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Best Transformations

Oct 21, 2019 | Posted in Before & After | Share

Everyone loves a makeover, right? I do, too, so here are two of my favorite and most dramatic before-and-after projects in San Francisco!

Guatemalan-Inspired Downtown Condo

Two images showing before and after of a residential apartment. The image on the left is before, an open-plan living dining area in a city condo. There are four mismatched asian patterned rugs visible. A round glass dining table and four modern dark chairs surround it, while six more mismatched chairs are a black leather sofa are in the background. In the after image on the right, lively yellow on four tub chairs and a bright red sofa with coordinating throw pillows in several patterns counterpoint a black rug with white graphic geometric shapes. Modern track lighting overhead is visible, and to the right, almost out of view but in the foreground, is a marble-top dining table with modern red chairs.
Left: Before / Right: After, design by Kimball Starr, photo by Eric Rorer

I met with the owners of a two-bedroom condo located steps from the San Francisco waterfront. The clients are a retired couple moving from the suburbs to the city for a more urban and active nightlife, wanting a space that reflects their modern aesthetic with the vibrancy of colors from their vacation home in Antigua, Guatemala.

Two side-by-side before and after images. On the left, a blank white wall above a row of mismatched storage furniture in white and brown wood, overflowing with books and collectibles. In the forefront is a glass dining table and four modern brown chairs. In the after image, a white, red, and yellow custom storage unit with multiple shapes and sizes of doors conceals the mess, while a corner desk provides a place to pay bills, with open shelving to display collectibles. In the foreground is a white marble dining table with red dining chairs, topped by a yellow bunch of flowers in a low vase. A chandelier of multiple glass globes peeks out of the top right corner of the image.
Left: Before / Right: After, design by Kimball Starr, photo by Eric Rorer

A major aspect of their project is the need for beautiful and effective storage, to assist with downsizing. In the After image on the right, I addressed this by creating Mondrian-inspired custom cabinetry to display their gorgeous collectibles and books in the open-plan living room, house their multimedia electronics, and conceal everyday items such as kitchen crockery and office supplies. The storage coordinates beautifully with B&B Italia dining chairs covered in red wool, and the modern classic Eero Saarinen marble dining table.

A pair of before-and-after images. In the left photo of before, four mismatched chairs are strewn around to the left side in front of the window, while to the right is a glass dining table and four contemporary brown chairs. Behind that is a number of storage furniture pieces, and two mismatched asian rugs. On the right in the after image, the beautiful wood flooring is now revealed underneath a white marble oval dining table, surrounded by six modern red chairs with silver legs. Behind on the wall is an orange and blue and gray textured artwork. Above the dining table hangs a modern chandelier lamp of multiple glass globes with clear lightbulbs. A wine storage is built into the wall at the left, next to the window. Two red pouf seats are on the floor next to the window at the far left of the image.
Left: Before / Right: After, design by Kimball Starr, photo by Eric Rorer

The adjacent dining area highlights an art piece created from textured paint on plaster, inspired by the weathering, layering, and patina of a building’s exterior in the Central American climate. Colors and fabrics used throughout the space were thoughtfully selected to remind the couple of their Guatemalan experiences. A cheeky zipper up each dining chair back adds a tailored detail, and copper glass globes cluster in a chandelier that finishes off the dining space. What a difference!

Sunnyside Arts & Crafts Stunner

A trio of before and after images, side-by-side. At the far left is a white door with three wood panels painted cornflower blue to match the walls. Next to it is a dated kitchen, with wood cabinets, white dishwasher, light-colored cabinets, and dark blue diamonds tiles along the sink backsplash. In the far right image, after being redesigned, the space has a light gray wall color that complements the oversize tan floor tiling and warm wood cabinetry with modern silver drawer handles. A gray countertop bar seating with two wood barstools wraps down to the floor and turns the corner towards the sink. Above hang two clear blue glass pendant lights, while bright natural light streams in the multi-paned glass door behind.
Left & Center: Before / Right: After, design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

Before, the flow of this kitchen didn’t work, with minimal natural light, and no place to sit with friends or family while cooking. Knocking down the wall next to the door opened up the space, and allows for the new 10-pane door to flood in lots of natural light. Adding a petite peninsula kept the space open and airy for counter seating, and hand-blown blue glass pendants overhead enliven the space with moody lighting after the sun goes down.

Two side-by-side images showing before and after a kitchen renovation. On the left in the before, the cabinets are dated wood finish with matched knobs, and a white stove and hood are in front of white tiling with large dark blue diamonds. The flooring also features diamonds. In the after, right image, beautiful red cherry wood cabinetry have silver door and drawer handles, with matching silver modern hood, stove and oven, under gray countertops. The backsplash tiling is a pattern of blue squares on a gray field. The flooring is a warm tan limestone, barely visible. At the right you can see the dining room peeking through the open doorway.
Left: Before / Right: After, design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

The original kitchen was a monument to the late 80s/early 90s, with plastic-fronted appliances, boring cabinets, mismatched countertops, plus those diamond-shaped wall accents, behind the stove and sink. Yuck!

Sometimes too modern a kitchen can feel out of place within a traditional home. This 1930s home had wood wainscoting throughout, with original wood floors that we preserved. Pairing modern light-gray quartz countertops with distressed pewter hardware, cherry cabinetry, and gorgeous limestone floors strikes a balance between modern and traditional. The kitchen exudes warmth and soul, and fits in with the home’s original aesthetic, while still providing some modern materials.

Two side-by-side images of before and after a bathroom renovation. On the left, before, the white-and-light-blue painted door is open to reveal a large dark blue diamond tiling pattern on the combo tub/shower wall with a pink field surrounded by green tiles, and a hanging curtain rail and white plastic curtain. A wood vanity topped with a white sink and countertop sits to the left of the tub. On the right, after the redesign, a bathroom showing white wall tiling, white painted cabinets with silver draw pulls, silver fixtures and finishes on a white sink with drawers below, beneath a large mirror with additional hanging pendant light, next to a clear glass double shower door with silver handles. The wall tiling is now a tasteful off-white with a center square formed of blue patterned tiles. To the right, you see a wall niche in the shower, a window above and a towel rail holding a layered pair of chalk-blue towels, with a sliver of the cornflower-blue door finished by a glass doorknob.
Left: Before / Right: After, design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston

Before, the outdated diamond tiling continued in the bathroom. After, the old tiling is banished, replaced with statuary marble floors, and handmade Pratt & Larson glazed ceramic wall tiles, plus a decorative inset to keep with the traditional arts and crafts architecture of home. A deep tub, Waterworks shower fixtures, and modern glass pendants in front of the custom-shaped mirrors keep the space from being too traditional and fussy, while the light colors feel airy and timeless.  The light, ethereal tones and soft watery blues in the tile make it a perfect space to cleanse both your mind and body.

If you want to take your spaces from dated to divine, contact Kimball Starr for a consultation today!

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