Update Your Fireplace

Oct 26, 2026 | Posted in Before & After |

Here’s a brief before-and-after look at two projects where we updated the fireplace. It makes such a difference! A fireplace should be the focal point of your living room, so placing emphasis there can really transform your space.

Tired 70s to Smart Retro Modern

Rounded white tiles on the vertical surfaces contrast with the colorful circular floor tiles on this recently re-vamped modern fireplace in a San Francisco condo. — *_{AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Steph Dewey}*

A dated fireplace in a tan marbled tile finish, with a large step hearth and small mantle, over a warm wooden floor. Small photos and collectibles sit atop the mantle. Two logs are in the fireplace and another log waits in a handled basket on the right side of the hearth. — *_{BEFORE: Photo by Kimball Starr}*

My client’s plain fireplace really needed an update.

*_{AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Steph Dewey}*

We upgraded the vertical surface finishes with elegant white tiling and added geometric floor tiles instead of the old hearth box. I took away the mantel for a clean look. Now it’s modern, fresh, and fun!

Potbelly Stove to Contemporary Custom Fireplace

Contemporary fireplace with art hung over it, a stool and rug in front of it over a wood floor, walls clad in knotty wood, and beyond on the left, a modern dining area with a tiered glass chandelier over a twist-legged table with leather chairs. A set of sliding glass doors allows light and views of greenery in from just beyond the dining area. — *_{AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer}*

When winter arrives, people want to cozy up to a warm fireplace.

A black potbelly stove sits alongside a pair of folding chairs in front of knotty wood-clad walls. — *_{BEFORE: Photo by Kimball Starr}*

This cute home has a cabin-y feel, with the knotty cedar wood paneling. While the potbelly stove did go with the environment, the client wanted a more modern, updated look.

A contemporary black ribbon fireplace with a grey-white wall above and knotty wooden walls behind. On the fireplace hangs a black and white art canvas. In front of the fireplace sits a small mid-century modern wooden stool on a grey faux fur rug. — *_{AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer}*

I custom-designed this simple, contemporary fireplace to be beautiful and also provide a place to display art. The raised hearth is cantilevered and reinforced with steel so it’s now a seating area, too. A mid-century stool and faux fur rug extend the warmth further into the room.

Kimball Starr designs custom fireplaces in contemporary homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for an in-person or remote consultation!

Labels: art, contemporary, fireplace, fireplace mantel, living room, mid-century, tiling

Flooring Faves

Oct 12, 2026 | Posted in Inspirations |

Gorgeous bathroom in shades and hues of blue on the walls, the cabinetry, and the custom ceramic tiled flooring. Gold fixtures and hardware are the perfect accent, while the white countertop, tub, and shower wall tiling match the white grout lines along the blue ceramic floor tiles. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Flooring can really make or break a room. It’s one of the biggest pieces of real estate in a space, so getting it right is crucial, not only to the look and feel but also the use and maintenance. Here are some of my favorite flooring installations for clients.

A blue-grey powder room featuring a light blue and grey geometric patterned floor tile, a grey two-drawer sink cabinet and clear handles with a white surround and sink, a rectangular rounded mirror with a thin silver frame over angled black and white wall tiles, underneath a white triple ball-shaped light fixture. On the wall next to the sink area is hung a piece of French artwork. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

A beautiful grey-blue, black, and white geometric patterned floor perfectly complements the vanity’s color, and tones with the wall paint in this petite powder room. We used a different geometric tile on the wall as a backsplash, and clear handles on the vanity’s furniture-like drawers. The framed French artwork ties it all together – trés chic! But it’s the floor that stands out here.

Two views of a farmhouse kitchen featuring cork penny tile flooring. The left shows the kitchen overall, with white cabinetry and grey countertops, plus a wooden cutting board surface and matching stool next to it. An overhead pendant light is a feature, while recessed lighting fills more of the space. The second image is a closeup of the cutting board with melon slices on it, with the cork penny tiles in the background, softly out of focus. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

I just love a penny tile, and this kitchen is a great space to use this shape, but in this case, the tiles are made of cork! Much softer and warmer underfoot than traditional ceramic penny tiles. Light and airy colors of white and beige are contrasted by the dark grey countertops and the built-in dark wooden cutting board surface. A closer view of the cutting board illustrates how dramatic those small penny tiles can be.

White toilet, tub, and shower niche constrast with a multi-patterned Moroccan-inspired floor tiling in this unfinished children's bathroom. The shower surround is yet to be installed. — *_{Design and photo by Kimball Starr}*

This unfinished child’s bathroom features fun and funky Moroccan-inspired tiled flooring that kids will love! Notice the white tiled wall niche contrasting with the shower’s grey subway tiling. The glass shower door is the final piece yet to be installed to complete the space. I can see my client’s children actually wanting to take a bath in this cool space.

