Inside a Kitchen Makeover That Proves Green Really Is a Neutral

The inspiration was its woodsy surroundings.

SF Kitchen Makeover Alter Interiors

Suzanna Scott

Written by Sarah Yang July 1, 2026

Originally for this kitchen makeover in a 1941 San Francisco Spanish Revival house, the clients envisioned a pretty, yet neutral look with oak cabinets, white stone, and light tile. But their designers—Jenny Magdol and Steffie Oehm of Alter Interiors—had a different idea.

Before and After SF Kitchen Makeover by Alter Interiors
The original kitchen was outdated with dark cabinets, brown granite countertops, and bulky appliances.

Suzanna Scott

“We thought we could do better. The home is in a beautiful woodsy residential area that is very lush and green, so we thought it would be nice if we brought that in,” explains Jenny. “In nature, green really is the true neutral. The clients were great and open-minded and just went there with us.”

Before the transformation the kitchen was very dated with cherry cabinets, brown granite countertops, beige tiles, and huge appliances.

Stove SF Kitchen Makeover by Alter Interiors
“The tile was a combination of sheeted 1×1 tile and 1×6 tiles,” Steffie says. “We took it off the sheet and laid it out in this custom pattern. The contractor on the job was amazing and down for it, but it was a lot of work.”

Suzanna Scott

“They wanted a modernized kitchen, with high quality materials that felt timeless and appropriate for the home,” says Steffie of her clients, a young family with two kids under 5. “They love ceramic tile and its beautiful variation. They wanted the kitchen to function as the heart of the home, with uncluttered countertops and integrated appliances.”

The design duo didn’t really change up the layout, since it was already pretty good and the footprint was small. 

And since they saved money on keeping the kitchen layout as-is, they were able to spend it on materials, custom millwork, and smart cabinet configuration.

Before and After Window SF Kitchen Makeover by Alter Interiors
“Creating the right custom cabinet color was tricky,” Jenny explains. “We mixed a few different stains and actually stained a lot of pieces in our studio space to nail the color and get the exact sample to give to the finisher to match. It was a lot of fun though.”

Suzanna Scott

“We wanted to highlight the beauty of the natural materials in any way we could,” explains Jenny. “We chose a wood stain rather than paint to show the grain of the ash wood; created a cool tile pattern to highlight the handcrafted ceramic tile; chose unlacquered brass fixtures which will patina over time; and a honed calacatta veneto marble to bring in a crisp lightness.”

Shelving SF Kitchen Makeover by Alter Interiors
Open shelving was added.

Suzanna Scott

While the clients came in wanting neutrals, Jenny and Steffie proved that green can be one too when used with restraint and a deft touch. And not only is the kitchen pretty and serene, it’s also a space that’s functional enough for a young family’s everyday needs.

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