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Fireplace Updates

Jan 22, 2024 | Posted in Before & After |

Potbelly Stove to Contemporary Custom Fireplace

View of a contemporary fireplace with art hung over it, a stool and rug in front of it over a wood floor, walls clad in knotty wood, an 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 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 greyish white wall above. On the wall 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.

Tired 70s to Smart Retro Modern

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!

Kimball Starr designs custom fireplaces in contemporary 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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Refresh and Renew

Dec 31, 2023 | Posted in Before & After |

Welcome to 2024

I just love a new year, getting a chance to have a fresh start, and time to renew yourself and your environment to prepare for the year ahead. If you’re dreaming of a refreshed and renovated home, read on for a beautiful before-and-after!

View of white kitchen with blue accent color backsplash tiles and silver appliances. The kitchen island's cabinetry is also painted blue with a white marble countertop, and blue glass pendant lights hang above the island. A medium wood door is visible at the left and windows on the right.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Above is how my client’s kitchen looks now, after I shifted a wall and added a door and an island.

Left photo: Looking into the kitchen at the sink in front of a pair of windows, limited by sheetrock walls as you enter the kitchen. Right photo: Open kitchen entrance showing the sink and windows directly ahead of you, plus a blue kitchen island with white marble countertops on the left, and matching backsplash tiling on the walls to the right. Warm wood-clad walls face you, and blue glass pendant lights hang above the sink and island.
Left: BEFORE / Right: AFTER Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

You can see how limiting the sheetrock walls were. After removing the walls, now the kitchen is open and welcoming.

Left photo: A warm leather recliner sits with its back to the corner entrance to the kitchen. Wooden beams are just visible at the ceiling. Right photo: Standing at the corner of the dining room, clad in warm wood wall planks with a circular tiered glass chandelier above a white and dark wood modern dining table and blue chairs. On the left is the kitchen in blue and white, a wide open space flanked by white cabinetry and the blue painted island in the center.
Left: BEFORE / Right: AFTER Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

We changed the container of the space to improve flow and make it more usable. The sheetrock corner went away, we added a beam overhead, and clad the dining room wall to match the rest of the space.

Left photo: Two pairs of windows are visible on the wall, while a tile-topped kitchen peninsula sticks out under a row of white cabinets, with many items on the surfaces. Right photo: Kitchen in blue and white, a wide open space flanked by white cabinetry and white countertops, warm wood on the far wall, and the blue painted island in the center. Blue glass pendant lamps hang above the island and kitchen sink.
Left: BEFORE / Right: AFTER Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

On the left is how the kitchen previously looked in my client’s San Francisco home. Cramped, dark, and no place to put things down while cooking. On the right, my solution to create a light and airy kitchen with style!

Standing in the kitchen looking past the white counterop of the kitchen island, with 2 lucite counterheight seats. Across from the island is the aluminum refrigerator and more white cabinetry. A peek of the blue wall tiles is seen on the left as you pass through the kitchen into the living room. You see the fireplace as you enter that area.
AFTER Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Looking through the kitchen towards the living room and dining room, you can see how interconnected everything is now in my clients’ bright and contemporary home.

Kimball Starr designs beautiful, refreshed 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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Stunning Entry Foyers

Dec 18, 2023 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

The entryway, also called the foyer, is one of the hardest-working spaces in your home, especially during the holiday season. Here are some inspirational ideas from around the web and my top tips for your consideration.

Looking into a classic entryway surrounded by blue paint on the doorframe and walls. Inside the space, black and white checkered flooring stretches to the other room. A black staircase with white balustrades extends upwards to the left. In the center is a cherry wood table supporting multiple white vases of white flowers. Just beyond that is a wide wall opening with a column-type pitched top above the doorway in white to match the walls. A chair, lamp, and desk are visible beyond, with creamy curtains and dark window frames.
Photo courtesy Mali Azima

Black and white flooring never goes out of style. This floor shows off the length of the room. Love it!

