For years to come

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Forget passing fads. This cozy, Mediterranean-style kitchen was designed to go the distance

View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile ceiling, dining room, estate, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, orange, brown — View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile splashback, waxed concrete floor, pine dining room floor.

View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, real estate, room, brown, orange

View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile ceiling, door, estate, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, interior design, property, real estate, wall, window, wood flooring, brown

View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, fireplace, floor, flooring, hardwood, hearth, home, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, living room, real estate, room, wall, wood flooring, orange

View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile cabinetry, ceiling, countertop, floor, flooring, hardwood, home, interior design, kitchen, room, wood flooring, orange, brown

View of kitchen with old-style hearth, clay tile ceiling, dining room, estate, home, interior design, living room, property, real estate, room, brown, orange

Just because we live in a fast-changing world, not everything we buy needs to be disposable. In fact, for this house, materials and products were chosen precisely because they were old and reclaimed.

The Sonoma Valley country house, which was conceived and built by Jon Reiter of Jon Reiter Fine Homes, reflects his passion for the architecture and traditional craftsmanship embodied by centuries-old villas in the south of France and Italy.

The authenticity extends to the kitchen and the handcrafted, painted wood cabinetry that is slotted into a concrete framework. Like a traditional kitchen in an old Italian villa, the concrete forms the countertops, sides and feet of the perimeter cabinets.

"For the island centerpiece, we incorporated reclaimed materials, starting with the salvaged copper surface that covers half the top," says Reiter. "The other half of the countertop is a slice of stone, carved from a slab found on site. These surfaces are framed by solid wood that was cut from leftover pieces of the reclaimed wood beams and lintels."

The recycled components in the kitchen extend to a 300-year-old Cararra marble sink, and old French clay tiles, complete with original handprints, which line the walls of the hearth-style cooking center. The chandelier above the island is a rewired antique European fitting.

Reiter also pioneered the waxed concrete floor finish in the kitchen. To avoid the concrete cracking, the floor was cured with wet hay for several weeks. The decomposing hay has left a distinctive textural pattern on the floor.

Modern functionality is not compromised, however. The kitchen incorporates all the mod cons, including a wine refrigerator and espresso machine. It also offers additional storage in a pantry, which is hidden behind a decorative antique wood double door from Tanzania.