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Upscale Bathroom Remodel: Before and After

Aug 27, 2018 | Posted in Before & After |

I’m often asked how to transform bathrooms that are dark and cramped into light and airy spaces. Oh, and also to make the space look high-end or upscale as well, without breaking the bank. A tall order that seems impossible, but I’ve done it here!

View of upscale bathroom remodel showing pale blue tinted wall and ceiling color, 90-degree angled white porcelain floor tiles, white wood vanity with a white counter and a mirror above with white glass sconces either side. To the left is a shower with white subway tiles and silver fixtures, and to the right is a stained glass window.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

This San Francisco bathroom was drowning in dark, outdated tiling with the toilet, tub, and sink all in tan. While I appreciate the effort from the original installer to color-coordinate everything, it unfortunately hasn’t stood the test of time, as you can see below in these “before” photos I took on-site.

"Before" images of an outdated San Francisco residential bathroom with tan tub, tan sink, matching tan tiling and towel rails, plus orangey-red edge tiles that are triangles pointed down, with dingy white painted walls above. This bathroom needs an upscale remodel!

The lonely mirror looked unfinished above a motel-style tiled edge, and the lighting was severely lacking. Those triangle tiles remind me of broken teeth!

View of bathroom showing pale blue tinted wall and ceiling color, 90-degree angled white porcelain floor tiles, white wood vanity with a white counter surface, silver hardware, and a silver-framed mirror above with silver and white glass sconces either side. To the left is a walk-in glass shower with white subway tiles, a real Calacatta and Celeste marble patterned shower wall niche, complementary angled white porcelain marble-look floor tiles, and silver shower fixtures.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

What a change in the “after”! To make the room feel bigger, I turned the floor tiles at a 45-degree angle, which visually widens the space and feels more welcoming, and kept the color palette to pale light tones. The angled flooring is repeated in the shower pan in a smaller-scale pattern, the repetition of materials visually elongating the entire bathroom. All the flooring is durable, stain-proof, and maintenance-free porcelain that replicates the look of Calacatta marble.

Closeup of shower wall inset niche, pattern created in pearly white Calacatta marble, shaped almost like snowflakes, alternating with speckled pale blue diamond-shaped Celeste marble, framed by off-white subway tiles.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

To create a high-end look, we added a custom detail for the shower niche. We splurged on real Calacatta and blue Celeste marble, and had our custom pattern fabricated just for us. The added bonus of having the marble recessed inside the niche and on a vertical surface means there will be minimal issues with staining.

"Before" remodel image: Open window above tan square tiles with orange-red subway tile edging plus downpointing "teeth"-effect tiles in the same orange-red, and a towel rail matching the tan squares. The tiling continues around the corner into a step-in arch-fronted shower with curtain pushed back to the right side. The rest of the painted walls are off-white.

Another way I opened up and lightened the space was by relocating the toilet where the shower enclosure was previously located. That allowed us to remove all the old shower tile, add a second window for more light, and brighten up the walls with a soft shade of blue.

Corner view of bathroom showing white counter surface and white wood cabinetry with blocky silver hardware that matches the silver taps and mirror frame, and one visible of a pair of silver sconces with white glass shades. Next to the light fixture and above the silver double towel rail, are two windows at a 90-degree angle creating a light-filled corner coming in to the space - the window facing the sink is a custom stained glass feature window - and to the right side of the second window sits the toilet in its new location.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

A favorite custom detail is the stained glass window. The homeowner found a pattern she loved, and we had the stained glass window fabricated for us, installed to the right of the vanity. Custom elements like this and the marble shower niche elevate a simple utilitarian area into a higher-end space that’s unique and sophisticated.

Closeup of custom stained glass window with a prairie-style pattern almost like an arrow coming down from the sky, above a silver double towel rail, and next to a sconce light fixture in matching silver with a white glass shade. The walls are a pale blue and contrast with the white trim.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

Completing the bathroom with paint in a soft powdery blue color gives enough contrast to the white fixtures and finishes to make the space interesting, while maintaining the serene and airy look.

