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In-Laws and ADUs

Jun 20, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

The housing market in California has really been heating up recently! Many people are looking to utilize their space more effectively, or add a second income from their properties. ADUs or accessory dwelling units are a great way to do this!

Sometimes known as a granny flat or in-law unit, these are small-but-mighty residential units that feature kitchens, dining space, sleeping, and seating areas. By California law, these must be on the same property as the main residence.

Many people convert garages, basements, sheds, or other exterior buildings into ADUs. Let’s look at some inspiring finds from around the world, and what makes them special.

Small wood-cladded room with level changes on ceilings that allow for yellow recessed lighting, matching the yellow lighting added under two window frames. A counter with 2 chairs sits next to the window. A bed that converts to a sofa sits under the other window. A glass front door with a black frame draws your eye to the center of the space.
Design by IM Interior / Photo courtesy loveproperty.com

A former garage turned industrial micro-home in Lithuania with modern lighting design, created from a garage shell attached to abandoned brick pantries. Designed by IM Interior, the home is a single, multipurpose room and a small bathroom. The industrial-style metal exterior contrasts with the birch wood cladded interior. I would love to do a project with inspiring lighting like this one!

A former two-car garage in white converted into a studio apartment, with sleeping loft overlooking a seating area and kitchenette. A small bathroom is seen at the rear.
Design by Beth Dana / Photo courtesy Kimberly Gehr

This garden retreat in a former garage allows for indoor/outdoor living. Breathe in the fresh air while you work and play! Nature’s paint of green vines growing along the building’s exterior conceals it from the rest of the property, a hidden gem. Especially great for those who work from home!

A grey wood-cladded ADU sits atop a set of concrete stairs, with clerestory windows along the side, and a warm wood entry space. Trees and green plantings make the building look like it belongs to the home it's attached to.
Photo courtesy Dwell

A Portland, Oregon 800-square-foot ADU with a smartly-finished, street-facing recessed entryway and cozy mini-kitchen in warm colors with wood finishes. I love to design for small spaces just like this. Can I create one for you?

A long, narrow kitchen space is made wider with the use of warm wood paneling and light-colored cabinets. Light streams in from a large window at the end of the space that opens to a deck with outdoor seating. A set of clerestory windows brings in additional light that bounces around the cozy kitchen. A tea kettle sits on the cooktop surface in the foreground.
Photo courtesy Dwell

Kimball Starr designs for homes and ADUs 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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Bed Style

Jun 06, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

The bedroom is a place for rest and rejuvenation, and it can be a source of inspiration, too. Here are some inspiring designs from around the web.

Bedroom featuring black wallpaper, a large black drum pendant light, and a black fireplace opposite a large grey upholstered bed with a Greek scene on the headboard.
Design by Roehner + Ryan / Photo courtesy Luxe Interiors + Design

This dark and dramatic bedroom is anchored by an extra tall upholstered headboard featuring an oversized Greek scene. It’s like having a painting on your headboard!

Floating bed design, with integrated headboard and lighting, above a dark wood floor and a grey rug.
Design by Daniele Lago / Photo courtesy Archiproducts

The unique design of this specially engineered bed makes you feel as if you’re floating on air. Integrated headboards and the lighting design are luxury details that are also very functional.

A simple wooden canopy frame in front of a painted brick wall, with black framed images, a black bedside table lamp, and grey blanket with white sheets.
Photo courtesy DigsDigs

For a more straightforward look with less frills, a simple wood frame canopy against a textured wall is perfect.

Photo courtesy DigsDigs

Floor to ceiling canopy curtains provide a more grand design, fit for a princess or prince. Bright colors are attractive to kids and adults, giving an energetic start to the day.

Need ideas for a bedroom? Kimball Starr designs 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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Drapery Drama pt 2

May 23, 2022 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

Continuing our look at window treatments from my projects, let’s just dive right back in.

California Glam

Living room with gold and brown wallpaper, a beige sofa with a chaise long near a gold and glass coffee table, plus a red armchair under a glass pendant light, and colorful sheer drapes. Dark wood flooring finishes completes the space.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

In a glamorous Oakland condo owned by a doctor who wants to host amazing dinner parties, I used gauzy fabric with geometric shapes and patterns in fun, bright colors to allow plenty of light in, contrasting the dark flooring and wall colors.

Large dark wood dining room table, 8 brown dining chairs with silver rings on the back surround the table. A rectangular tiered glass chandelier overhead throws light into the room, while more light comes through the window at left through the sheer red and orange draperies. Two red armchairs flank the view from either side in the attached living room.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Both the dining room and the living room have matching drapes because they’re one open-plan space. The colors also tie the rooms together, for an elegant, energetic experience under stunning glass chandeliers.

