Not Another Blue Kitchen

The Story

Thomas Templeton, a tech exec, and Jennifer Pollock, a freelance writer — and their kids, Colin and Jack, 5, and Owen, 2 — dove into rich color when they renovated the kitchen in their California home. “We went for a bold color because, after all, it’s just paint!” says Jennifer.

Designer Clara Jung (of Banner Day Interiors) pointed the couple in the direction of this saturated teal (Dark Teal by Benjamin Moore), and though Thomas says his style is pretty conservative, he loves the result. "We wanted a primary-color kitchen with a twist," says Thomas. "You see a lot of blue kitchens, but not like this!"

Sunlight Central

The Spanish-style house was built in 1935, and the kitchen hadn’t been updated since the ’90s. Jennifer and Thomas thought about adding more cabinetry over the sink but opted to keep this long row of windows to maximize the natural light.

Arches Everywhere

Clara suggested curved panels on the cabinets as a nod to the home’s original architectural details, which include an arch above the breakfast nook. Now the space looks totally unique, says Jennifer. “We have three young kids, so we wanted it to be just as loud and as fun as our family.”

Not-So Basic Backsplash

The couple chose gray-and-white tiles that wouldn’t compete with the color of the cabinets. “They feel like something that would have been in the home originally, which we love,” says Thomas. Each medallion is made of four 8-inch-square tiles from Fireclay Tile.

Spacious Seating

The family loves having friends over for impromptu pizza parties. Thanks to a spacious banquette and counter seating, everyone has a place to sit and hangout.