A pink, fuscia, and purple rug with yellow center shaped like a flower complements the two bright yellow tub chairs near the windows, with a grey 3-seat sofa and multiple coordinating throw pillows in purple, yellow, and blue provide comfort. A table lamp stands in the corner between the sofa and first yellow chair. Two coffee tables sit at an angle in front of the sofa and chairs. The wall inset behind the sofa is wallpapered with a purplish small floral pattern. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

My client wanted some color in her city apartment, so we used this bright pink, purple, and fuscia rug with a yellow center to make a really big statement. Now it’s fresh, modern, and fun!

Colorful geometric shapes in cornflower yellow, muted blue-green, black and white are the standout feature of this white bathroom. A shower niche inset with green tones with the flooring to make it feel coordinated. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Imagine entering this bathroom on a sleepy morning and being woken up by the brightly colored patterned flooring! The repeating geometric shapes provide a sense of rhythm while the green shower niche inset tones with the flooring color, making the space feel coordinated. Leaving the rest of the bathroom in crisp white keeps it from being overwhelming.

Kimball Starr designs homes with unique flooring throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. For a complimentary consultation (remote or in person), contact her today!

Labels: bathroom, ceramic tiling, flooring, kitchen, porcelain tile, rug

Craftsman Style

Sep 28, 2026 | Posted in Before & After, Inspirations |

Craftsman style is popular in California (as well as many other states) due to its clean lines, balance, and harmony with nature. Let’s take a look at two of the Craftsman projects I’ve been fortunate to design for my clients.

Traditional dining space in the style of Craftsman, Americana, or historic arts and crafts, shown by the wood flooring, wood trim, wainscoting and picture rail. The recessed ceiling tray is painted a crème color, to differentiate it from the curved cove painted in melon color and the walls in a sky blue. A Schonbeck rock crystal chandelier hangs above the dining table, covered with a blue table cloth, and the wooden chairs have custom padded seat covers in a light-colored pattern. Roman shades in off-white finish the wood-trimmed windows, while a wooden storage unit is tucked into the arched alcove to the right of the space. Light is filtered through full-length sheer curtains on the left. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by David Duncan Livingston}*

If you are drawn to natural elements with some history, a traditional dining room is a good style choice for you, and matches well with the Craftsman aesthetic.

Dining room, showing a table with tablecloth under a Schonbeck rock crystal chandelier, custom seat pads on 4 wooden chairs, natural grass woven roman window shades, wood flooring and wood paneling with sky blue wall paint color and a melon-colored arched wall niche with a wooden storage unit. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by David Duncan Livingston}*

The beauty of the natural wood and the craftsmanship really come through in a traditional dining space like this one. Going without a rug is in keeping with the style, and makes it easy to clean up after your meal.

Traditional dining room featuring wood trim and wainscoting. Artwork is hung from a picture rail with black grosgrain ribbon. A Schonbeck rock crystal chandelier hangs above the dining table, covered with a blue table cloth and set for breakfast. Light is filtered through full-length sheer curtains with a box pleat on the right. Straight ahead is the doorway into the foyer, and to the left is the doorway to the kitchen, all finished in warm wood trim. Three glasses with orange cocktails sit in the center of the table, next to a bowl of melons, and a silver pitcher of water. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by David Duncan Livingston}*

Splurging on something like a Schonbeck chandelier made from gorgeous rock crystals continues the natural elements and complements the woodwork. This dining room would be perfect for someone who appreciates the classics.

A modern classic style living room in a gentleman's condo. At the front of the view is the back of a red velvet sofa. In the center of the room, a light-colored octagonal footstool used as a table, with two dark brown leather club chairs with American flag pillows either side. Beyond the club chairs, a light blue custom-made chaise lounge in front of a Crafstman-style window. — _{AFTER – Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal}

In this next project, we transformed a living room with fireplace. I’m pleased to show before and after photos so you can see the process.

My client’s San Francisco Bay Area condo has good bones, with strong Craftsman lines and gorgeous built-ins. We wanted to highlight those, creating a masculine, comfortable, modern classic living room.

A living room view shows a bright blue sofa with dark blue patterned throw pillows, in front of a large Craftsman-style window, with green trees outside. The walls are half-covered in warm wood paneling. — *_{BEFORE – Photo by Kimball Starr}*

A custom-made light-blue chaise lounge sits atop a sheepskin rug, next to a triple-legged side table, dressed with several throw pillows, a tan blanket and an open book, in front of a large picture window without any window coverings, revealing a view of green trees. — *_{AFTER – Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal}*

To increase circulation space and take advantage of the natural light streaming through those beautiful Craftsman wood frame windows, I replaced the bright blue sofa with a sky-blue custom-made chaise lounge, and a sheepskin rug. Now it’s the perfect corner for a cup of coffee with a book, or just to daydream.