If you’re due for a bathroom update, and are excited to bring in custom design elements for an upscale space, contact Kimball Starr today!

Kimball Starr Interior Design works with homeowners all across Northern California to create beautiful “afters” of your bathrooms, kitchens, and interior spaces throughout your home!

Labels: bathroom, before and after, color, countertops, custom window, paint, porcelain tile, tiling, upscale design features

Bathrooms with Lush Green Living Walls

Aug 13, 2018 | Posted in Inspirations |

If you like plants and living things, like I do, then you’ll love this fun and unexpected way to bring more plants into your home — in the bathroom! Here are bathrooms featuring living walls of lush greenery to inspire you.

A modern Zen bathroom, to the left showing a white robe hung on the wall, candles on wooden stands on the side of a white freestanding tub with silver fixtures, a green rug in the center of a tiled floor, and on the right, a pair of square white porcelain sinks on a warm wooden counter with undersink open storage and closed storage, with a matching wood-framed mirror above each sink. At the center back of the image is a wooden walkway over a blue multicolor tiled wading pool, leading to a simple wooden stool under a modern shower fixture hung on the white back wall, surrounded by potted plants, trees, and vines. The shower area appears to be outside under an open overhang, while the rest of the bathroom is enclosed.

Photo courtesy VizPixStudio

This space gives the effect of walking on water on your way to the shower, with a wooden walkway over a tiled wading pool, ending in a simple wooden seat below the shower fixture, surrounded by greenery. A Zen feeling is a lovely way to start your day.

A glass surround with an open door and wooden handle invite you to step up into this tropical-inspired bathing space, following a path of wooden pavers to a freestanding white tub filled with flower petals, surrounded by leafy fronds, a palm tree, and a small wooden table with candles. Four small lanterns hang at different heights from a skylight with dark wooden beams about a foot apart, filtering the light into the space. A window at the back has dark surround and an off-white shade for privacy.

Photo by unknown

I adore the feeling of the skylight with the beams, a great way to filter light and add visual interest. This space has a global sensibility with the hanging lanterns and the Balinese wood, surrounded by tropical plants.

A modern glass shower stall reveals a small wooden stool with towel in front of a tall wall full of lush vines, greenery and a few bright pink flowers, with the modern white hand-shower fixture installed into the living wall, the top of which acts as a shelf for shampoo and conditioner bottles. A rain showerhead above completes the space, while a silver towel rail is just visible to the far right through the glass, outside the shower.

Photo courtesy WellAndGood.com

Here I like how the fixture is actually mounted into the living wall. Plus every time you shower, you can mist your plants – easy maintenance!

A modern white freestanding tub with black fixtures on a post mounted into a lush green living wall of ferns and mosses is the feature, lit by downlighting. A tall art canvas adorns the side wall, with a towel rail hanging next to the tub.

Photo courtesy Homedit.com

Similar to the prior image, this design also has the fixture mounted into a living wall of ferns and mosses, this time with a luxury freestanding modern tub.

View of a modern bathroom with speckled white marble-look flooring and countertops. The back wall is entirely of glass with large live plants and hedges just outside, and additional potted plants inside the steps leading down and into the bathroom. Two oversize mirrors behind each sink reflect the stone walls out of view. A dark woven basket under the counter for dirty towels, while clean towels are rolled on plates either end of the counter. A wooden camp stool sits at the far end of the counter, close to the open glass doorway. The space is lit nearly entirely by daylight, with a few downlights for good measure.

Photo via Pinterest.com

The sunken design of this bathroom is very effective; it keeps the space cooler and feels privately luxurious, like a secret hideaway behind hedge walls.

A Bohemian bathroom with a white claw-foot tub on the left, in front of a full wall mural of lush green plants and a waterfall, and to the right, a grey wall with wooden sink surround below a windowsill circled by living vines. On the floor a white woven basket of clean towels rests near a lattice-design rug, a wire basket for dirty towels, and to the far right a wooden table with a potted plant and some collectible glass and stone items.

