Open Concept Floor Plans

Oct 10, 2022 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

Looking from second floor down over open-plan ground floor in a colorful condo. Large, curved sofa with a chaise long wraps around a circular coffee table, in front of a TV, with a corner fireplace. A wildly patterned rug defines the living space, while the rest of the visible floor is open concrete, with slipper chairs and a side table. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher}*

Now that we’re coming through a pandemic, surprisingly people still want open concept floor plans, while others need more privacy. Here’s a look at some of the ways people are moving from fully open to intentional use spaces, to create the best of both worlds.

Build a Wall

Corner room with sliding perspex doors mostly closed, but a peek of a bed shows through. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher}*

Those of you who grew up with Pink Floyd will be mentally hearing the refrain to the opposite inside your head, but you can always add a wall back in to your space, either permanently or temporarily. This will require the services of an architect or interior designer and a contractor. Luckily you already know me!

Rearrange Furniture

Light colored room painted in white, with robin's eggshell blue furniture and pillows arranged in conversation groups, a dining table in the center and cream cabinetry in the kitchen at the rear of the space. — *_{Courtesy Southern Home Magazine / Photo by Colleen Duffley}*

If you have furniture that faces into the center of the room to emphasize the openness, try rearranging it so that it creates smaller conversation corners. Group 2 chairs either side of a sofa or loveseat. Face your living room away from the kitchen, or create a breakfast nook separate from your dining area.

Add a Room Divider

White open bookshelf has drawers and doors with silver pulls, while books, plates, and glassware adorn the open storage spaces. On the left, a white table and chairs. On the right, a bed with white linens. — *_{Photo courtesy HGTV}*

Use an open bookshelf to create a division between spaces, and add storage. Other options are a folding screen, a wall of plants, or a curtain.

Change Colors, Textures, Patterns

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 left 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}*

Most people are multitasking these days—making lunch while listening in on an important call, perhaps—so an open floor plan is more conducive to ever-changing needs.

Here’s where I can help with color, finishes, wallpaper: Ideas that could transform your current space into exactly what you want and need. If you feel this way, let’s definitely talk!

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

Labels: floor plan, open floor plan

Feng Shui Principles

Sep 19, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

In the summer of 2020, we looked at feng shui design principles and how we can utilize them to increase wealth, health, and relationships in our lives through the power of good interior design.

Since we could all use more wealth, health, and better relationships, let’s revisit those principles today.

Balance

Feng shui principle: Provide balance to welcome a new relationship or deepen an existing one.

Here, we see a pair of bedside tables and lamps either side of the bed. This is welcoming of partnership in the bedroom for love and life.

Notice how the mirror on the left imitates the proportions of the door on the right. You should never place a mirror in the bedroom facing you, but it’s good beside you, to reflect energy.

Energy Flow

Dining chairs in alternating colors of turquoise, lime green, and spotted patterns surrounding a dark wood dining table, underneath a white globe pendant lamp, as seen from above. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Feng shui principle: Allow energy or chi to flow through the space.

This space is tidy and doesn’t interrupt the flow of energy into the rest of the house. The pendant light captures energy and shares it out. We didn’t want something spikey because that reflects jagged energy. Instead, we wanted something round but still not a hard circle.

This pendant has a softness to it that fills the space yet gently captures the energy in an almost cloud-like way, and it can be seen from multiple stories in the house. Perfect.

Color

Feng shui principle: Choose color wisely, for a purpose.

While the use of reds and yellows are common in Chinese culture, here we’ve combined them into a single color – orange – bringing together elements of Fame, Health, and Love in this guest bedroom. See the bagua color map in my prior post.

Entrance

A tall tapering lighted lamp-type shape, with swirling circle patterns. Nearby, a carved statue of a Buddhist monk stands on top of a side table. To the right, a large container holds sticks and vines. All sit atop a cow hide rug over a light wood floor. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Feng shui principle: Create an entrance.

When first entering the home, you want to capture the energy, compress it into a smaller space and then release it. Don’t allow the energy to pour out the back of a home, as happens in a straight view through the entire space from the front door.

Clutter-free surfaces

Modern bachelor condo of white walls, dark hardwood flooring, and very dark wood cabinetry without handles, around a black refrigerator and freezer unit. In the short end of an L shape, a black countertop and kitchen sink features a graceful swan-necked faucet. At the front of the scene, a modern white dining table is surrounded by clear lime-green plastic seats on silver metal legs. The whole space is lit up by a large frosted window at the rear, unadorned by any window dressings. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Feng shui principle: Keep your surfaces clean and clear.

Notice the surfaces are plain and nearly devoid of ornamentation, keeping clutter behind closed storage doors. Frosted windows mimic the translucency of the chairs, bouncing light around, which encourages energy to move through the space and balance the darkness of the kitchen cabinetry.

