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California Mission Style

Jul 26, 2021 | Posted in Inspirations |

Colorful terracotta roof tile in warm reds, oranges, browns, and whites on a Mission-style home near the ocean in California.
Photo courtesy roofcalc.org

Your inspiration today is breezy beautiful California Mission style. One of the main elements of Mission style is a gorgeous terracotta tiled roof.

A staircase railing in delicate wrought iron scrollwork, in front of a pair of multicolored pink and purple and orange drapes, beneath dark wood beams, all in the Mission style.
Photo courtesy homestolove.com

Style wins: Delicate scrollwork instead of over-bearing metal, alongside wood box beams and soft puddles of drapery fabric.

Coffered arched heavy wood front door opening onto a colorful rug, criss-crossed metal supports on a table and chair, in front of french doors showing greenery and streaming light, under a metal scrollwork pendant lamp in the entryway.
Photo courtesy Madeline Stewart

Arched doorways and coffered doors are especially inviting into a Santa Barbara-style home.

White walls under dark wood beams and an elegant chandelier accent white dining chairs at a dark wood table, all in the Mission style.
Design by Meredith Baer Home / Photo by Benjamin Ariff

White dining chairs and walls reflect light and provide a feeling of calm, under dark wooden beams and an elegant chandelier.

Dark red leather chairs with embroidered backs in a graphic floral pattern surround a dark wood dining table, underneath dark wood beams in a white room, all very much in Mission style.
Photo courtesy Madeline Stewart

Mission embroidery and leather chairs are historically flavored, boasts interior designer Madeline Stewart of this LA home.

An all-white wooden bedroom with large dark red brick colored floor tiles with white grout covered in a white faux skin rug. A queen sized bed in natural beige colors and blue patterns is topped by a blue and gold square pillow. White table lamps on white side tables flank the bed.
Design by Madeline Stuart / Photo by Richard Powers

Cooling brick-colored tiles underfoot are tempered by faux animal skin rugs in white, a familiar feature of Montecito-style homes. What a relaxing space….

Kimball Starr designs Santa Barbara, Montecito and Mission-style homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a socially-distanced in-person or remote consultation!

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Summer Sun Fabrics

Jul 12, 2021 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

A white porch swing has green and white striped seat pillow, plus a green plant patterned throw pillow. Three chickens are underneath the swing, while colorful flowers and plants surround the porch. A copper portable lamp with candle sits on the porch floor, near the chickens.
Photo courtesy Sunbrella

In the summertime, I’m naturally attracted to outdoor seating that needs durable fabrics.

A blue patterned custom chaise long sits in front of a window of greenery, dressed with three throw pillows, a warm blanket, and an open book, next to a side table with colorful flowers, atop a white fluffy faux animal-skin rug.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal

The best fabrics for indoor/outdoor use are solution-dyed. That means the color is injected into the threads during the manufacturing process, rather than laid on top. Here, we chose a pale blue color to match the blue of the water outside, which will never fade on this custom chaise long because of the solution-dyed fabric.

Multiple patterns and types of fabrics in shades of green and white, plus a spool of wool thread, are overlaid in display, showing how they tone together.
Photo courtesy Sunbrella

Solution-dyed fabrics hold up better against sun, water, mildew, and staining.

A golden retriever sits next to her owner, who is wearing a blue striped shirt matching the pair of pillows either side of them, on a boat on the water. In front of them sits a cheese and fruit plate and pair of glasses, plus a bowl of cherries.
Photo courtesy Sunbrella

They’re also great for homes with pets.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal

Solution-dyed fabrics can be very soft, not like the old boat-house cushions you remember. Here, we chose multiple durable canvas-style fabrics to resist dirt and soil in this window seat.

A large bright green corner banquette was custom-made, including solution-dyed fabric to make it easy to wipe clean from food and drink stains or general daily use, especially in high-traffic areas. The wall is dressed with multiple vases of green plants. Three different patterned black and white throw pillows accent the banquette, while the glass coffee table is filled with fruit and vegetables, ready to be served to guests. A guitar sits to the left side of the banquette. Three rectangular windows allow peeps of greenery through the wall behind the banquette.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Perfect for high-traffic areas, easy to wipe clean with a damp cloth. Lots of windows and sunlight, but paired with solution-dyed fabric, it will never fade, and cleaning food spills are a breeze, as you see on our custom-designed bright green banquette with hidden storage underneath.

Multiple throw pillows in lime green and white stripes, lime green and white circles, and turquoise blue, white and lime green square patterns are strewn about next to a swimming pool, alongside a swatch of green grass.
Photo courtesy Sunbrella

Cool tones are really stylish this year. Experiment with color easily with Sunbrella throw pillows!

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

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Garden Rooms

Jun 28, 2021 | Posted in Inspirations |

In the spring and summer, my mind naturally turns towards the outdoors, and fair-weather pursuits. What a wonderful time to relax in an outdoor garden or garden-inspired room!

