Seeking Balance
Designer Yoko Chow embraced her pared-back perspective—and her client’s love of bold touches—in this Los Angeles Midcentury marvel.
Designer Yoko Chow modernized this retro-inspired kitchen with premier appliances from Bosch, True Residential, and Miele. Quartz accents from Cosentino round out the area in style.
After years of the minimalism versus maximalism conversation, Yoko Chow is putting the debate to rest once and for all: As her recent project in Los Angeles’s Brentwood neighborhood proves, the two schools of thought can beautifully co-exist under one roof. When the designer was first tapped to work on this California residence in 2022, she saw a unique opportunity to bring contrasting perspectives to a common ground. Not only did Chow have to strike a balance between two different styles—her client has a penchant for bold, Art Deco– inspired touches, while the designer prefers a pared-back aesthetic—but she also had to create a midcentury aesthetic that works in 2024.
“It was a very typical midcentury house, and people back then lived a totally different lifestyle,” Chow says of the structure. “My client wanted to feel the depth of the house so that once you walk in, you can already appreciate it all the way back to the backyard.” The designer added large headers to “open up the space,” while glass-fronted doors lead out to the backyard to give the contemporary area a sun-dappled effect.
“It’s a mix of Midcentury and Art Deco, but I worked to control the balance and how many colors we put inside so it’s comfortable without looking too overcrowded.”
With a footprint that feels more conducive with the 21st century, Chow was able to inject bold, slightly retro details through her refined lens. “It’s a mix of midcentury and Art Deco, but I worked to control the balance and how many colors we put inside so it’s comfortable without looking too overcrowded,” she says. The Brentwood home’s living room epitomizes that tension: The bright, airy space is outfitted with low-slung, muted furniture while a rainbow rug brings a kaleidoscope effect underfoot.
A neutral palette and low-slung furniture lean into the residence’s 20th-century roots, while the slightly curved details offset the straight lines often associated with midcentury design.
The living room’s intersection of subtle and statement paves the way for the adjacent kitchen to be a focal point in the home’s open-concept space. Sticking to the original kitchen—Chow says her client “caters but doesn’t cook”—the designer created a subtle nod to yesteryear with starburst knobs and verdant cabinet fronts inspired by Benjamin Moore’s Alligator Alley. “Green was definitely the hue we tried to keep throughout the house,” she explains. “We played around with the different saturation levels as well as different shades.”
Left: The powder room gets a playful treatment with a jungle-themed wallcovering.
Right: The green theme continues in the marble tile-clad primary bath.
Midcentury modernism might be known for its straight lines, but the curved detailing along the Cosentino quartz-topped island offered a current edge. To give this kitchen a 2024 upgrade, Chow employed high-end appliances such as a Bosch dishwasher, a glass-fronted refrigerator from True Residential, as well as an induction top and range hood, both courtesy of Miele.
The midcentury home is brightened with a pop of lime green on the front door. General contractor, Eden Builders.
However, there was one exception to Chow’s minimalist-meets-maximalist vision: The powder room, which features a whimsical, jungle-themed wallpaper. “The lion is a very important animal to my client, so she wanted to use this pattern,” Chow explains. “Since this is a powder room that all the guests will end up using, we wanted to create a fun and playful space.” After all, even when balancing two styles, there’s always plenty of room for some fun.