And let’s face it, it’s easier to store clutter behind closed doors, so you can spend your time enjoying the fruits of your beautiful design choices.

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

Labels: bedroom, color, entry, Feng Shui, living room

5 Ways to Love Grandmillennial Style

Sep 05, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations, Trends |

Grandmillennial style has been described as a layered, youthful take on Grandma’s traditional style. Think, contemporary furniture used by someone in their 30s happily living alongside chintz floral patterns, busy wallpaper, chinoiserie, drapery, fringe, and trim.

This is not the Instagram look, it’s the antithesis of that highly stylized approach, instead being both wild and curated at the same time. Here are 5 ways to get the look.

Gingham & Patterns Galore

Head-on peek into a kitchen done in sea-green upper and lower cabinetry that has 4 units repeating a few feet apart and along the full white countertop length, brass cabinet pulls, and copper half-dish downlight pendant lamps. Blue and white checked gingham chairs are out front of a white kitchen island, while the square pattern is repeated in a grey and white backsplash. — *_{Design by and photo courtesy Lilse McKenna}*

I just ADORE the use of gingham and different scales of check patterns here, combined with repeated square shapes for a fresh, clean look! Plus, the copper pendant lights give a satisfying finish to the space.

Repurposed Vintage

A sofa with a moss green velvet seat and winding multicolor floral fabric with a light blue background on the top half of the sofa sit on a plain white background, white floor against a white wall with a white chair rail. A simple metal frame mirror and a brass pineapple pedestal table with white marble top are nearby. — *_{Photo courtesy Anthropologie}*

Bring history into your home and make it your own. The key is to revamp vintage furniture with a new fabric or finish, then complete the look with personal touches, like artwork and sculpture, mirrors and vases, and plants.

Quilts

Can you imagine your kids or grandkids having sleepovers and late nights with flashlights under the covers in this cozy attic?

Collectibles

An upholstered bed with blue china- pattern-like headboard, covered in multiple white pillows with different types of florals and patterns, unified by the color blue. 5 blue and white plates are hung on the wall above the headboard. A stack of 3 shades of blue books sits on the bedside table, while a blue ceramic lamp and white lampshade sits on top. Red tulips in a silver vase finish the space. — *_{Photo courtesy Clary Bosbyshell}*

Gather collections of Grandma’s beautiful things in small groupings for a big effect. The blue plate color repeated in the piping on the pillowcases is a nice touch in this arrangement.

Americana

Gold botanical wall art is wrapped around one corner behind a moss-green sofa in an off-white living room with lilac curtains offsetting white window sills. Tastefully styled bookshelves are off to the left, while a bench and chair face into the coffee table set for tea. A large geometric mirror is centered on the botanical wall above the sofa. All the furniture exhibits a square shape and strong lines softened with luxurious fabrics. — *_{Photo courtesy Modsy}*

Grandmillennial style exhibits an appreciation for heritage and timeless vintage items. Pairing Grandmillennial with Americana-inspired pieces works because both design movements are rooted in a love of history and tradition.

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

Labels: bedroom, color, fixtures & finishes, kitchen, living room, style

Clever Design

Aug 22, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

A small living room and entry area showing a lime green corner sofa, glass coffee/dining table, and live plant vases on the walls. A deck with two orange chairs and a small pedestal table is visible through the corner entrance. — _{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}

I’m really excited by smart design, especially those that are dual-use or make excellent use of space. Let’s look at some clever design solutions today.

Custom Coffee Table

Above is a favorite project where my client’s entire townhome is just 596 sq. ft, so maximizing every area is important. Custom furniture can often be the solution to what may seem like insurmountable challenges.

Notice the custom glass coffee table is adjustable in height, doubling as a dining table while also serving their entryway as a place to put down bags and keys. The shape of the glass table was specially designed to ensure safe and comfortable access in a tight space. The table’s hydraulic lift makes changing it from coffee table to dining table and back again a breeze. I can create a solution for your design challenge, too. Contact me anytime!

Next, let’s look at some other exciting designs I’ve found.

Köllen Bookshelf

This interactive bookshelf can be customized for any user’s needs and interests, simply by moving some of its parts. Inspired by Nordic style and known as Köllen, which is Swedish for Alps, the shape and materials represent mountains. Flipping some of the panels down allows them to be used as clothes hangers or back up as shelves to display treasures. So simple and beautiful.

Smart Storage Stairs

Items which traditionally clutter the hallway space from shoes and coats to toys and luggage can be stored under the stairs, making great use of often-wasted space. These smoothly sliding storage units require no building work and are installed in just one day, but you need to live in the UK or Ireland to use this specific company, so take inspiration from them and hire a contractor to build it locally. I can help you with this project!

