From House To Home

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Eight thousand square feet is equal to 1,152,000 square inches, but that’s not the point.

Not so much a mathematical equation, the challenge was aesthetic as interior designer Sheila Robinson worked with Central Valley homeowners Vikki and Pat Mitchell to give their 1960s Dutch Colonial an entirely different voice. Every inch of space was redecorated, from the tile in the kitchen to the upstairs master suite.

An earlier remodel by a previous owner had altered the original floor plan, but the home had good bones and offered a solid foundation upon which to build. Robinson convinced her clients they should progress slowly through the process, though Vikki admits she initially wanted to do the whole thing at once. She says it turned out to be good advice. “The longer I lived in the home, the more I knew what to do with each room,” she says.

Relying on what Robinson describes as a Ralph Lauren color palette, the women transformed plain white walls and mismatched architectural elements into a sophisticated, cohesive arrangement. One at a time, each room was completely gutted and then reinvigorated with colorful accents, dramatic lighting, comfortable furnishings, and accessories chosen to complement each space.

The project began in the dining room, where ordinary white walls washed out the beauty of its custom wood trim. Robinson suggested a rich red for more contrast. This simple change intrigued the Mitchells. They were hooked by the beautiful results and became ready to tackle the rest of the home.

Computerized CAD drawings allowed Robinson to let her clients “walk through” their new kitchen before they ever even chose a bucket of paint or a slab of granite. Here, the designer had to realign an awkward ceiling line. Using a faux wood beam across the top of a pair of floating cabinets and then dropping pendant lights to shorten the distance, she corrected the proportions. A larger island, gourmet appliances, custom cabinetry, and new finishes took the kitchen from simply functional to completely fantastic while keeping the same basic circulation, which is perfect for entertaining.

Downstairs, the original hardwood floors worked as a foundation not only for the sophisticated palette but also for the transition from one room to the next. In the kitchen, family room, and utility area, Spanish tile was removed and replaced with Santos mahogany to match the existing floors, which were then re-sanded, so there is no abrupt distinction between the old and the new.

Upstairs, the master suite overlooks the backyard, where landscape architect Michael Glassman is steadily transforming the 3-acre, park-like setting to surround the home with vibrant color and complement the newly finished interiors. From the large windows, a lush canopy formed by mature trees lends a sense of what Vikki calls, “living in a tree house.” Sunny yellow and sage green on the walls, window treatments, and bedding help complete the illusion of a room that is taking a nap on a quiet afternoon.

Vikki paid her designer the ultimate complement by waiting until each space was finished to choose a new favorite. At the moment, she believes it might be the library at the top of the stairs, finished in hardwoods, bold colors, built-in bookcases, and accessories that speak to her love of books. But ask her tomorrow, and she may say instead, “It just really turned out to be a lovely home.”