Palomar

The client came to us looking for a kitchen remodel for her Redwood City home. She donned a wild, colorful skirt and a charming personality—and she was looking to echo her style in her home. We were smitten with the client who travels the world with her partner collecting odd and wonderful items: goose feet salt-and-pepper stoneware, strange furniture, off-the-wall lamp fixtures, and a cow portrait from Istanbul aptly titled Miss Cow. To match and balance their collection and personalities, we embraced the eclectic in subtle but significant ways. First, we brought the outside in. We removed a few walls to open the kitchen into the dining and living space and to the large, floor-to-ceiling windows that lined the west side of the home. These look over a large acre of land that’s carefully kept and worked to grow an abundance of vegetables, and they introduced a vibrant scene to the kitchen. We chose soft, light colors for the kitchen cabinets and backspace with simple, homey stainless steel and glass wall cabinets. This allowed the clients’ colorful accessories and fresh goods to shine. Then, as a statement piece, we used a faux marble backsplash and countertop—understated to marry well with the vibrant home, but iconic. We contrasted this with a Belgian-blue Neolith countertop on the island where the goose feet stoneware would live. As the final touch, we brought in Miss Cow, whose bright green background and pink nose added the perfect pop of color and demanded attention. Finally, we vetted a contractor to work on the updates—someone both we and the client could trust.