Turquoise paint on the walls and trim envelop you in this entry. A geometric frame shaped mirror is hung above a console table dressed with flowers and books, and two stools for putting shoes off and on are finished in a silver sparkly material. Four colorful artworks of The Beatles take up the entire right entry wall. You can see a dining table and chairs just beyond, through the hallway opening.
Photo courtesy Annie Schlecte

Don’t be afraid to go bold with color! Make a statement and envelop your visitor with rich tones. Consider painting the walls, ceiling, and trim in the same vibrant hue. 

A light-colored entry with a round blond wood mirror reflecting 4 woven storage boxes up on the shelf, and a pair of exposed lightbulbs hanging down, behind the viewer. A peach-colored shelf with 7 silver pegs bearing a pair of straw hats, a net bag in pink, and a sign reading "You Are Magic" hanging from a hook, while several small plants dress the shelf, and a hanging plant's green vines extend down on the right. The flooring is basic grey concrete with a pink and white rug, and a woven basket with a pink umbrella inside awaits a rainy day.
Photo courtesy Maria-Carla Atencio

In a small area, use as little décor as possible and make it useful storage.

A high-ceilinged entryway with lots of windows wrapping around and going up the stairs to the right in classic white with as dark wood bannister and matching steps. The walls are painted a light seafoam color, and the door is a dark turquoise hue. A round pedestal table in cherry wood holds a plant and books next to a cherry wood chair with sky-blue upholstery.
Photo courtesy Edward Gohlich

Communicate your theme. This coastal-feeling entry makes a subtle splash with water-inspired colors like seafoam, plenty of windows, and a high ceiling to accommodate the stairs, a classic architectural feature. What a great way to welcome people into your home.

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

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Make a White Kitchen Gorgeous with Color

Dec 04, 2023 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

White walls, white marble countertops, white custom cabinetry, windows without coverings, grey-green subway tiles on backsplash and lower half of walls. Honey colored hardwood flooring.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Want an update on the standard white-on-white kitchen? Read on for how I delivered a GORGEOUS space with a touch of modern color.

White walls, uncovered windows streaming in bright light, a pair of white counterseats at the white marble counter peninsula, facing into the kitchen towards the laundry room. Dark grey-green subway tiles cover the bottom half of the walls and backsplash in the kitchen. White ceilings and top half of the walls.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

My client wanted a kitchen that had more workable space and was beautiful to see and use. We added a beautiful moss-green subway tile to the walls and backsplash, swapped the fridge and cook surface, and let the natural light shine through the windows by removing the tall pantry.

A cramped, dark kitchen without storage space, as evidenced by multiple items stored on the countertops. The cooktop has only a narrow strip of counter next to it. The laundry room is visible at the end.
BEFORE

Here you can tell how it was before — cramped, dark, and lacking storage.

A galley-style kitchen in white cabinetry with silver hood and convection cooktop, double ovens, L-shaped counters with seating, and a grey-green dining room just visible at the far end.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Repeating the green subway tiles on the opposite wall brings a lovely sense of rhythm and harmony to the kitchen. The view into the dining room at the far end reveals our gorgeous grey-green paint color on the walls.

Dark grey-green dining room walls stand out against the white molding and ceilings. 4 glass pendants with exposed bulbs hang above a cypress wood dining table with a green stripe running up the middle, surrounded by 6 modern dining chairs. The white and grey-green kitchen is visible through the doorway, with a peek of the counter seating and windows showing through.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Now you can see how our beautiful green color really makes the space sing. My client had the slab of cypress wood stored in their garage but didn’t know how to use it. I turned it into their dining table; the color ties in perfectly.

Dark grey-green custom cabinetry fill a wall in the laundry room, with veined white marble backsplash and countertops to match the kitchen. Silver drawer and door pulls shine with the undercabinet lighting. Two bottles of sparking water dress the counter.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Repeating the grey-green on the cabinetry in the laundry area creates a space unified by gorgeous color throughout, with a beautiful veined white marble backsplash that matches the kitchen counters to complete the look.

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

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Leather Furniture is Beautiful

Nov 20, 2023 | Posted in Inspirations |

I just love leather furniture: The texture, the feeling, the look of something aged by use, loved by a family. Here we look back at some of my favorite projects that include leather furniture, in time for the holidays!

