Actress Anne Hathaway and her husband, jewelry designer Adam Shulman, have imbued their Californian kitchen with a sense of old-world charm

An ‘old money’ aesthetic is the most in-demand interior design trend of the moment, but actress Anne Hathaway and her husband, jewelry designer Adam Shulman’s, Californian cabin retreat championed the quiet luxury trend long before the rest of the world caught on to this timeless aesthetic.

Given this home’s Alpine styling, it wouldn’t look amiss in a Swiss or German fairy tale. Its owners were eager to embrace the chalet’s storybook theatricality. Indeed, their choice of interior designer reveals much about their creative instinct – Pamela Shamshiri of Studio Shamshiri was a production designer on films before she moved into interiors and a sense of narrative is key to her work in this beautifully-designed farmhouse kitchen.

Taking its cue from the German word gemütlich, which conveys a cheerful coziness, the kitchen looks authentically Tyrolean. New pine cladding, open shelves and charming dotty sheer curtains bring 
a rural tone, against which the large range cooker summons a hearty mood of family life.

In a conversation with Homes & Gardens contributing editor, Juliet Benning, Pamela spoke about her love for the kitchen, which is often described as a fairy-tale space.

‘Anne and Adam wanted a really sweet kitchen,’ says Pamela. ‘It’s one of my favorite parts of the house and it has a beautiful view.’

Farmhouse kitchens, similar to Anne Hathaway’s, are considered the heart of the dwelling and as such, creating a cozy and inviting environment is key. But it’s also where all the culinary magic happens – so practicality and utility is paramount.

A combination of open and closed kitchen storage will turn the heart of your home into a multifunctional haven – just be sure to keep everything in order. Having everything on display is not for the faint-hearted as it requires a certain amount of dedication to keep shelves looking smart and uncluttered.

However, kitchen shelving is a great option if you are the proud owner of an impressive crockery collection, or are a keen cook who appreciates having ingredients close at hand.

Another fundamental aspect of the kitchen is color.

While the modern farmhouse look centers on neutral tones of cream and white alongside plenty of wood, there is scope for color in your farmhouse kitchen. Just be sure that your hues are inspired by a gentle, natural palette when you’re deciding on kitchen color ideas or farmhouse wall decor.

That’s why we love a pastel hue in a kitchen. Pick the right shade and they can be timeless. Soft, subtle, and in some cases barely there, colors that add just the right amount of character to a kitchen without the risk of it dating quickly.

In this quiet luxury kitchen, Pamela used a delicate green hue – one that chimes beautifully with the home’s green landscape  – to add lightness and a sense of character.