Tour a Renovated Japandi-Style Home Filled With Natural Wood Tones

A remodel can say a lot about a person — so Robert Lee hoped his would make a great impression. Just as he started renovating his 1960s ranch-style home in San Jose, California, he also started dating Alina Yang. “The new relationship felt special, and I hoped Alina would like the choices I was making,” says Robert, who brought in designer Cathie Hong to help modernize the space.

They ran with a minimal Japandi aesthetic and pops of blue, red and green inspired by his home state, Hawaii. Robert, an engineer, helped figure out how to optimize the 1,400-square-foot floor plan. Ultimately Alina, a doctor, fell in love with both the house and Robert: They’re getting married this fall!

This basic living space was missing a wow-factor. The solution: A revamped fireplace wall with custom storage.

Robert works in tech, and the checkerboard hand-glazed Clé tiles around the fireplace really spoke to him. “To me it looks like pixels on a computer screen,” he says. Built-in shelves and cabinets on both sides add plenty of storage. The sofa, from Audo, is a dark brick color to contrast the blues.

With tan walls, beige floors and a gray countertop, this kitchen needed an infusion of color.

The turquoise and green backsplash tiles, from a Japanese company called Inax, mimic the fluted island and hood vent. The waterfall countertop is quartzite, and its blue tint makes it actually look like a waterfall, Robert says. For the cabinets, Robert chose rift white oak with a clear varnish. “They reminded me of what I saw on trips to Asia,” he says.

This multi-functional dining area had plenty of space, but it lacked direction.

The goal for this room was to create an organic space the couple could use all day. A free-form pendant by SkLO and an asymmetrical table from Sun at Six did the trick. When Robert works from home, he sits at the floating desk built into the alcove. It’s made of the same oak as the kitchen cabinets. "There’s no wasted space in this house. The desk fits into the dining area seamlessly," he says.

This bland bedroom lacked personality, and, more importantly, storage space.

“We love waking up surrounded by the blue ombré walls,” says Robert of the Calico wallpaper. “It feels like we’re at the beach.” Instead of dressers, Robert opted for a custom wardrobe wall to maximize the space. The bed, by Blu Dot, has a slight curve at the headboard.