Inside Vern Yip's Newly Remodeled Kitchen

As an HGTV designer with decades of experience, Vern Yip knows when a room works and when it falls short. The old kitchen in his Atlanta, GA, home? “It just didn’t cut it,” says Vern. With its choppy layout, limited storage and crammed together appliances, it was in need of some serious love. So Vern set out on a renovation to create a space where he and his partner, Craig Koch, could prep meals and do dishes but still hang out with their kids, Gavin, 6, and Vera, 5. By combining a little-used seating area with the existing kitchen, he doubled the square footage. But that’s not the only way he went big. “I used lots of really strong, unique graphics,” Vern says, of the zebra-print tablecloths, the subway tiles with beveled edges, and the bold black-and-white stripes on the walls. The result is a family-friendly space with a look all its own. “I don’t think you’ll see another kitchen like it,” says Vern. 

Island: At 9 feet long, the island is the kitchen’s natural gathering spot. Built by Omega Cabinetry, it features deep drawers and a Cambria quartz top that resembles marble but is impervious to spills — and Gavin and Vera’s art supplies. The brushed-aluminum stools are from Design Within Reach. Striped Walls: “Because I combined two rooms, I needed a graphic visual that could link them,” says Vern. His solution: 8-inch-tall painted bands of black and white that span most of the walls. “They help everything flow together,” he says. Lighting: Eight crystal eggs fitted with LED bulbs from Vern’s new collection with Stonegate Designs deliver plenty of task lighting. Their subtle look doesn’t compete with the room’s patterns. Window Treatments: Accented with mini valances, the Roman shades — made from chinoiserie-pattern fabric from Vern’s line for Trend — dress up the French doors that open out to the backyard. 

Ceiling: In the South, you often see light blue paint on porch ceilings. Here, Vern used the shade in the kitchen to keep the black-and-white color scheme from feeling too stark. Pendant: An instant eye-catcher, the giant drum shade from Stonegate Designs features fabric from Vern’s Trend line. The stripes mimic those on the walls. “It was so cool to see how they all work in sync,” he says. Table and Chairs: It may not have a fancy pedigree, but the Crate & Barrel breakfast table holds a lot of sentimental value: It’s the first thing Vern bought for his mom with his first real paycheck. Knoll Brno leather chairs give it a modern edge. 

Black stripes: Black Magic by Sherwin-Williams; White stripes: Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams; Ceiling: Open Air by Sherwin-Williams