Relative Ease
Author:Abigail StoneInterior designer Cathie Hong reimagines a family home for a new generation
In the family room, a sectional from Hay and a coffee table from Sun at Six sit on a rug found at Revival Rugs
Inheriting the family home can be a double-edged sword. How do you turn it into a contemporary home and a space that will be the setting for forging new memories, without completely erasing the past? That’s the dilemma that the owners of this townhouse in San Jose faced, entrusting the work to interior designer Cathie Hong. “Our general philosophy is geared towards creating a warm, cozy and inspiring environment in which our clients can relax and feel at home,” Hong shares. “We believe in organic shapes and layered materials harmonizing tones and soft but clean lines.
A dining room table from Ethnicraft is surrounded by chairs from Sobu Sobu. The pendant is from Mater.
The two story home had been bequeathed to the client from their late parents. “It held a lot of special memories,” says Hong. “So they were eager to put their own personal touches on the home and begin creating new memories with their family of three.”
Pendants from Allied Maker dangle over the enlarged kitchen’s new and expansive island. The stools were discovered at Muuto. Wood cabinets are interspersed with those painted in Farrow & Ball’s Light Gray
The plan was to do a full interior renovation without touching the structure of the home, upgrading its original builder-grade finishes. “They wanted to ensure it offered as much built-in storage as possible with the goal of obtaining a clutter-free life,” Hong notes. “They have a preschooler so they wanted to have a family room and play area that was not only kid-friendly but that was seamlessly integrated into the aesthetic of the house.” A new kitchen was another goal. “After putting up with a tiny kitchen for thirteen years, they wanted a large, optimally functional space that included a generous island for food prep and a breakfast nook.”
A chandelier from Light Cookie hangs over a table from Sun at Six, chairs by Audo and a custom bench in the kitchen’s breakfast nook
The millwork throughout the house was fabricated by Strong Cabinetry and pained in Farrow & Ball’s Oxford Stone. The hardware is from Lo & Co.
Because the house had been built with a post-tension slab foundation (criss-cross steel cables are embedded into the concrete after its set, stretching and tightening as it hardens, creating a strong load-bearing surface that helps reduce structural instability), Hong’s team was restricted from moving much of the kitchen’s electrical or plumbing. “Fortunately, we were able to work within these constraints and still update the kitchen,” says Hong, admitting that they encroached upon the living room’s square footage. She also simplified the home’s awkward stepped walls, employed the magic of window treatments to soften the home’s oddly placed windows, and enclosed an open-plan office to create a functional work space,
A rug from Nordic Knots and sconces from Human Home put the focus on the artwork. Silver Travertine from Da Vinci Marble tops the custom cabinetry. The walls are covered in limestone plaster in Atelier
Sconces from Blueprint Lighting illuminates the office’s sleek custom millwork. The circle pillows were found at Lulu & Georgia
“The home office was another significant space, with its enclosed storage with wall-to-wall built-in display nooks, open bookcase, and sleek daybed,” Hong points out. “It had to be carefully puzzled together but the finished result was an impressive wall of millwork that — bonus! — is an incredible backdrop, acting as a instant conversation-starter during Zoom calls.” The son’s bedroom was another notable space. “It was really fun room to put together, with a built-in reading nook/wardrobe, bright pops of blue and green, and a playful Ferm Living wallpaper that nods to the his obsession with the outdoors,” says Hong. “We’re also really proud of how we were able to thoughtfully transform the primary suite.” With its built-in bed and integrated bench window seat, it exudes a peaceful and serene ambiance, worthy of a hotel. Paired with an luxurious, tonal bathroom, the result is a restful, private retreat.
Soft and inviting bedding from Parachutre, a rug from Anthropologie and bedside sconces from Cedar & Moss underline the serenity of the primary bedroom
“It was heartwarming to witness our clients’ shock at the transformation of their childhood home and to see their delight in all of the design details that we implemented with their clear direction,” says Hong. “They told us that it feels like they living in a magazine, the highest of compliments.” California home and design, indeed!
The sconces are from Cedar & Moss, the cabinet hardware was discovered at Casson. The primary bathroom’s runner is from Ferm Living.