View of the exterior main house and gardens at Filoli Gardens.
Photo courtesy Filoli.org

One such magical place is Filoli Gardens in Northern California. If you’re lucky enough to live close enough for a visit, you should definitely plan a day outing to enjoy the stunning curated views.

Beautiful sunken pond and gardens surrounded by walls at Filoli.
Photo courtesy Filoli.org

The Georgian-style terraces around the main house highlight sweeping views of the Santa Cruz Mountains, in contrast to the formal English Renaissance-style-garden to the south, featuring lush flower beds, yew-lined avenues, and a sunken garden, shown above.

Pink and white willow trees with red zinnias dotted throughout the tiered, walled garden space.
Photo courtesy Filoli.org

Seasonal spring plantings include daffodils, tulips, and hyacinths, contrasted with blue violas, while the summer display presents zinnias, roses and salvias. This view is of the famous walled garden, with little vignettes to be enjoyed throughout the seasons.

A green and glass greenhouse building exterior on top image. Bottom image shows a white wicker furniture seating area under a pendant lamp, with potting and gardening supplies scattered around the background.
Photo courtesy apieceofrainbow.com

If you can’t come to Northern California, celebrate your local environment by creating a garden room of your own. A wicker indoor seating area, surrounded by glass walls and protected views of your garden, yard, or perhaps a walkway towards a beautiful view outside your windows makes a perfect place to pause and reflect. Then no matter the weather, you can enjoy the space.

A beautiful fiery red Japanese maple sits in a potted urn alongside a garden pathway.
Photo courtesy HGTV.com by Robert Felker

Kimball Starr designs homes that pair with beautiful gardens throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a socially-distanced in-person or remote consultation!

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Design for Cleanliness

Jun 14, 2021 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

A warm kitchen with easy-to-clean countertops and backsplash tiling.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

In a post-COVID world, how can we create spaces that naturally help us fight infections, and keep our spaces clean? Read on for my top tips!

Image of a shower stall with oversized marble wall tiles and few grout lines. A folded towel and glass soap dish provide relaxation, while a fresh pink flower peeks from a clear glass bottle next to the shampoo bottle in a wall niche above.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Start with the basic design elements of the space, by choosing surfaces that are easier to clean. Pick flat panel cupboards that don’t collect dust, avoid shiplap that needs regular cleaning, and use larger size tiles for fewer grout lines.

A contemporary kitchen with lucite counter-seats in front of a white marble island countertop, across from a brushed aluminum fridge/freezer combo. In the background, blue and white patterned subway tiles form a backsplash for a matching white marble countertop.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Use naturally anti-microbial surfaces for kitchen countertops and bathroom surfaces, such as stainless steel, and copper. Doorknobs are another place that copper is excellent at stopping the spread of germs.

Images of 2 kinds of residential interior ceiling fans. On the left, the Haiku in molded wood with built-in light, and on the right, Essence, a metal bladed fan with built-in light.
Images courtesy Big Ass Fans

New technology beats your old air filter, when it comes to having cleaner air in our homes. Big Ass Fans offers UV-C lighting as endorsed by the CDC integrated into two of their ceiling fans. UV light has been proven to fight infection for over 70 years, so take advantage of this in your home or office, and you’ll have a healthier, happier life for many years to come.

Image of a dark wood bachelor's kitchen with dark surfaces and a gooseneck faucet. In the foreground, a white table is surrounded by green lucite chairs with silver metal legs. On the table as a centerpiece is a planter filled with growing green grass.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

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

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Sophisticated Kitchen/Dining

May 24, 2021 | Posted in Before & After |

A beautiful contemporary kitchen in mostly white cabinetry, wall paint and ceilings, with gray-green subway tiling as backslplash. The flooring is a warm varied tone wood, and a dining room is visible through a doorway opening at the far end, with wall paint in the same gray-green. A modern cooktop and square vent in stainless steel match the double oven to the right.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Today I’m excited to share a recent before & after kitchen project! This one is really dramatic so I think you’ll enjoy seeing the changes, from a dark, cramped, dreary kitchen to a lovely light space.

A dated, tired-looking kitchen with "country-style" cabinetry, worn flooring, and a large silver fridge/freezer combo. A small doorway at the end shows another room.
BEFORE

As you can see in the Before image above compared to the top After photo, we made some big changes to the floor plan and layout. The fridge was in an awkward location, with no nearby counter space to put down food items because of the doorway peeking out behind the old fridge location. We closed that doorway and relocated the fridge to provide better access and flow – a HUGE change!

