Step inside the home of Lelanie Foster, New York photographer, and her family, in a kitchen designed around the way they live.
There’s something especially lovely about seeing a home once the newness has given way to everyday routines, favourite objects have found their places, and the space has quietly become the backdrop to family life.
This is what makes our latest home feature so special. We’re stepping inside Lelanie’s New York home, where Fronteriors natural oak cabinetry creates a warm, timeless foundation for the everyday rhythms of a family of four.
A full-circle moment
Lelanie came to Fronteriors to plan her family kitchen, choosing natural oak fronts for her IKEA SEKTION cabinetry. We loved working with her and being part of her project, without knowing at the time that she was also a very talented photographer.
Our paths crossed creatively again when Lelanie went on to photograph another Fronteriors project in New York City, and more recently shared a beautiful lifestyle shoot featuring her family in their own kitchen.
So often, interiors are photographed as soon as the installation is complete, but there’s something really special for us about seeing a kitchen further down the line, woven into everyday life — warm, personal and unmistakably a home.
We were so drawn to Fronteriors’ elegance and appreciation for design. The product was so well crafted, and the team’s personable approach made us feel like we were working with good friends who cared just as much as we did. Our kitchen is truly the heart of our home, and one year later we are loving our space.
- Lelanie Foster
Premium materials and thoughtful proportions
Natural oak has a way of feeling considered and effortless. Its distinctive grain brings warmth and character without overwhelming the room, creating a quiet foundation for the furniture, objects and details that make a home personal.
Lelanie’s kitchen brings together the practicality of IKEA SEKTION cabinetry and the materiality and craftsmanship of Fronteriors oak fronts. She also incorporated custom panels where needed to create a carefully integrated finish.
A kitchen island introduces a beautiful counterpoint to a run of cabinetry, breaking up the composition while creating a natural place to gather. It can bring contrast through colour, material or proportion, or simply add another layer of functionality to the room. With IKEA cabinet frames and Fronteriors island panels, it's surprisingly straightforward to create an island that feels thoughtfully designed and completely at home in the space.
Whether a space follows standard dimensions or proportions entirely its own, we believe every front deserves the same attention to quality, craftsmanship, finish and care.
The details that make it personal
Alongside Fronteriors natural oak cabinetry, Lelanie has brought together thoughtful fittings, furniture and finishing touches. The Bedrosians tiles along the back wall bring another layer of texture to the kitchen, providing a subtle counterpoint to the warmth and natural grain of the oak. It's the kind of considered material pairing that gives a space depth without asking for attention.
A Kohler faucet and Kraus sink anchor the working space; seating from CB2 and Blu Dot complements the cabinetry. A green runner from Rugs USA adds softness and colour, while an Alessi tea kettle and Nordic Knots curtains add personality to this hard-working space.
It’s a reminder that a kitchen is never just the cabinetry. It’s the way every element comes together — and the way a family makes a space its own.
We’re grateful to Lelanie for inviting us into her home and for sharing these beautiful, personal images. The best-designed spaces aren’t only the ones that photograph well. They’re the ones that feel wonderful to live in.
Photography by Lelanie Foster @lelanief
Credits: Kohler Faucet / Kraus Sink / Rugs USA Green runner rug / Bosch Cooktop / XO Range Hood / Fisher & Paykel Fridge / Cafe Microwave and Oven / CB2 Dining Chair / Blu Dot Counter Stool / Emtek Fridge Door Handle / Alessi Tea Kettle / Nordic Knots Curtains / Bedrosian Tiles on backsplash / Tala Pendant lights over island
