Table of Contents >> Show >> Hide
Some people turn their backyard into a lawn. In Berkeley, California, at least one person
looked at a former garage/toolshed combo and thought, “Obviously… studio kitchen.”
The result is a light-drenched, ceramics-filled space that works as a professional
food-photography set, a serious cooking zone, and a very enviable backyard retreat
all at once.
This “kitchen of the week” captures everything we love about California design:
easy indoor-outdoor living, a calm neutral palette, and open shelves lined with
beautiful handmade bowls that make you want to start kneading bread immediately.
Inspired by Remodelista’s original feature on photographer Erin Scott’s backyard
kitchen and studio, this guide walks through the story, the design decisions,
and how you can borrow the look for your own homewhether you’re in Berkeley
or just wish you cooked like you lived there.
The Story Behind a Backyard Berkeley Studio Kitchen
From garage to garden studio
The kitchen began life as anything but glamorous: a 500-square-foot backyard cottage
that had served as a mashup of garage, office, and toolshed. Local building regulations
in Berkeley are famously strict, so the team couldn’t expand the footprint. Instead,
they treated the existing shell like a blank canvas.
The first move was structural editing. Interior walls came down to create one large
room; the drooping garage ceiling was opened up to reveal rafters; and the dark
overhead door was swapped for glass-paneled French doors that connect directly
to the lush garden. Two generous skylights pull daylight down into the middle of
the space, turning what used to be a storage zone into a kind of lightbox.
Underfoot, the old garage level was filled and leveled with concrete, creating a
seamless floor that can handle rolling carts, heavy equipment, and the occasional
muddy footprint from the garden without flinching. What was once purely utilitarian
now feels like a serene studio that just happens to be fantastic for cooking.
A flexible brief: photo studio first, kitchen always
Because the owner is a food photographer, the project wasn’t just “make a cute kitchen.”
The space had to do triple duty:
-
Photo studio: Walls, floors, and finishes needed to be neutral,
matte, and non-reflective so food and ceramics could be the stars. -
Commercial-capable kitchen: A full crew of stylists and cooks
preps recipes for shoots, so the kitchen had to function like a restaurant line
with reliable appliances and tough surfaces. -
Gathering space: After the cameras stop clicking, the room
turns into a spot for shared meals, casual tastings, and the kind of slow
evenings that make you forget you’re technically “at work.”
That layered brief explains why so many decisions favor flexibility and simplicity:
movable worktables, plug-in lighting that can be rearranged on a whim, and storage
that acts like a living prop library.
A Closer Look at the Design Details
Light, palette, and materials
Step inside and the first thing you notice isn’t a single objectit’s the airiness.
The palette is soft and chalky: whitewashed beams above, pale concrete underfoot,
and walls painted in a whispery gray-white that keeps reflections low but the
space bright. It’s a masterclass in “quiet background, interesting foreground.”
The counters and full-height backsplash are made from a stone nicknamed “super white.”
Visually, it reads like a luxe marble, with soft gray veining and a cool undertone
that plays nicely with both white ceramics and warm wood. Practically, it’s a
budget-conscious choiceproof that you don’t have to splurge on the priciest
marble slab to get a sophisticated, high-contrast surface.
Because the kitchen doubles as a studio, light control is just as important as
light itself. Blackout shades can turn mid-day sun into a moody glow for photography,
while gauzy linen scrims hung from simple hooks filter harsh rays and add softness.
The overall feeling is bright but never clinical; think “cloudy day in a ceramics
shop” rather than “overhead office fluorescents.”
The one-wall workhorse kitchen
Instead of wrapping the room in cabinetry, the designers condensed almost all
of the kitchen functions onto one long wall. That wall holds:
-
A compact, professional-style range (think Lacanche Cormatin vibes) that’s
powerful enough for big-batch recipe testing but still elegant enough to
star in photos. -
Deep counters with uninterrupted runs of workspaceno fussy level changes,
just a long sweep of stone for staging dishes, chopping boards, and props. -
An apron-front sink tucked slightly back so splashes stay contained, paired
with a classic bridge-style faucet in a finish that will develop a soft patina. -
Open shelves instead of uppers, keeping the line of sight clear and making
everything feel taller and more expansive.
It’s a minimal layout, but not a sparse one. Because the cook can always borrow gear
from the main house, the studio kitchen stays focused on the items that get used
constantlypans, ceramics, flatware, and the odd showpiece teapot left out just
because it’s pretty.
