In This Palo Alto Home, the Interiors Are the Backdrop for an Eclectic Art Collection

Artist Sandy Ostrau’s house is full of quirky vintage charm.

Living Room in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto

R. Brad Knipstein

Written by Sarah Yang May 13, 2026

When you have an extensive and eclectic art collection like artist Sandy Ostrau and her husband Mark do, you’d probably want to place it front and center at home. That’s what the couple wanted to prioritize when it came to renovating their 1912 Palo Alto house.

Entry in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
“We actually met because I love her work and started collecting her paintings about 10 years ago,” Chantal says of her client, Sandy Ostrau. “Flash forward to the pandemic, Sandy reached out to me about figuring out how to (in her words) ‘pull their house together and make it feel cohesive.'”

R. Brad Knipstein

Living Room Stairs in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
The unique home had a lot of quirks.

R. Brad Knipstein

Their historic home originally served as the barn for the first veterinarian in Palo Alto. “This kind of historic home has its charm, and its quirks: Rustic rafters; many different floor heights on the main level; historic windows mixed with some that must have been added in the ‘50s or ‘60s; really steep stairs; and each of the upstairs rooms has sloped ceilings, literally built under the eaves,” explains interior designer Chantal Lamberto.

Kitchen in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
Blue and white checkerboard floors and an orange stove brighten the kitchen.

R. Brad Knipstein

The breakfast area gets plenty of natural light.

R. Brad Knipstein

The directive from Chantal’s clients was to design the interiors in a way that offered an appropriate backdrop for their art collection. Additionally, Sandy and Mark tasked Chantal and team with updating the outdated bathrooms, and making the bedroom and bathroom on the lower level more functional and welcoming for guests.

Stairs in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
“We redesigned the bannister to replace the Home Depot pickets with something that felt more in keeping with the era of the home,” Chantal explains.

R. Brad Knipstein

The home also featured a lot of different paint colors that were some version of peach so the palette needed to be streamlined. 

Dining Room in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
The dining room is painted a soft pink.

R. Brad Knipstein

“Picking a soft off-white, Lime White from Farrow & Ball, as the main color and then adding in different areas of interest where they make sense, like a soft pink dining room (Farrow & Ball’s Calamine and a bold dark color on the fireplace wall to draw you in and provide depth (Farrow & Ball’s Studio Green),” says Chantal.

Den in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
The newly designed den connects to the living room.

R. Brad Knipstein

The changes made to the main level of the home were mostly new floor finish and paint. They wallpapered and added built-ins (including a bar/wine storage area) in the den. 

Living Room Corner in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
A built-in bookcase was added underneath the living room’s windows.

R. Brad Knipstein

“We added a corner bookcase to the living room under my favorite windows in the house,” says Chantal. “The light is beautiful in that corner and the bookcase allows the space to feel needed and intentional, whereas before it always felt like a confusing appendage to the living room.”

Guest Room in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
“We wallpapered the guest bedroom in something that felt a little Swedish and retro and fun because it’s a pretty dark room and the pattern is just so happy,” says Chantal.

R. Brad Knipstein

Powder Room in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
“We completely renovated the bathroom to have it feel special and a little fun as a powder room and yet functional if a guest were to stay and need the full bath,” says Chantal.

R. Brad Knipstein

The lower level bedroom and bathroom project became a happy and fun space, just like the owners wanted. The bathroom was renovated to feel special and fun as a powder room, yet functional as a guest bathroom. The bedroom was wallpapered in a retro Swedish-inspired print—the cheerful design counteracts the room’s lack of natural light.

Primary Bedroom in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
The primary bedroom.

R. Brad Knipstein

Primary Bathroom in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
The primary bathroom used to have a tiny tub shower, but now it features a large and luxe shower.

R. Brad Knipstein

Upstairs, the primary bathroom and closet got a major overhaul with a double vanity and big shower. One of the bedrooms was turned into a sewing studio that included a nook bed for their daughter when she comes to visit.

Sewing Room in Palo Alto House by Chantal Lamberto
“It was so great to dream up the retro-inspired cubbies with visible lacquered plywood and the cozy bed tucked in the corner,” Chantal says of the sewing room.

R. Brad Knipstein

“They love it and I think really feel seen and heard, which makes me so happy,” Chantal says of her clients’ reaction to the finished design. “Their home truly is an extension of themselves and bringing that to fruition was such a meaningful and fulfilling journey.”

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