From the first meeting Austin Carrier and Alex Mutter-Rotmeyer had with their client, an artist and gallery owner from Healdsburg, Calif., she was adamant about having a yellow kitchen. In fact, her exact words were “a really happy yellow kitchen.” Carrier and Mutter-Rottmayer, the married founders of the design company Omboys Interiors, took this idea and ran with it as best they could. “She was just thinking about the yellow cabinets, and we decided we were going to soak them,” Carrier says.
Although the kitchen renovation was almost entirely major (all that was fixed was a newly installed floor and a large window overlooking Mt. Fitch), the couple turned it around in a month and a half. . Even in that short period of time, we were able to provide a number of creative solutions, from faceted drywall and ventilation hoods to custom Moroccan runners that perfectly fit the color palette. Designers share what it takes to create such a bold, monochromatic kitchen.
fill the gap
In front of the kitchen.
Although the overall size of the kitchen remains the same, Hommeboys created extra space by blocking off the narrow passageway next to the refrigerator. The seamless U-shaped layout allowed us to extend the countertop and cupboard to the left of the sink. The couple also designed all new custom cabinetry themselves, allowing them to fill in the gaps that typically occur with stock and semi-custom factory products. “We were able to focus on the smallest details, such as how the doors lined up perfectly,” Mutter-Rottmayer says.
Stick to earth colors
In front of the kitchen.
Not all yellows are the same. “There are millions of shades out there, and many of them are pretty terrible,” says Carrier. “We didn’t want highlighters or neon. It had to have a calming quality.” They started selecting materials with the backsplash, choosing Zia Tile’s zellige in cadmium. I decided to narrow it down. The grainy texture of the 4×4 inch squares makes the colors feel more realistic. By checking this box, it was easy to identify the shade that would match the front of the door. This is Dylan from Portola Paints.
look away from awkward details
The zigzag drywall surrounding the ventilation hood and upper cabinets was not a random addition. To obscure the ceiling’s semi-vaulted drop-off, Hommeboys wanted to incorporate something sculptural that would make it hard to notice that there’s another unevenness in the room. Additional perks of jagged walls? They help create shadows, add depth to small spaces, and reflect natural light throughout the day. Designers also do not like to let the upper cabinets float above the wall. This detail fills the room and makes your kitchen feel complete.
white pepper
How can you make a monochromatic space, let alone a bright yellow space, feel less like a fun home? Weave in white. The designers used Schoolhouse hardware, Brizot faucets, and Caesarstone countertops with care and consideration. These accents counteract the harsh colors and complement the white ceiling, which the couple intentionally left unpainted. “I wanted it to be drenched in color without being overwhelming,” Carrier says. At the end of the project, they threw in some black dishes just in case.
