Napa Valley Grille chef Joseph Gillard’s home kitchen

Gillard, 44, moved into his fiancée’s pristine home last summer. It’s the second floor of a duplex south of Montana Avenue in Santa Monica, and the narrow kitchen manages to contain two strong personalities.  (Christina House / For The Times)

In the bay window, over a deep double sink, a hairy hog as well as a red wooden rooster that his fiancée’s mother brought back from Dubai sit on a vintage light-up sign.  (Christina House / For The Times)

A little bit of order: Four jars of homemade vodkas flavored with citron, pear, guava or persimmon.  (Christina House / For The Times)

And some chaos.  (Christina House / For The Times)

The 1950s O’Keefe & Merritt stove lends a stage for more mementos.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Next to the four-burner stove are olive oils and vinegars, jars of garam masala and vadouvan curry, and several kinds of salt: Himalayan pink, Hawaiian black, Bolivian fine sea salt, lemon salt and two smoked salts.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Another vintage sign and a carving set with silver pig-shaped handles.  (Christina House / For The Times)

A dinner die sits atop a colorful plate.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Just outside the kitchen, the chef’s collection of cookbooks. At home, though, fiancée Shahriary does most of the cooking.  (Christina House / For The Times)

Gillard says they’d like more space, and perhaps an island, one day. For now, the tight quarters provide a little togetherness. Here: the small chalkboard near the stove.

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Homes of the Times: California homes in pictures  (Christina House / For The Times)