A Professional Kitchen Right at Home

Plenty of homeowners claim to spend most of their time in the kitchen. But few clock as many hours in their cook space as Amy Lipton. Trained as a chef, Amy now runs a cooking school, Joyful Kitchen, out of the Wellesley, MA, home she shares with her husband, Joe, and kids, Gabriel and Julia. That wasn’t always the plan. Sure, when the Liptons bought the house in 2012, Amy loved its existing pro-grade appliances, bubble glass–front cabinets, and generous island. But the kitchen looked far too formal to host cooking classes. “It had dark gold walls that just weren’t very inviting,” says Amy. With help from local designer Katie Rosenfeld, Amy updated the furniture and introduced a zippy color scheme of off-white, blue, and orange. “I couldn’t have picked a more perfect place for my business,” she says.

Glass-Front Fridge

With its see-through door, the sleek Sub-Zero refrigerator lets Amy showcase interesting ingredients. While she admits it takes a little extra work to keep it looking neat, “it’s a definite conversation starter,” she says.

Island

During classes, Amy’s students circle around the 10-foot-long marble-top island to watch and participate in demonstrations. When she’s off duty, Amy preps family meals here, and her kids use it as a homework station. Cookbooks are stashed on the built-in shelves on the side.

Range

The six-burner Wolf range allows multiple people to stir pots at once. For easy cleanup, the nearby counters, backsplash, and spice shelf are all stainless steel.

Barstools

“The rounded backs feel like they’re hugging you,” says Amy of the custom Kravet stools upholstered in peacock blue faux leather. Spill some tomato sauce on them and it’ll wipe right up.

Pendants

Installed by the previous homeowners, these fixtures made it onto Amy’s list of must-keeps, thanks to their bright silk shades. Designer Katie suggested adding blue to the room, and voilà—the kitchen’s color scheme was born.

Storage

Ivory paint (China White by Benjamin Moore)—“The color reminds me of white chocolate,” says Amy—covers the cabinets and built-ins and lets the oil-rubbed-bronze hardware take center stage.

Window Shade

Katie wowed Amy when she showed her Osborne & Little’s whimsical Maharani fabric, which unifies the kitchen’s colors. In fact, Amy liked the pomegranate design so much, she uses the fruit in her company’s logo.

Chandelier

A beaded agate chandelier from Currey and Company gives the breakfast nook a slightly dressy feel that distinguishes it from the rest of the kitchen.

Table and Chairs

The Lipton family eats dinner at this antique farm table five nights a week. The chairs, which belonged to Joe’s grandfather, and the window seat are upholstered in the same faux leather as the barstools at the island. “I love how communal this area feels,” says Amy.