A dark brown leather arm chair with patina nail heads on the arm's end is countered with an American flag pillow over a yellow and white patterned throw blanket.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal

Love the cracks in this well-worn armchair.

A hair-on-hide ottoman pairs with leather armchairs in this gentleman's living room.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal

Leather chairs pair nicely with a hair-on-hide ottoman, here used as a coffee table.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal

The look of the bed’s leather headboard with nail-head details in this same gentleman’s modern classic condo makes my heart sing.

White leather Barcelona chairs with silver legs and button-tufting on the seats and backs, in front of a floor-to-ceiling window and a dark curtain.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Barcelona leather chairs are timeless.

Light-colored walls and ceiling, to the front and right showing patterned upholstered chair with metal frame and a hot pink throw blanket covering the back, a round wooden coffee table dressed with a vase and several different shaped sky-blue shiny containers. Behind the chair is a set of stairs with black metal railings and warm wood top rails. to the right is the living room with a light colored corner sofa with chaise, covered in colorful throw pillows, and a contemporary light-colored chair with metal legs that match the corner sofa. In the center is a Noguchi-style coffee table with warm wooden support and glass top, dressed with multiple vases filled with flowers, and books. A dog sits upon the corner sofa chaise.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Even the family dog loves the leather sectional sofa in this hillside retreat.

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

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Custom Cabinetry for Entertainment

Nov 06, 2023 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

One of the common issues we have in a modern world is entertainment equipment and collections – your wifi router, streaming devices, books, magazines, and Blu-rays take space to store and can look cluttered. I have an elegant solution: Custom cabinetry!

Looking into a living room with an L-shaped sofa, glass side table, white coffee table, and a beautiful geometrically-shaped chandelier above. A fireplace adorns the far wall near the open hallways. On the back wall, there's custom cabinetry in white oak with closed cabinets and single bar metal handles, plus open shelving in narrow widths on either side of the tv opening, and a wider set of shelves to the right. Four cabinet drawers are underneath the television, providing a surface for books, photos, and collectibles. A grey armchair sits in front of the cabinets to the right, with a grey, white, and yellow striped lumbar pillow. A geometrically patterned rug in white, grey, and pale pinkish-tan that matches the cabinetry creates a zone for the furniture.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Steph Dewey

Look how many cabinets and drawers we can fit in this light, bright, contemporary family living room by creating a custom wall of storage.

A closeup view of the custom cabinetry in white oak cabinets and single bar metal handles. Open shelving in a narrow width goes up the right side, next to a larger and wider open shelf. One of the drawers underneath the television is visible, creating a surface for books, photos, and collectibles. Honey-colored wood planks in a chevron pattern make up the flooring.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Steph Dewey

Books, photos, and collectibles are easily accessible and displayed with open storage.

Closer view of the white oak wall of custom cabinetry with closed cabinets and single bar metal handles. Open shelving in a narrow width goes up the left side, next to larger and wider closed cabinets. One of the drawers underneath the television is visible, creating a surface for books, photos, and collectibles.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Steph Dewey

Closed storage keeps the messier things like wifi equipment, magazines and personal papers out of sight.

The row of cabinets underneath the television are specially designed to open out of the way, so nothing prevents you from looking in to see the contents without having to bend over. Thoughtful design like this makes such a difference to how you enjoy the space.

A white oak wall of custom cabinetry with closed cabinets and single bar metal handles, plus open shelving in narrow widths on either side of the tv opening, and a wider set of shelves to the right. Four cabinet drawers are underneath the television, providing a surface for books, photos, and collectibles. A grey armchair sits in front to the right, with a grey, white, and yellow striped lumbar pillow. A round white table is in the center bottom, cut off partially by the framing. A geometrically patterned rug in white, grey, and pale pinkish-tan that matches the cabinetry ties the space together.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Steph Dewey

What’s on display is the beauty of this light oak wood cabinetry, which is trending right now. I can create something like this for you, too!

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

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