Open shelves and a serious ceramics habit
Let’s talk about those shelves, since they’re basically the supporting actors
of the entire kitchen. From counter to ceiling, they’re lined with an eclectic
mix of:
- Hand-thrown bowls in milky whites and soft stoneware grays
-
Stacks of plates with subtle ridges and glazesfrom Bay Area studios like
Luvhaus, MM Clay, and other modern ceramicists - Clear and amber glass bottles and jars, some with cork tops
-
Old wooden boards, vintage trays, and little woven baskets that add texture
and patina
Together, they create a living catalog of shapes and surfaces to shoot with.
Because the palette stays mostly neutralcreams, clays, soft greensthe shelves
never feel chaotic, even though they’re heavily stocked. It’s the perfect formula
if you’re worried open shelving will look messy: pick a narrow color range, mix
textures, and let repetition (all those stacks of bowls!) calm the scene.
Storage that hides in plain sight
Not everything wants to live on display. Alongside the one-wall kitchen, a compact
cube houses a pantry and a small bathroom, with the fridge tucked out of direct
view. An industrial rolling cart adds mobile storage and can be repositioned
for shoots or parties. Around the bend, a built-in desk acts as office, editing
station, and backup prep counter when the main wall is full.
The key idea is that the space can shift gears quickly: from prop-strewn styling
zone to clean, serene background for a hero shot, and then to an impromptu dining
room once the food is ready.
Why This Backyard Kitchen Works So Well
It blurs the line between interior and garden
With glass doors opening straight into greenery, the kitchen feels like an extension
of the yard rather than a separate building. That indoor-outdoor connection
makes a huge difference when you’re entertaining: guests can drift between the
garden and the kitchen, cocktails in hand, without anyone getting bottlenecked
in a narrow hallway.
The concrete floor, simple plaster walls, and unfussy finishes keep the room
resilient. You don’t have to tiptoe around; dropped herbs, splashes of olive oil,
and the odd flower pot dragged inside all feel appropriate. It’s a kitchen that’s
meant to be used, not just photographed.
It’s trend-proof but not boring
On paper, the ingredients sound almost plain: white walls, gray stone, open
shelves, a freestanding range. The magic comes from how those basics are layered:
the hand-thrown ceramics, the vintage glass bottles, the wooden cutting boards
leaning casually against the backsplash. Those are the movable elements that
can evolve over time as tastes change.
Because the bones are calm and classic, you can swap in new colors of glassware,
different dishtowels, or a fresh lineup of pottery without ever needing to repaint
a cabinet door. That’s a surprisingly cost-effective strategy for anyone who
loves to refresh their space frequently.
It respects budget where it matters
While the range is a splurge item, the project deliberately balances it with
more accessible choices elsewhere: sensible stone that looks luxe but isn’t
high-end marble, simple open shelving instead of custom uppers, school-style
lab stools instead of designer counter chairs.
This high-low mix is especially smart for backyard or secondary kitchens, where
you want professional function without replicating every expensive choice from
your main kitchen upstairs.
How to Steal the Look for Your Own Backyard Kitchen
1. Start with a simple box
You don’t need an architectural statement to get a great backyard kitchen. A
small outbuilding, a former garage, or even a generous covered patio can become
a flexible studio-like space if you:
- Open up the ceiling to gain height and expose beams
- Add as many windows, glazed doors, or skylights as your local codes allow
- Keep the floor consistent and durableconcrete, stone, or large-format tile
Think of it as a blank gallery that your kitchen, ceramics, and gatherings
will bring to life.
2. Put the kitchen mostly on one wall
A one-wall layout keeps plumbing and gas straightforward and leaves the rest
of the room open for rolling tables, photo setups, or a big harvest table.
Prioritize:
- A range or cooktop that can handle the kind of cooking you actually do
- Deep counters and uninterrupted prep space
- A single, generously sized sink instead of multiple small basins
If you entertain outdoors often, tuck the fridge or beverage center into an
adjacent pantry or niche to keep the main wall visually calm.
3. Choose a tonal palette and let food be the color
Borrow a page from this Berkeley kitchen and stick to whites, warm grays,
and a few natural wood tones. When your background is quiet, your food, flowers,
and ceramics pop automatically. It’s also kinder to your future selfyou can
change your mind about accent colors without repainting cabinets every few years.
4. Embrace open shelvingstrategically
Open shelves are not for everyone, but they shine in a backyard or studio kitchen
where most pieces see daily use. To make them work in real life:
- Group pieces by color or material (all white bowls together, all clear glass together)
- Mix vertical stacks with a few leaning boards or trays for depth
- Reserve a closed cabinet or pantry for visually busy items and packaging
And yes, dust happens. A quick weekly wipe and the fact that you’re constantly
cycling dishes in and out of use helps keep things under control.