Photo via Pinterest.com

This one may fool you – it’s a wall mural! This is a great way to bring greenery into your bathroom, very low-maintenance. The quality of the mural is absolutely key to making the effect work and not feel cheap in this Bohemian bathroom. I have some great resources so definitely get in touch if this idea inspires you!

If you want lush green living walls in your bathroom, or to just look like it, contact Kimball Starr for a free consultation.

Labels: bathroom, contemporary, creative interior design, modern design, residential design, skylights, tiling, water feature

Outdoor Art

Aug 02, 2018 | Posted in Inspirations |

Continuing our focus on the great outdoors, here are what some very talented artists are doing to create outdoor art that interacts with nature. This is not a paid post and I’m not connected to the artists. I simply find their work interesting and would like to share my excitement with you in the hope you find some inspiration and excitement as well!

Andres Amador Arts: Sand Drawings

Artist statement: “This piece was made in between bouts of rain and captured just as the sun was setting. Part way through I had to go to my car to get out of my soaking clothes, figuring that I would have to stop for the day. But then the clouds parted and I decided to get back to it (after changing!). The design is part of a continuing exploration of geometry and patterns, inspired by Polynesian art.”

Enormously-scaled geometric circular pattern created on beach sand using only brushes and water, with the artist Andres Amador standing at the center, arms upraised. The pattern is broken by rocks at the edge of the water, between the sand and ocean.

Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com

The artist was inspired by Polynesian art, but I also find this intricate sand drawing reminds me of a Celtic knot. It’s placed spectacularly on the edge of where land meets water, to then slowly dissolve away with the tide. Look closely and you can see a person standing in the center of the pattern, which gives you an idea of the colossal size of the artwork.

Multiple geometric shapes at enormous scale are created on the beach, using only brushes on sand and water, by Artist Andres Amador. In this view, the ocean is on the right and the sand is on the left, and we're looking all the way down the beach, while tiny people walk past.

Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com

“[Above] is the longest artwork I’ve yet created- 1/2 mile of flowers floating in the wind for a mini run hosted by Wanderlust Festival in Los Angeles. Fun!”

View from directly above, a person walking past a circular central pattern, created with individual long strokes, appearing as if a huge dandelion head landed in the sand for a moment. By artist Andres Amador, who works entirely with brushes and beach sand to create geometric patterns and shapes.

Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com

Several people outlined by sunlight on the beach, at the edge of where the water meets the sand, walking with brushes dragged behind them to create shapes and patterns, under the guidance of artist Andres Amador.

Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com

A geometric shape at enormous scale is formed on the beach using only brushes on sand by Artist Andres Amador and his workshoppers.

Photo courtesy Andres Amador Arts via Instagram.com

[Above] “From the archives, “Sliceform”, 2008, Ocean Beach, SF. Made during my geometric phase and based on a design I found in a book on 3-dimensional ‘Sliceforms’. These are essentially interlocking folding paper that creates 3-D shapes when opened, in the vein of pop-up books.”

Jayson Fann: Spirit Nest Creations

Jayson Fann’s larger-than-life spirit nests are inspired by birds but built for humans. Fann uses fallen tree branches harvested in local forests in the Big Sur area to construct the big, beautiful creations.

Looking out over foggy countryside, a wooden ladder leads up to a human-scale nest, created by folded tree branches. Artist: Jayson Fann.

Photo courtesy Grist.com

Looking out over ocean waves at orangey sunset, a wooden ladder leads up to a human-scale nest, created by folded tree branches. A child hangs white fairy lights while a man sits among brocade pillows, inside the nest. Artist: Jayson Fann.

Photo courtesy beheadingboredom.com

How fantastic to live in a human-sized bird nest with a bird’s eye view of the sea!

Artist Jayson Fann talks with schoolchildren, seen from behind, about his Nest Creations outdoor art, while seated in the center of the bent branches of one of his nests.

Photo courtesy Jayson Fann via Instagram.com

The view out, seated inside a human-scale nest, created by folded tree branches. A few pillows on a mattress, scattered beneath dappled light, mostly shaded by the branches, created by artist Jayson Fann.