Contemporary kitchen in mostly white cabinetry, wall paint and ceilings, with gray-green subway tiling. The flooring is a warm varied tone wood, and a laundry room is visible through a doorway opening at the far end, with cabinetry in the same gray-green. A stainless steel fridge stands across from a stainless steel under-counter dishwasher near the sink, in front of a light-filled double window. A large sash window is closer to the camera, in front of the white marble L-shaped counter with white leather chairs. Two small pendant lights hang over the counter and seating area, with recessed lighting throughout the rest of the space.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Providing a 48” fridge and freezer column allows plenty of storage space, and now it’s closer to the opposite counter in front of the windows. A short L-shaped counter provides seating and storage, while allowing free movement through the kitchen.

The old kitchen was dark, cramped, full of items that didn't fit into storage, and looked dated. A front-load washing machine is visible beyond the kitchen.
BEFORE

You can see how cramped everything looked previously. The island jutted out and stopped traffic flow. The cabinetry blocked sunlight from the windows. There was nowhere to set a pot down next to the cooktop. In a laundry nook just beyond the kitchen, the side-by-side washer and dryer were taking up a lot of real estate.

Sleek gray-green cabinetry with round silver knobs surrounds a white marble backsplash and countertop, dressed with 2 green bottles of Pellegrino water and clear glasses.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

We stacked the washer and dryer to double our floor space, a simple yet incredibly effective solution. Here you can see where the washer and dryer used to be, now there’s beautiful gray-green cabinetry that matches the subway tile in the kitchen, and counter space where you can set a basket for laundry needs or doggie supplies, plus additional pantry storage.

A look back at the kitchen, showing the gray-green subway tile as backsplash behind the goose-neck sink, and the L-shaped counter with seating. The dining room is just peeking through the opening at the far left. 3 light-filled windows show some greenery outside.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

By changing finishes, the space went from dark and dreary to light and airy colors that open up the space. We created balance with the cabinetry and color dimension with the tiling.

A traditional pendant lamp hangs over dead space, while a desk and chair are pushed up against the far back wall, holding a computer. An abandoned dining chair is piled with office supplies.
BEFORE

Previously the dining room was being used as a home office, which isn’t ideal for a family.

Looking from the corner of the dining room, showing walls in gray-green that match the subway tiles in the kitchen, a gorgeous cypress wood dining table with a matching gray-green stripe up the middle, surrounded by dark gray dining chairs. The kitchen is visible through the widened opening, showing the L-shaped marble countertop and seating, plus a bit of the sink and windows.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

The husband had a slab of cypress from a fallen tree sitting in the garage, but didn’t know how to use it. We relocated the home office, put legs onto the slab and turned it into a beautiful dining table. Now the entire space tones and looks completely pulled together with their gorgeous new kitchen and laundry. I’m so pleased with how it turned out, and so are the clients!

A long view from the dining room through the kitchen all the way to the laundry room at the rear. All spaces have the same gray-green tones and white wooden detailing.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Kimball Starr designs luxury homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a socially-distanced in-person or remote consultation on how YOUR home can be transformed!

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Tahoe Style

May 10, 2021 | Posted in Inspirations |

Wouldn’t it be lovely to live beside the water at Lake Tahoe? Here are some properties to inspire. You can have the home of your dreams!

A beautiful view down a long wooden dock towards a home in Lake Tahoe, surrounded by emerald waters and green trees.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

With a private dock and contemporary interiors, this West Shore property sits among the trees and emerald waters.

A wooden floor and ceiling, contrasting white walls with windows picked out in black, and a contemporary dining table with seating for 6 all draw your eye out floor-to-ceiling windows to the view at Lake Tahoe.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

A sleek dining area draws your eye outward over the lake.

Two grey swivel armchairs sit in front of a floor-to-ceiling triple window with views of Lake Tahoe, trees and water. A deck and simple black railing expand the inside view outside.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

Living room swivel chairs allow you to enjoy the views in any direction.

View of a large, open octagonal hardwood living room, with warm wooden ceiling joists creating a pattern above. 90-degree angled wood flooring complements the ceilings, while a large dining area, living area, and conversation area benefit from the views out the skylight.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

This home boasts warm hardwood and a skylight paired with views from the Tahoe West Shore.

Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

Choose either a sauna or soaking tub at this home, situated along the stunning North Shore.

View into a contemporary country kitchen, with light-colored walls and ceilings, warm wood flooring and cabinetry, and pink and red checked dining chairs under a chandelier with six small lampshades over curled wrought iron arms. The space extends to a seating area in front of huge windows at the far end.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

This contemporary country kitchen will be a favorite with guests.

A stunning bedroom has triple floor-to-ceiling windows topped by textural patterned blinds. The King size bed is dressed in greys, black stripes, and shades of tan. A chair that tones with the textural theme and has white fabric pillows back and bottom sits beside a desk.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

Imagine waking up to that lake view out your floor-to-ceiling windows, dressed with simple yet elegant blinds.

Another view of the dock extending out into the blue waters of Lake Tahoe. Greenery and trees surround a dark wooden deck with black seating, bounded by a modern black railing.
Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com

And of course, you can’t live in Tahoe without a deck, for entertaining, dining, and just taking in nature.

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

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