions that allow the preparation of dishes even for several guests. The two ovens available, one static and one ventilated, allow simultaneous cooking, while the hob is equipped with maxi burners and a ribbed frytop. A custom-made hood, with metal frame, glass panels and LED lights, was manufactured by Officine Gullo and installed above the cooking area. Custom wall cabinets and under-top drawers complete the furnishings with matching design. The large window illuminates the sink with marble top, hosting also the dishwasher. The central island is dedicated to washing as well. Made of wood and marble, in addition to the integrated sink, it features drawers, some of which are refrigerated. Julie commented on the choice of materials and finishes, saying: “I love unusual combinations of different materials, so we chose Jet Black (RAL 9005) for the kitchen and the special finish in dark burnished brass for the frames for their industrial look, and a natural polished oak colour, matching the same hue of the parquet, for the wooden sections.” ABOUT JULIE HILLMAN Julie Hillman’s approach to designing residential spaces focuses on a thoughtful curation of collectible items that speak to both the client’s unique interests and her eclectic aesthetic. She cultivates a creative dialogue between the architects, artisans, and craftsmen to ensure that each home tells its own story. She believes there should be harmony in every room in a home, and the best way to achieve this is to create a subtle yet unexpected mix of decorative and functional arts. She feels that every item in a room should be in conversation with one another while maintaining its own significance. Julie’s goal is to help each home possess a distinctive, timeless, and unique style that is not based on any specific criteria, but on the collaborative vision of designer and client.