Photo courtesy Beheadingboredom.com

Jaume Plensa: Sculptures

Spanish artist Jaume Plensa is one of the world’s foremost sculptors working in the public space, with over 30 projects spanning the globe in such cities as Chicago, Dubai, London, Liverpool, Nice, Tokyo, Toronto, and Vancouver. Over 25 years, Plensa has produced a rich body of work, both in the studio and the public realm. By combining conventional sculptural materials such as glass, steel, bronze and aluminum with more unconventional media like water, light, sound, video, and often integrating text as well, Plensa creates hybrid works of intricate energy and psychology.

Artist Jaume Plensa creates two silver wireframe heads that appear to float on calm waters, as if listening, by green grasses. The reflections are equally as detailed as the wire sculptures.

Photo courtesy ArchitecturalDigest.com

I’m mesmerized by these floating head sculptures. They appear surreal or otherworldly and when placed in the water create a visual calm.

Wire frame sculpture of a human seated on a rock on green grass, contemplating across purple flowers and waving treetops, out towards the sea. Created by artist Jaume Plensa.

Photo courtesy JaumePlensa.com

Plensa’s sculptures show the power of placement. Perched in lush natural settings, his meditative figures are beyond fantastic! The sculptures emanate human thought and emotion in an ethereal manner that perceive them to be part of the surrounding air and land, reflecting back to us our innate connection with this planet.

Metal sculpture of a seated human facing the ocean under a blue sky with puffy clouds. The sculpture is made up of words and shapes, by artist Jaume Plensa. To the left are green cliffs, and the water fades from deep blue down to lighter blue as it nears land.

Photo courtesy JaumePlensa.com

What outdoor art has moved you recently? Would you install art in your backyard?

If you have an idea for an art piece you’d like to incorporate into your outdoor residential spaces in the Northern California areas, contact Kimball Starr today!

Labels: art, outdoor

AMAZING Pools and Water Features

Jul 16, 2018 | Posted in Trends |

As the long summer days stretch into warm summer nights, one thought keeps returning: How wonderful it is to have access to cool running water. Showing off your beautiful water feature is part of a properly landscaped home, and if you can really WOW people, you should. Here are a few of my favorites, just for fun!

Indoor Pool That Continues Outdoors

An unusual pool that begins indoors and extends outdoors, right through a wall! A pair of red French doors with one open inward show at the left, bounded by an aged, painted curved wall and ceiling that immediately becomes a huge folding glass wall, open at the center, then rejoining the solid wall. The tiled bottom of the pool invites you to try swimming between the indoors and out! The hot sun beckons, beating down on lush plantings and a large rock wall, with lounge chairs along the pool edge and pathway to the right.

Photo courtesy Homedit.com

If you can’t decide whether to have an indoor or an outdoor pool, why not have both? This pool begins inside, where it’s covered and heated, passes through a transitional patio space, then into the outdoor sun. The indoor pool-end can even be closed off with glass panels, revealing the beautiful view while holding in the heat on chilly days.

Lagoons, Waterfalls and a Zen Wading Pool

Night view of a Florida tropical backyard oasis of Zen calm, featuring a large curvy bright blue swimming pool, edged with light colored large flagstones, surrounded by multi-level rock walls, palm trees and lush plants. The Zen wading pool peeks out the left, just behind a fire pit and tree by the emerald blue rock waterfall, grotto, and hanging gardens. Uplit plants and trees throw interesting shadows.

Photo courtesy LucasLagoons.com

Not only does this custom pool installation in Parrish, Florida feature a Zen wading pool and relaxation area, but there are two rock waterfalls, a fire pit, a hanging garden and large grotto, and a beach pebble champagne spa with a rock bridge, all lit with custom-LEDs for nighttime enjoyment! Peaceful contemplation has its charms….

Photo courtesy LucasLagoons.com

Infinity Pool – With an Underwater Sofa!

Pale flagstone surrounds steps into an infinity pool, with a hot tub accessible to the left. The infinity pool's edge is highlighted by two low columns topped with fire bowls. A planter and a palm tree show the right edges of our view, along a pebbled retaining wall. The darkening deep blue Florida sky with a just a brush of clouds shows above the line of the ocean for this exquisite backyard oasis originally designed by Bradenton Golf & Custom Pools, restored by Lucas Lagoons.

