Designer Spotlight | EMI Interior Designs, Zephyr Valina Under-Cabinet
Erica Islas Brings Jamie Lee Curtis’ Guest House Kitchen Back to Its Mid-Century Roots
Designer Spotlight: Erica Islas
When interior designer Erica Islas took on the renovation of Jamie Lee Curtis’ guest house kitchen, the goal was to restore its original spirit. Set inside a Mid-Century Modern A-frame home, the kitchen needed to feel true to the architecture while supporting the way the space is used today.
Erica approached the renovation with a clear point of view: honor the home’s character, simplify the visual language, and make every inch work harder. With warm cherry wood cabinetry, green Heath tile, hidden appliances, and the Zephyr Valina Under-Cabinet Range Hood, the finished kitchen feels open, efficient, and connected to the home’s post-and-beam structure.
Tell us about the project.
This guest house kitchen was one of my favorite projects. I was honored to work with the talented and creative Jamie Lee Curtis on a space that had so much architectural character and potential. The home itself is a Mid-Century Modern A-frame, but it had been renovated over the years in a way that moved it away from its original integrity.
My goal was to bring the kitchen back to its roots while introducing a more refined, modern sensibility. Because the space is small, every decision had to be intentional. I wanted the kitchen to feel open and minimal, but also very functional. We used cherry wood custom cabinetry to tie into the home’s post-and-beam architecture, and added color and texture with green Heath tile.
What inspired the design?
The house itself was the inspiration. It has beautiful Mid-Century Modern bones, and I wanted the kitchen to feel like it truly belonged there. For me, form follows function, so the design had to be clean, simple, and purposeful.
I’m always drawn to minimal lines, natural materials, and spaces that don’t feel overdone. In this kitchen, less really was more. We removed the upper cabinets to open up the room and allow the architecture to breathe. We also enlarged the window to bring more of the outside in, which made the kitchen feel lighter and more connected to the landscape.
What were some of the challenges?
The biggest challenge was maximizing storage after removing all the upper cabinets. In a small kitchen, that could have easily been a problem, but we utilized every square inch and ended up creating a very functional space with more storage than you might expect.
We incorporated thoughtful details throughout, including a pull-out step stool for reaching higher shelves and magic corners on both sides of the kitchen. Those kinds of solutions are especially important in a compact space because they allow the kitchen to stay clean and open without sacrificing everyday function.
How did appliances factor into the design?
In a small kitchen, appliances can quickly make the space feel crowded, so I wanted everything to feel as seamless as possible. We used refrigerator drawers instead of a freestanding refrigerator and chose a panel-ready dishwasher so the appliances could blend into the cabinetry.
Ventilation was also really important. I needed a hood that was streamlined and functional, but that would not visually overpower the kitchen. The Zephyr Valina Under-Cabinet Range Hood was the perfect solution because of its low-profile design and retractable stainless-steel visor. It stays discreet when not in use, which helped preserve the clean lines and open feeling of the space, but still provides the performance needed for everyday cooking.
For this kitchen, every inch mattered. Valina gave us strong ventilation, practical lighting, and a sleek design that supported the overall vision without competing with the architecture.
Final Thoughts
This project is a strong example of how thoughtful design can transform a small kitchen without overcomplicating it. By removing visual clutter, opening up the room, and choosing materials that respect the architecture, Erica created a kitchen that feels both restored and reimagined.
The finished space proves that great design is about knowing what to keep, what to simplify, and how to make every detail serve the home.
To get even more design inspiration, explore other kitchen and interior design projects on our Design Inspiration Gallery.