Interior Design: Yoko Chow Design | Builder: Eden Builders

“I’ve always believed a home is more than just a physical space—it should be a sanctuary that reflects one’s unique lifestyle, background, and thought process,” explains designer Yoko Chow. That philosophy is certainly exhibited in spades in the Brentwood, California residence of her worldly, wayfaring client—the COO of a popular gaming company. “She travels around the world for work and fun—and along the way she’s picked up a lot of design styles, and always comes back inspired by wherever she’s just visited. She also really gravitates towards the blending of Midcentury and Art Deco,” says Chow. 

In a series of fortunate events, Chow was connected to the client through her contractor. Known for her ability to cater to clients’ needs—creating custom pieces, conceptual designs, and sourcing from specialized purveyors among other specialties—Chow was the perfect choice. To preserve the existing architecture while alluding to her client’s jet-setting lifestyle, the designer worked on an amalgamation of custom pieces, including a custom swirl-patterned rug, which was commissioned from an Italy based manufacturer, and incorporated a lot of her clients’ travel artifacts and design pieces around the space. In the kitchen, the owner’s love for Midcentury is reflected in the sage green color palette—a hue inspired by Dakota Johnson’s Midcentury LA home kitchen, painted in Benjamin Moore’s Alligator Alley. While the designer and client opted to create their own custom blend for the cabinetry paint (just a shade or two darker), they also needed to find a refrigeration unit in the same exact color or find a company that could color match. That’s when the duo turned to True Residential, an American brand that specializes in custom colors. “We were so nervous waiting for the color chip to arrive as she {my client} was really set on the custom cabinetry paint color. It matched perfectly, and so we ordered True’s 48” side-by-side. My client really loves the solidity of the unit and the glass door option, and she’s impressed with the functionality,” she continues.

A range of high-end appliances complement the True unit, including a True Wine Cabinet in Stainless Steel on the far left and three ovens on the far right wall. A Quartz backsplash and countertops from Cosentino inject a clean look while the ceiling was sanded, stained, and re-stained to achieve the look. The island’s fluted wood sides and the Starburst hardware that adorns the cabinetry on the far right wall, add Deco elements. Over the island, subtle Sophie pendant lights from Cedar & Moss add the perfect touch while over the dining table, an eye-catching suspended light from Bocci infuses the space with a sense of drama. Pops of a Saffron-y, mustard yellow carry throughout, including in the bar stools and the Roche Bobois curvy sofa and ottoman, while elements of green in various saturation levels appear all over—creating a sense of cohesiveness. “Green was the catalyst for the interiors,” comments Chow. “Aside from honoring the existing structure, my intent was to infuse my client’s essence into the home in a manner conducive to allowing her to be her best self.” A globally-inspired urban refuge, if you will.