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Erica Islas

Viking Range, LLC, the leader in residential kitchen technology, has named Erica Islas as the September Designer of Distinction. Erica is the founder and principal designer at EMI Interior Design in Los Angeles and is the ninth monthly winner in the 2017 Viking Kitchen Design Competition. Designers from around the United States are vying for the coveted honor to become the 2017 Viking Designer of the Year.

Erica describes the project below:

This project was located in Hancock Park, a historic area in Los Angeles, California. We took a dated old brown kitchen down to the studs, opening up the room to adjacent spaces to create a large open kitchen concept. We also took the ceilings up about 2 feet and added all Viking appliances including a Viking range, hood, dishwasher and a Viking refrigerator.


We wanted to create a space that was young and current but still classic and timeless, so it was a balance of how much new trends to sprinkle into design.

We chose to do all white (classic) cabinets with the island to be a pop of color and we chose a Navy color which is timeless. We mixed out metals to keep it fresh and fun. Brass is cheery and bright while the Polished Nickel and stainless finishes ground the design. Everyone loves a white kitchen... especially one that has contrast and movement. We topped this kitchen off with a gorgeous natural Calcutta Marble stone countertop and backsplash that has a prominent grey vein that is our focal point which ties in beautifully with our stainless Viking Appliances.

More about Erica Islas and EMI Interior Design, Inc:

Erica Islas is the founder and principal designer at EMI Interior Design, Inc., a full service interior design firm in Los Angeles since 2000. A modernist at heart, Erica's interiors are timeless and fun. "Form follows function" is Erica's guiding philosophy. She approaches every project from an architectural perspective, never sacrificing usability and comfort. Her interiors are innovative, inviting and ultimately functional. Known for her incredible Kitchens and Bathroom renovations, challenges such as small spaces and children's rooms are welcome and embraced by Erica and her staff, as they creatively transform some of the smallest most unusable spaces to multi-functional rooms. Erica's design work has been featured in Dwell Magazine , Real Kitchens, Real Simple Magazine, HGTV magazine and Smalls Rooms Magazine . Erica has also appeared on HGTV design shows and her pro-bono work has appeared in Nesting Newbies & The Los Angeles Times.