Even among the five spectacular homes featured on the Alliance Kitchen Tour on Oct. 19, the Bollenbach family residence is a standout, blending the best of modern and Mediterranean design. Brooke and Kurt Bollenbach were intentional about the design direction for their new Nichols Hills family home — and it shows.
“When Kurt and I initially started thinking about building, we went through all the different styles and possibilities,” Brooke Bollenbach said. “Growing up in Tulsa, there was a Mediterranean home in the neighborhood that was always my favorite home. That style has stuck with me since I was a little girl, and this is sort of our version — a more modern version — of that home.”
The Bollenbachs also have a Greek heritage, another reason Mediterranean design resonates with them. To achieve their vision, the couple enlisted Candelaria Design Build and interior designer Amber Matlack. They had worked with Matlack on their previous home, and that experience proved helpful when planning this project.
“I already knew the kinds of details that would make the clients happy — like a little touch of color or a patterned grasscloth wallpaper — and they knew they could trust me to bring ideas that respected their vision but elevated it in ways they might not have imagined,” Matlack said.
Matlack described the home as having a “Modern Classic Spanish” style: embracing the curves of a Mediterranean villa, but with cleaner lines and a more neutral color palette. The home’s arches, ironwork and application of colors and textures make it feel “timeless, but not dated,” added Matlack.
“We wanted to capture the romance and timelessness of classic Spanish architecture — arched doorways, whitewashed stucco and beautiful tile — but reimagine it for modern living,” said Matlack. “Our goal was to blend tradition and modernity so seamlessly that it feels like the home could have been here for decades, yet it’s completely functional for a 21st-century lifestyle.”
The home incorporates antique and modern furniture pieces with meaningful artwork and family memorabilia displayed throughout. Matlack wanted interiors to feel collected and thoughtful, with the family’s personality represented as well. In the study, which is the Bollenbachs’ favorite room, a painting by friend and artist Chrissy Collins completes the colorful space. Another special painting from Heidelberg, Germany, reminds the Bollenbachs of the place and time they lived overseas.
All homes on the Alliance Kitchen Tour have exceptional kitchens; this one certainly qualifies. Those attending the Oct. 19 event (tickets and details at ocmsalliance.org) will be able to admire the Bollenbach kitchen’s finer details, like how the veining in the quartzite stone contrasts with the soft curves of the sculptural plaster hood.
“The kitchen is the heart of the home, so we wanted it to feel inviting and layered. We used warm oak cabinetry with a subtle grain, a soft green Cicala honed quartzite countertop and full height backsplash for durability. The perimeter cabinets were painted [with the] Farrow & Ball color Pigeon, which was a perfect mate to the stunning quartzite stone. The island is oversized for casual dining, and the range hood is plastered to blend into the architecture,” Matlack said. “Functionally, everything is within easy reach. We wanted it to be a chef’s dream without losing its charm.”
Every room throughout the home is thoughtfully appointed — intentionally designed to be both beautiful and functional.
“I have to give credit to Amber, because she thought of every detail,” Brooke Bollenbach said. “I love her style, and she’s really easy to work with … I just love the way it all came together.”