A Craftsman-style wood fireplace surround, with a built-in bookshelf to the right. To the left, wood paneling and a sliver of a bright blue sofa. To the right, a grey sofa with black pillows, in front of a large wooden coffee table. Two wall sconces are lit above the fireplace. — *_{BEFORE – Photo by Kimball Starr}*

The same living room, now with artwork above the fireplace and a large vase of flowers in front of it. Next to the fireplace, one of two dark brown leather club chairs, with American flag pillows sit atop a bright blue rug. In the center, a horsehair octagonal footstool is used as a table, with a tray of drinks. To the right, a red velvet sofa with throw pillows. — *_{AFTER – Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal}*

I used a mix of primary colors with neutrals to create interest and bring out warm tones in the wood, especially the fireplace. An oversized octagonal animal-hide footstool doubles as a surface for a tray of drinks. The deep blue rug is cozy underfoot, while a pair of leather club chairs makes room circulation a breeze, across from a red velvet sofa to enjoy the view.

Now it’s both classy and comfortable when our gentleman wants to welcome guests, or just enjoy the space on his own.

To transform your home into your dream destination, Kimball Starr can help! Contact her today for an in-person or remote meeting.

Labels: arts and crafts, before and after, color, Craftsman style, custom furniture, dining room, lighting, living room, texture

Visit a Design Center

Sep 14, 2026 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

The San Francisco Design Center central event space, lit up in orange, red, and yellow lights, including paisley patterns created on the floor with yellow and orange lights. People are walking across the floor as well as gathering around the edges of the room at tables and displays. — *_{Photo courtesy Hugues}*

Have you ever gone to a design center? It’s a large building or group of buildings where you can find furniture and fabric showrooms for the interior design industry. Most metropolitan cities have one.

You should visit a design center for your next renovation or home design project, WITH your interior designer. (And if you don’t have a designer yet, I’d be happy to help.) Here’s why.

Access

The exterior of the San Francisco Design Center Galleria building, surrounded by trees, with a walkway and railing leading to the multiple glass door entrance. Above the door is a black awning and above that are more levels of glass windows with two circles at the top containing some of the letters that spell out SFDC. — *_{Photo courtesy San Francisco Design Center}*

Some design centers are only open to interior designers with registered businesses, including a resale tax permit. This means that the general public can’t enter without an interior designer. Other design centers are dual access for both professional designers and the general public.

Pricing

A fabric showroom featuring multiple patterns and colors of fabric on stretchers, with additional colors and fabrics in trays on a wooden table in front of the display wall. A chandelier overhead provides bright light. — *_{Photo courtesy Luxe Interiors}*

Dual access design centers will protect the designer’s markup by obscuring the pricing with codes. This means you won’t be able to know what the price of something is at first glance. You’ll need your designer to interpret for you!

Some designers will charge a flat fee for shopping on your behalf, and pass along any discounts they receive. Others will charge a percentage of the total cost, and retain the markup difference. There are other combinations and pricing methods as well.

There’s no wrong way to handle pricing, just make sure you understand what YOUR designer will do, so there’s no misunderstandings.

Lead Times

_{Photo courtesy Cindy Tsai}

The prevalence of online and onsite furniture companies that stock their items in a nearby or attached warehouse has reduced the public’s expectation of the amount of lead time required.

It’s important to know that when you’re placing an order for custom furniture, the time from when you place the order to when you receive the order can be quite lengthy, from multiple months to a year or more. This depends on where the company is located, where they source their materials, whether you’re using stock fabric or COM (customer’s own material), and how they ship and deliver.

You’ll want your designer to confirm what the expected lead times are when researching and especially when placing orders. Knowing what order in which to receive items is also key. You won’t want furniture to arrive before the new flooring!

Terminology

Two shelves full of different colors, sizes, and styles of tabletop lamps — *_{Photo courtesy Michael Wu, Ph.D.}*

COMs, COLs, memos, and FF&E are terminology designers use on an everyday basis. COM is the customer’s own material, meaning the customer or designer selects and provides a fabric not offered with the item you’re purchasing. COL is customer’s own leather, a memo is a fabric sample, and FF&E is furniture, fixtures, and equipment.

As a designer, I have years of experience not only with terminology, but also reading and drawing plans and elevations. We don’t call them blueprints anymore because they’re not printed on blue repro paper!

Plans can be delivered electronically, and even include a video component in some cases. I draw floor plans, get your approval, and communicate with the contractors directly, so everything will be installed correctly and you can enjoy your new space stress-free.

If you have questions about the design process, how to shop at a design center, or terminology that’s confounding you, get in touch! I’m happy to help.

