After 15 years of hard wear and tear from a busy family of six, this California kitchen desparately needed a redo. “It had limed oak cabinets that were falling apart, dated laminate countertops, and a U-shaped plan that made getting around difficult,” says designer and owner Jane Ellison. From working on dozens of kitchen projects, the toughest part for Ellison was deciding which style and equipment to pick for her own kitchen. Ellison ended up with a bit of this and a lot of that for a melding of sophisticated English—but not too much—and heavy flavoring of modern chic. The white cabinets around the perimeter with oversized British style mahogany knobs, mahogany louvered storage base of the island, limestone countertops, and Venetian plastered mansard hood all lend a classic European bent. The contemporary zip flair comes through with chunky floating mahogany shelves, a Bubinga cutting surface with undermount prep sink, stainless drawers beneath the cooktop, and two shades of cork tiles laid on a diagonal for a real zesty punch. In the dining area, Ellison lowered the ceiling and installed lights in a soffit and a banquette for intimate eating.