5. Build a ceramics collection slowly
The ceramics in this kitchen didn’t arrive in one big box. They’re collected
over timeat local pottery studios, weekend markets, and small independent shops.
That’s part of why the shelves feel soulful instead of staged.
If you’re starting from scratch, prioritize:
-
A set of wide, low bowls (perfect for salads, grain bowls, and anything you
want to photograph) - A mix of tiny bowls and ramekins for salts, sauces, and snacks
- A few statement platters or serving boards you genuinely love
Aim for pieces that share a similar tone or clay body so they play nicely together,
even if they come from different makers.
6. Make lighting plug-in and flexible
Instead of hardwiring every fixture, this space uses plug-in pendants draped
over rafters, plus outlets installed in the beams. That setup lets you move
lights around to match different layouts, change bulb temperatures for photo
shoots, or add seasonal string lights without calling an electrician each time.
Real-Life Lessons from a Ceramics-Filled Backyard Kitchen
It’s one thing to drool over photos; it’s another to live with a backyard kitchen.
Here are some lived-in lessons you quickly learn in a space like thisconsider
them friendly advice from the other side of the Lacanche.
Lesson 1: Open shelves keep you honest
The romance of open shelving is real, but so is the dust. In a backyard kitchen,
with doors flung open to the garden for most of the year, you’ll notice a fine
layer of outdoor life settling on your plates. The upside? You’re forced to
keep only what you truly use and love. Those mismatched plastic cups from
takeout orders suddenly feel less essential when they’re on display next to
a hand-thrown stoneware mug.
Many people who adopt this style report a surprising side effect: they actually
cook more. When your favorite bowl is visible, not hidden behind a cabinet door,
it’s easy to grab and use. The kitchen becomes less of a storage box and more
of a studio, where ingredients and tools are ready to go.
Lesson 2: A neutral palette is a sanity saver
In daily use, the quiet color scheme is more than an aesthetic choice; it’s
incredibly forgiving. Tomato sauce splatters, coffee drips, and herb stems
scattered across the counter read as charming evidence of a meal in progress,
not as visual chaos. After a quick wipe-down, the room snaps back to calm.
If you’ve ever lived with patterned backsplashes or brightly colored cabinets,
you know how quickly they can boss around your décor choices. Here, the neutrals
make it easy to rotate textiles, flowers, or seasonal props without clashing.
Want to shoot a citrus-studded dessert one day and a moody stew the next?
The same backdrop works for both.
Lesson 3: Backyard kitchens change how you host
A detached kitchen has an unexpected social benefit: it gently pulls guests
outdoors. Instead of everyone crowding the main house kitchen, people wander
down the garden path, step into the studio, and naturally end up around the
rolling worktable, watching the action at the stove.
On warm evenings, the doors stay open, and the threshold becomes the social
hotspothalf the group perched on stools inside, the rest leaning on the
doorjamb with a drink, drifting out to the garden and back again. Cleanup
feels more relaxed, too; because the studio is a bit removed from the daily
living spaces, a stack of dishes waiting for the next morning doesn’t dominate
your entire house.
Lesson 4: Permits and practicality matter
As dreamy as the final result looks, it sits on a foundation of very practical,
decidedly un-glamorous work: permits, code compliance, and careful planning
around gas, water, and electrical runs. In many cities, converting a backyard
building into a kitchen or studio means upgrading drainage, adding proper
insulation, and proving that the structure can safely handle its new life.
The Berkeley project shows how working within strict rules can actually sharpen
the design. By respecting the existing footprint and keeping the layout simple,
the team poured budget and creativity into what the eye really noticeslight,
surfaces, and that beautiful ceramic-laden shelving wall.
Lesson 5: Collections give a space its soul
Finally, the most transferable lesson: the ceramics, glass, and vintage pieces
are what transform this studio from “nice” to “I could move in tomorrow.”
Collections like these don’t have to be precious or expensive. What matters
is that they feel personally meaningfulpicked up on trips, gifted by friends,
or discovered at the dusty corner of a local thrift store.
Over time, each bowl and bottle becomes part of the kitchen’s story. Someone
asks where you found that tall narrow vase, and suddenly you’re reminiscing
about a farmers’ market in Oakland or a weekend in Mendocino. That’s the
quiet superpower of a ceramics-filled backyard kitchen: it holds not just food
and props, but memoriesand it encourages you to keep making more.