Photo courtesy LucasLagoons.com

Check out the view over this Florida infinity pool! Originally designed by Bradenton Golf & Custom Pools, it was restored and re-designed for a feature on the TV series Insane Pools, where it certainly upholds its namesake.

Have you ever seen an underwater sofa before? I bet it feels as amazing as it looks!

This infinity pool with a pebbled underwater sofa was originally designed by Bradenton Golf & Custom Pools for a famous family and restored by Lucas Lagoons.

Photo courtesy LucasLagoons.com

Koi Ponds… to the Extreme

When you think of a backyard koi pond, you probably think of something like this:

A traditional Japanese koi pond and backyard landscape design, surrounded by greenery, featuring a red bridge with a stone pathway leading to a gazebo with seating.

Photo courtesy TheBedBar.com

Of course it’s peaceful and serene, with multiple pathways and seating areas. But what if you wanted something with a little more pizzazz, what would you ask for? An elegant surprise, like this glass-sided koi pond!

Photo courtesy TheBedBar.com

Maybe that still wasn’t fancy enough for your fishbowl. Have you considered turning a glass table into a water feature – while being able to eat over the running water?

Amazing water feature is a table where water runs THROUGH the middle of it, underneath the glass, and then comes out the side of the table. It starts from a stark white modern waterwall, passes through a dark-edged table with a glass top, and pours out the table, through a break in the decking, and into the water below. A light-colored brick wall and green plants form the back of the space. Modern white barstools complete the wow factor.

Photo courtesy TheBedBar.com

A River Runs Through – This House!

This architect's home features a lazy river connecting the three pavilions, so you could swim between bedroom, living room, and dining room, or just take the footbridge if you want to stay dry.

Image courtesy DailyMail.co.uk

If you’ve ever wanted to hang out in a lazy river, but still be close to all the party action in the kitchen, this home has got you covered! Featuring a jacuzzi, waterfall, lagoon and sauna, the owners can paddle to each room via the 90-foot stream that runs between the home’s three buildings, or keep their feet dry using the footbridge.

Ipe wood is among the multiple wood species used as decking, to create a bridge, and composing the walls and ceiling surrounding this amazing indoor residential lazy river.

Photo courtesy DailyMail.co.uk

This unique, 18,000 sq ft property was built by architect Alfred Browning Parker for himself in 1968, and wows the current owner’s guests every time they visit. The property listing boasts, ‘Each of the pavilions has distinctive views of lush gardens’, ensuring a cool environment, to use both meanings of the phrase. This home certainly would inspire repeat visits!

An indoor lazy river runs through this architect's home, featuring lush garden views.

Photo courtesy DailyMail.co.uk

Obviously these are very extreme designs, but I encourage you to think creatively about what you’d like to enjoy in your garden – after all, daydreams are free!

If you have an idea – big or small – that you want to create in your own backyard oasis, contact Kimball Starr today for a consultation! Water you waiting for?!

Labels: contemporary, creative interior design, custom furniture, landscape design, modern design, outdoor, water feature

3 More Hot Outdoor Living Trends

Jul 02, 2018 | Posted in Trends |

In our prior blog, we talked about 3 of the hottest trends in Northern California outdoor living. During my years as an interior designer, I come across so many exciting ideas that I decided to make a part 2 to share them with you. Here are 3 more of the hottest outdoor living trends under the California sun!

Outdoor living room featuring a rock fireplace surround and metal wood storage caddy, surrounded by billowing white drapes. On a patterned rug sits a sawed wood log side table and a glass side table either side of a white loveseat, hanging lantern lighting overhead, and a gorgeous view out onto a lake.

Photo courtesy HGTV.com

1. Outdoor Living Rooms

It’s called the living room because we spend a lot of time there, enjoying movies and tv shows, welcoming friends and family, and spending time with pets, so why not continue this tradition in an outdoor living room? With advances in UV-resistant fabrics and materials, nearly any indoor living room-quality piece can become the pride of your outdoor living space. Brands like Sunbrella and Perennials solution-dyed acrylic fabrics can be cleaned easily with a diluted bleach solution and water, and won’t fade in the hot California sun.