Hillside Sanctuary

Bedroom with purpley-grey upholstered bed, yellow and grey blanket, yellow and white pillows, a pair of arched mirrors over a dark wood dresser, reddish wood flooring, and at the right, purple blackout curtains with a yellow band towards the bottom that drape onto the floor.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

We created a sumptuous sanctuary for a busy Bay area couple, with fabrics and furniture that’s very sensual in nature. Notice the gold banding on the floor-length draperies, a luxury detail that really ties the space together by repeating the accent color of yellow on the purple drapes.

Purple blackout curtains with a yellow banding towards the bottom puddle onto the floor at left. In front of them and to the right are two Barcelona chairs in white leather, in front of a floor-to-ceiling window. The rug has geometric yellow rectangles on a grey field.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

The draperies are blackout blinds, an important detail for restful slumber in a room with floor-to-ceiling windows.

Pacific Heights Pop

Corner of a living with blue walls and a white picture rail near the ceiling. A desk with open shelving above sits near a bay window. Gold floor-to-ceiling draperies are stacked at the side of the window, while woven grass blinds are extended half-way down the windows. A gold bench seat with scrolled arms is upholstered in a red circular pattern to create another seating area.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Working from home has become the standard for many people. But it doesn’t have to be boring! Here at a Pacific Heights living room/home office, we created a color story with gold, dark blue, and red.

Bay window showing green plants outside with stacked gold draperies from floor-to-ceiling at the sides of the window. Woven grass blinds are extended half-way down the windows. A bench seat of rolled gold arms upholstered with a red circular pattern sits in front of 3 dark blue and white rectangular wood architectural details under the windows. The floor is a reddish shiny hardwood.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

The woven grass shades allow light and shapes through, to avoid feeling isolated from the outdoors. Plus, I love this unusual bench seat! However, if you need to focus, you can draw the crisp gold floor-to-ceiling draperies for a distraction-free workspace. The best of both worlds.

Kimball Starr designs beautiful window treatments 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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Drapery Drama

May 09, 2022 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

There are a million-and-one ways to dress and cover your windows. Wooden louvers, venetian blinds, roman shades, cellular shades, plantation shutters, curtains – the list goes on! With all of these options, one of my favorite ways to style windows is with draperies, a classic, enduring choice. Read on for my top tips!

Luxurious Layers

Living room with peachy walls, blue-grey ceiling, fireplace at the left with art above it and bookcase to the side, a periwinkle sofa with dark blue piping, 2 large pillows in lime green, and 2 large pillows in a blue, yellow, and white, floral with dark blue edging. Two lime green chairs are just out of view at the forefront, while in the rear, stacked and gathered gold spotted draperies flank a wall of 5 windows with wood edges and translucent blinds that fold up. A gold table lamp sits upon a side table, and a coffee table is dressed with books and flowers in the center.

In high-end projects, attention to detail is paramount. This one is an inspiring example because the homeowner was willing to spend time creating something he really loves.

Periwinkle sofa with dark blue piping, 2 large pillows in lime green, and 2 in a blue, yellow, purple, and white floral with dark blue edging. Stacked and gathered gold spotted draperies draw your attention to the dark wood window, with translucent blinds that fold up. A gold table lamp sits upon a side table, dressed with a blue vase of greenery and an artistic sculpture in yellow.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

To balance the straight architecture of the room and the amount of wood on view, stationary side draperies are stacked in sage green outdoor fabric to prevent sun-fade over time, while accent trim stands out from the face edging, a luxury detail. The sage green fabric tones with the exterior color of the house for additional curb appeal.

Close-up of a dark wood-edged window and stacked and gathered gold spotted drapes, showing edging in a moss green check, repeated as a tieback with repeating tassels in a lighter green. The natural grass blinds underneath have a textural quality, while a fabric liner at the back keeps light from spilling around, creating a soft light.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Replacing the old wood shutters with woven natural grass Roman shades meant we could add a fabric liner in the back: Pull down for privacy, or up to allow a lovely filtered light through the natural grass. A beautiful and useful result.

Techno Style

Looking from the second floor down over the ground floor in a colorful condo. Orangey-yellow full height textured draperies are stacked at the sides of the window, while a slightly transparent roller shade comes down just to the top of the transom and door underneath. A large curved tan sofa with a chaise long on the right wraps around a circular coffee table in yellow, in front of a TV, with a corner fireplace to the side. A yellow and brown paisley patterned rug defines the space, while glass pendant lights and bronze teardrops help bring the height down.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher

For this San Francisco loft created to remind you of a Moroccan bazaar with a midcentury element, because of the height of the space, the best solution is remote roller shades with automated floor-to-ceiling draperies.

