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Homes & Gardens
Homes & Gardens
Jennifer Ebert

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi's modern classic kitchen is a masterclass in timeless style – this enduring look will last 100 years

Ellen DeGeneres and Portia De Rossi.

If I had to choose a favorite kitchen style, it would be the rather cool and laid-back modern classic aesthetic. The same relaxed design that Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi have in their family kitchen. It is a kitchen style that will transcend interior trends.

The modern classic look is appealing because it is easy and comforting. Easy because nothing is too perfect, so signs of life don’t spoil the aesthetic, which is what can happen with a super-slick, contemporary kitchen. Easy also because, in the right setting, it has a quality that won’t date. So, if you invest in a well-made version, it should last for as long as you need it to. It is comforting because it feels reassuringly familiar.

Shop the look

It also needs to have integrity and be authentic. This kitchen does that because of its beautifully crafted elements, from the joinery to the earthenware finds. The modernity comes from the simplicity of materials and lines – aim for cozy, but not cluttered.

This particular kitchen also borrows from the contemporary 'California casual' look. This interior design style isn't a new kitchen trend by any means, but it's an aesthetic that has endured, and for good reason. It doesn't matter if you don't actually live in California like Degeneres and de Rossi, or on the coast. This aesthetic is all about embracing indoor-outdoor living, seamlessly blending aesthetics that lean coastal, rustic, and modern all in one.

'This easy-breezy style instantly transports you to sunny days, warm seas, and plenty of indoor-outdoor connections,' explains Mollie Ranize, lead interior designer and founder at Dmar Interiors. 'It invites you to kick your shoes off and sit anywhere because nothing is precious and everything is to be enjoyed with family and friends. It's a room that accommodates children and pets and has a timeless, welcoming quality.'

This is not a pretentious style, it was designed to be the center of family life – the true heart of the home.

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