Another on-trend favorite is the outdoor fireplace in your living area, where the family can gather when a little ocean breeze brings a chill. You could also surprise guests with an outdoor movie screen – a rising trend both in Northern and Southern California cities that’s sure to be a hit with millenials.

This outdoor bathing area is peeking out from under an arch. We see 2 rain-head outdoor showers flowing, behind bamboo privacy screens. To the right, a copper tub, white enamel inside with centered hand-held nozzle and taps, surrounded by trees and wooden privacy fencing. Reddish wood planking is underfoot in this outdoor bathroom.

Photo courtesy GraniteTransformations.com

2. Outdoor Baths and Showers

Who hasn’t dreamed of taking a long bath surrounded by a gorgeous garden view, just you and nature? Or if space is at a premium, an urban shower! Outdoor bathing is the height of luxury, and it’s considered not only polite, but also important to maintaining a sanitary environment, to rinse off before using a shared hot tub, pool or sauna.

If you don’t have room for an outdoor bath or shower, consider a splash pad. Similar to what you might have seen in a municipal park or theme park, splash pads are making their way to private residences. Jets of water shoot up from the ground in different directions, controlled by a computerized system that can make the water dance. They’re not exactly a common feature, but definitely an indicator that homeowners are serious about fun, and kids love them! And you might just start a new trend in your neighborhood!

Outdoor home bar featuring natural flagstone, tiled flooring, metal counter height barstools, lots of countertop space and plenty of potted succulents to make it a hidden delight.

Photo courtesy Pinterest.com

3. Outdoor Bars and Game Rooms

The gentleman’s escape aka the home bar isn’t relegated to the basement these days. A home bar is perfect for entertaining business associates, welcoming the neighborhood association, or for a home-made refresher after visiting the community swim and tennis club, so bringing it into the outdoors just makes sense during warm summer months.

I know of one Menlo Park couple who built a tiki bar in their backyard, with an airplane wing forming part of the roof, in honor of his father, who served in the South Pacific. The back wall is augmented by a huge flatscreen TV that alternates between ocean views and mermaids swimming in a human-scale aquarium. Their backyard bar is so popular with friends that they started hosting a regular tiki night, bringing aficionados from all over the Peninsula!

Your bar doesn’t have to be that authentic, just make sure you have comfortable seating, a counter to lean on, a sink to clean up, and plenty of storage for all those cocktails and mocktails. You’ll also want to properly organize and display your vintage or ultra-modern barware accessories.

No longer just a lad’s lair, now the game room is also moving outdoors, to complement traditional lawn games like croquet, bocce, horseshoes, or massively scaled chessboards. Your modern game room could include a billiard table under a sunshade with twinkling fairy lights, or a space for tabletop games, in addition to that comfortable bar to serve your mates.

Outdoor game room showing a full-size tan billiard table with different colored glass jars as hanging lanterns from the painted off-white wooden ceiling. Behind the pool table is a tan corner sofa covered in multicolored throw pillows, and a pair of matching armchairs opposite a glass coffee table. Open folding glass doors are stacked on all 3 walls, with a view out onto a swimming pool and backyard.

Photo courtesy HGTV.com

Now that you’ve seen them all, which outdoor room is your fave? Could you see yourself enjoying your new outdoor space by next summer?

Kimball Starr designs outdoor spaces for small or large families and couples in the Northern California and Lake Tahoe area. Request a personal consultation today!

Labels: bathroom, contemporary, drinks & decor, game room, home bar, living room, modern design, outdoor

3 Hottest Outdoor Living Trends

Jun 18, 2018 | Posted in Trends |

People expect to get more bang for their buck these days, especially in California. With our temperate climate, extended seasons, and a booming economy, we have every reason to want to spend more time in our outdoor spaces. Here are 3 of the hottest trends under the California sun!