Kimball Starr designs beautiful homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or in-person consultation.

Labels: contemporary interior design, custom furniture, fabric, lighting, residential design

Store Wine Beautifully

Aug 24, 2026 | Posted in Before & After |

Are you a wine lover? Do you want to have a beautiful place to store and enjoy wine at home or at the office? Here’s one way we delivered that for my San Francisco clients, with a before-and-after illustration.

A small round glass table is surrounded by dark microsuede modern chairs, atop an Asian rug. Behind are stacks of boxes and bins, and multiple mismatched chairs in front of a large window with a pull-down shade. — *_{BEFORE: Photo by Kimball Starr}*

We created a wine storage solution in a San Francisco condo’s open plan dining area. The owners wanted something contemporary and sleek, while still welcoming and convenient.

After the renovation, two columns flank the space at the back wall, with a custom wine fridge set into the left column. In front, a set of 6 red chairs surround a glass pedestal table with live plants in vases on the table. Above is a chandelier of multiple round clear glass bowl lights with metal arms that looks a bit like Sputnik. Behind, on the wall, is a blue, orange, and grey modern artwork that fills the space between the built-in wine storage on the left and a column on the right, plus a countertop and under-counter storage behind frosted glass doors. The flooring is warm wood, and to the left is a large window with two red patterned Guatemalan pouf pillows in front of it, and light streaming in. To the far right is a hallway painted orange. — *_{AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

We sunk the wine storage into the wall for a clean look, with slide-out racks. Beside it, a built-in credenza makes it easy to serve a flight of wines for tasting, with hors d’oeuvres. We added a second column on the right to balance the wall space and contain the credenza.

The modern dining chairs and pedestal table are the perfect spot to sip or pair wine with a meal, beneath a gorgeous glass chandelier.

On the wall, a custom hand-painted mural ties in colors from their beloved vacation destination of Guatemala, so our retired couple can enjoy a glass of wine and share happy memories for many years to come.

Kimball Starr Interior Design creates wine storage in homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, and she can for you, too. Contact her today for a consultation by phone, video chat or in person!

Labels: contemporary dining room, custom cabinetry, dining chairs, dining table, pendant lights, storage, wine

Lush Green Walls

Aug 10, 2026 | Posted in Inspirations |

If you like plants and living things, like I do, then you’ll love this fun way to bring more plants into your interiors, creating an indoor-outdoor look – with green walls!

A lush green living wall is the backdrop to this patio with a pair of outdoor sofas facing each other, with lime green cushions and colorful throw pillows. Two LED light up cubes sit between the sofas as tables, with a pitcher of water and two colored glasses. A hat hangs from a chair next to a towel, and a blue and white striped pouf is a footrest nearby. Overhead a lime green umbrella has a built-in light. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

My San Francisco client wanted a beautiful backdrop to their small patio space, so we highlighted the green living wall with bright fade-resistant pillows on outdoor seating, a lime-green umbrella with a built-in light, and these funky LED cubes used as tables.

Hallway across from a modern seating area with white bubble chairs in an office building. The hall flooring to the right has blue, green, and beige stripes running longways. The main visible hallway wall is a living green vertical wall filled with plants. Overhead lights shine down across the plants. A blue wall is visible at the rear, marking a turn into another hallway or room. — *_{Photo courtesy Green Urban Life Gmbh}*

You can liven up a hallway with a green wall in a variety of plantings.

A living green wall of vines is used as a room divider between a seating area with dark leather chairs and round tables, and others spaces in the building. The flooring is dark tile, while the ceilings are white. — *_{Photo courtesy Green Urban Life GmbH}*

Use a green wall as a room divider or separator. It cuts down on noise and dust, creating cleaner air.

A restaurant with multiple seating areas. White chairs with beige circle patterned fabric seats and backs surround round and square glass tables. A white column and white partial soffit are visible overhead of one table. To the left there is a large planter on a square cement stand, and beyond that is another dining area, with a wall of multi-colored plants at the very back. Bright sunlight streams in from a skylight above. A woman sits at one of the tables, reading. — *_{Photo courtesy Green Urban Life GmbH}*

This green wall at the back of a room will draw people further into the space, great for a restaurant or bar.

A living room with a glass coffee table dressed with books in the foreground. Behind that is a brown leather and fabric sofa with throw pillows. A painting is hung on the wall above. A round pendant lamp hangs in the center. To the right of the sofa is a round side table filled with pottery and a bird sculpture. To the left of that is a wall with a green living display of plants hung in vertical containers on the wall, which is a cream color with white baseboards. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Get creative by creating a hanging display of living greens, as we did here in my client’s city condo. The possibilities are endless.

Kimball Starr designs beautiful homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or in-person consultation.

Labels: color, green design, indoor-outdoor, plants, texture

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