This empty-nest couple wanted to strip their San Jose, California, home of its boring and bland finishes, expand the footprint and lighten the look with a modern farmhouse style that balanced their diverging tastes — she prefers a soft, gentle style; he likes something with a rough, Western flair.

The couple searched for designers on Houzz and found Carmit Oron. Oron, who used Houzz Pro software to manage the project, leaned on beautiful gray marble that looks like soapstone, using five slabs of it for countertops in the kitchen, main bathroom, outdoor kitchen and other spaces. White oak cabinetry and white shiplap also tie the rooms of the home together and create the updated traditional look the owners were craving. https://www.houzz.com/houzz-tv/tour-a...