A beautiful winery is framed by open folding double-width wooden and glass doors. In the foreground, a long oak table with benches either side is set for dinner guests, complete with fresh flower centerpiece. White outdoor chairs are peeking out from behind the edges of the open doors, while sunlight streams in.

Photo courtesy Nana Wall via Houzz.com

1. Folding Walls and Windows

Who wouldn’t want to create more usable space in their home, without moving or building an extension? One of the easiest ways to add both space and functionality is to install a folding wall, sliding window or pivoting door system onto a room that borders a patio, deck, terrace or garden. Old-school overhead garage doors have disappeared, in favor of high-tech moveable accordion wall-and-window systems like those from Nana Wall or Panoramic Doors & Windows.

Exterior corner of a kitchen with folding glass walls stacked open, a single all-glass door remains in place. Wood cladding on the exterior complements similar finish on the interior, further blurring the distinction between indoors and outdoors. A reddish wood Stickley dining set with fresh flowers under a pendant light is the focal point.

Photo courtesy NanaWall.com

Aesthetically pleasing in their design, opt for a partial wall or enjoy full exposure with a relatively short stack (the amount of space taken up when folded), and any combination of doors, walls and windows that you can imagine. Choose from wood or metal framing with many finishes to complement your existing architectural features. They’re lightweight; even a smaller person can operate them solo. And with electric privacy blinds, activated at the push of a button to allow as much or as little light in as you desire, you avoid fussy drapes or the dreaded vertical blinds. If you prefer, fully enclosed blinds give you complete control without the need for constant cleaning like with traditional blinds. Truly a joy to own!

Backyard outdoor kitchen featuring overhead fans, rough stone island with smooth stone countertop, sink with spray nozzle. Across the stone flooring a few feet is a matching stone counter with BBQ grill, full oven and stovetop, warmer, and pizza oven, plus a ceiling mounted flatscreen TV, all with a view of the green grass and trees.

Photo courtesy Daylilydonna.com

2. Outdoor Cooking and Dining

Almost any room in your house can be recreated for outdoor use – the most popular being outdoor kitchens and dining spaces, for alfresco meals with friends and family. Not just confined to a standard BBQ, outdoor kitchens now combine the latest in high-tech appliances in a stainless steel finish that withstands the elements, plus all the joys of entertaining while you cook in fresh air and sunshine. Some folks opt for a full kitchen with sink, mini-fridge, possibly a separate wine chiller, and oven in their outdoor space, while others are fine keeping most of the kitchen indoors, instead featuring a covered dining area and pass-through to make serving a breeze. Another trendy outdoor cooking option is a pizza oven! Kids of all ages will enjoy a stone-heated slice of pizza pie, right in their own back yard.

Backyard shed or tiny house used as modern home office and study, two steps up from grass, through sliding glass doors surrounded by blonde wood cladding into a white loveseat, glass desk and dark office chair with computer, 2 bookshelves.

Photo of Blackburn Office Studio Courtesy Tom Ross via Houzz.com

3. Backyard Sheds and Tiny Houses as Home Offices and Studios

Remember when a shed was just for storing your dad’s lawn and yard care equipment? Maybe some sports gear and old collectibles? Those days of yore are gone forever, with the latest updated sheds and tiny houses. You won’t believe the modern activities you can fit into a very small space: A home office for a busy CPA who needs to escape the family noise, a beautiful studio for an artist to draw, paint, and sculpt, or a place to stretch, dance and work-out for the health enthusiast and yoga practitioner. Tiny houses are so popular that you can often rent them for a night to find out what all the fuss is about. Many are on wheels, to relocate to any amazing views your heart desires, or to your in-law’s back yard, when the holidays stretch the main house to bursting.

So now you know what the top outdoor living trends are in California. Which one inspires you to make a change?

Kimball Starr designs outdoor spaces for families and couples in the California and Nevada area. Let her take your backyard from boring to beautiful with a personalized consultation!

Labels: backyard living, contemporary, countertops, dining room, folding walls & windows, home office, kitchen, modern design, outdoor, shed, studio, tiny house