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

Labels: color, indoor-outdoor, living room, texture

Location Inspiration

Aug 08, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

People often ask me, “Where do you get your ideas for designs?” Sometimes I work with a beloved item my client brings to me, or a piece of artwork. Often, I’m inspired by the location of the home, which is what I want to share with you today.

Here are a few images of beautiful locations, and interiors that could be inspired by those locales, using materials, colors, and fabrics that might be pulled right out of a photo.

Beach

This coastal Malibu living/dining room below could have been inspired by the image above, with a sea-green pendant light matching the color of the water at the edge of the beach, and light-colored seating reminiscent of sand and clouds.

Malibu living room with floor to ceiling black-metal-outlined wide windows with no window coverings that reveal a beach view. In front of the windows, white sofas and tan wicker chairs with white cushions and a light-colored wood circular coffee table topped with a plant. Behind and to the right, a dining area with white fabric-covered chairs, and a globe pendant light in sea green glass. — *_{Photo courtesy Purlin.com}*

Forest

A forest-inspired living room below could have been inspired by the image above, featuring reddish, dark wood furniture and flooring, moss-green fabrics, and fantastic pendant lighting that resembles a lens-flare from sunlight.

Indoor/outdoor living room with moss-green tufted sofas, reddish-brown wood cabinetry, brown wall with TV screen, and a triple pendant light in the shape of white globes that resemble lens flares or snowflakes. A dark brick wall with firewood storage appears at the far right. — *_{Photo courtesy home-designing.com}*

Mountain

The mountain-based living room below could have been inspired by the image above, featuring white walls and silver ring lights reminiscent of snow alongside the dark brown cladding the furniture and feature wall. The sky’s reddish-brown color reminds me of the modern fireplace and the furniture’s exotic wood patterning.

Aspen living room with high ceilings, a triangular shaped window with a view out to the snowy mountains, a triple ring pendant light hanging over a living room seating area with dark and reddish brown sofa and armchairs with white cushions, in front of a large ribbon fireplace under a dark brown wall with a white patterned square above. The walls and ceilings are painted white. — *_{Photo courtesy Aubree Dallas}*

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

Labels: color, dining room, fabric, indoor-outdoor, lighting, living room, texture, windows

Glamping

Jul 18, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

Two years of COVID pressure can finally be released with some light travel. Hooray! While many of us would like to go full-on camping, it’s more likely that glamping might be where we gently venture out of our homes. Camping is about being prepared and having the right tools and supplies. Glamping is about feeling a connection with nature without having to get too dusty and dirty. So glamping is the luxury version of camping! Here are a few inspirational ideas to get you started.

Luxurious Tent

A light colored canvas tent held up with a blond inverted V shaped frame with the doors rolled back, revealing a luxurious bed with wooden headboard and 2 side lamps, a pair of folding camp chairs in blond wood with grey-green cushions, several more folding tables, towel racks, and a portable sink at the rear. Window cutouts provide views of the green outdoors at the sides. A blond plank wood flooring has a native-inspired rug under the seating area, while above a cluster of lights hangs to shine down in the center of the space. — *_{Photo courtesy Terramor Outdoor Resort}*

This tent expresses true luxury beneath canvas fabric, with beautiful wood flooring, headboard, and furniture, plus textural fabrics, and soft, glowing lighting. Everything you see here can be folded and transported elsewhere.

Living Room Under Canvas

A yellowish canvas tent arches over an entire living room suite of leather sofa and 3 chairs, with a metal coffee table in the center sitting atop a Southwest themed orange and blue rug. The arched entrance folded up reveals a beautiful view into the green and dusty desert. — *_{Photo courtesy Baily Made and Mind Studio}*

Moab, Utah is one location of glamping company Under Canvas. I love how they’ve transported an entire leather living room suite and woven rug in desert colors to make the space feel cozy and stylish.

Safari Experience

A canopy bed with mosquito netting tide to the posts has matching white blankets and sheets. At the foot of the bed is a wooden shipping box with rope handles, a coffee tray and two mugs upon it. The entire space is covered in tan and orange-y patterned rugs, while gold curtains are tied to the posts of the surrounding tent overhead. The view outside is green and hazy. A hurricane lamp sits on a bedside table covered in orange fabric, while a canvas duffel bag sits on another table on the far side of the bed. — *_{Photo courtesy ArtOfSafari.travel}*

This beautiful space is for an African safari in the Serengeti, with mosquito netting around the bed and woven rugs underfoot. African safaris are true glamping experiences because there’s no infrastructure at all, everything will be transported and set up for you, celebrating what drives people to nest and create a home away from home.

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

Labels: bedroom, canopy bed, glamping, indoor-outdoor, nature, outdoor spaces

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