Colorful condo viewed from the ground floor. Orangey-yellow full height textured draperies are stacked at the sides of the window, while a slightly transparent roller shade comes down just to the top of the transom and door underneath, showing a large potted plant outside. A large curved tan sofa with a chaise long on the right, stuffed with a riot of colorful pillows in different sizes and shapes, wraps around a circular coffee table in yellow, with a corner fireplace in the back. A yellow and brown paisley patterned rug defines the space. A shiny red console table under the TV is dressed with a pair of red lanterns, and a large potted plant stand just to the side of the console table.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher

The weight of the draperies allows light to filter through, a sumptuous moving artwork created with patterns of sunlight that adds life to the selection of colors, patterns, and textures in the space.

Join me next time for part 2.

Kimball Starr designs beautiful window treatments for luxurious 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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Flexible Spaces

Apr 18, 2022 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

This year’s Houzz Home Survey reveals that homeowners want design options offering more flexibility within the existing footprint of their homes.

Searches for TV armoires with pocket doors, queen Murphy beds, and nesting side tables have increased on Houzz, all of which create dual-use rooms by creatively hiding when not in use. Swivel accent chairs create flexible definitions between rooms, while custom cabinetry offers multiple uses. Clever storage and guest bed solutions for dual-use rooms are all increasing dramatically in demand.

Here are a few from my own portfolio that are very successful solutions. I hope these give you ideas for your own spaces!

4 images of a home office with a convertible bed hidden behind custom cabinetry, with the bed up and desk closed, desk down, bed partially down, and bed fully down and dressed for a guest.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

Custom cabinetry conceals a bed AND a desk in this smart combo I designed for a couple who own a condo in San Francisco.

A wall of white custom cabinetry accented with a pop of yellow and red conceals media, books, and office supplies, while displaying vases and collectibles. In the foreground, a dining table and chairs, dressed with fresh yellow flowers, and a modern glass ball chandelier.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer

In the same condo, custom cabinetry hides away the mess to make a home office/living room/media space work in the same room alongside a dining table and chairs.

Metal circular staircase with silver railings is complemented by an orange-backed bookcase that twists around the stairs, and can be hidden by a moveable white wall.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher

In this San Francisco loft, a staircase doubles as bookshelf storage in dual-use design. The bookshelf slides to hide the storage away.

A convertible Murphy bed pulled down and dressed with bedlinens, ready for a guest. Translucent walls slide into a stack to reveal the guest bedroom, with built-in lighting over the bed.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher

Still at the SF loft, this guest bedroom transforms to additional living room seating with retractable light-transmitting walls. The transforming bed makes this possible – get this look only with custom cabinetry.

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

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Textures Transform Your Home

Apr 04, 2022 | Posted in Inspirations |

Have you ever seen one of those all white interior design spaces and wondered how they made it look so appealing? The key isn’t keeping it’s clean, it’s using a variety of textures! Read on for inspirational images of brilliantly-designed textural homes.

White painted subway tiles with a pair of plan windows set off the dramatic black soaking bathtub with brass fixtures, next to a real hewn tree as a side table, both sitting upon herringbone wood flooring in a variety of shades and colors, though tending towards the lighter end of the wood spectrum.
Photo courtesy HereDwelling

Herringbone wood floors, white imperfectly-painted subway bricks, glass chandelier, glazed ceramic tub with brass fixtures, combined with an unexpected wood stump side table show how disparate textures can work together luxuriously.

A beehive-shaped woven basket as a pendant light over a marble pedestal table on a sisal rug. Nearby is a plant-based woven sofa with 3 white embroidered pillows. In the fireplace behind, 2 large urns sit, while outside the fireplace is a plant frond in a clear vase.
Photo courtesy MyDomaine.com

Bright and light space. Love the rough, plant-based furniture, woven rug, the amazing basket-like pendant light, and the neutral colors, paired with marble and painted white walls, all of which are very popular right now.

A concrete floor is a solid base for a white pedestal dining table and 2 warm wood chairs with arms, in front of a faux-marble countertop and backsplash with a brass faucet, and light wood cabinetry. Finally, two white globe lamps hang from brass fixtures in the kitchen area.
Photo courtesy Alexandra Ribar

A smooth marble island and splash-back, slick wood chairs and cabinetry, architectural concrete, and round glass pendant lights all create movement and interest.

A pair of white fluffy stools with square brass legs, almost looking like an ostrich bent over, sit underneath a mottled console table holding Five pieces of white or black pottery. Two more black and white vases sit to the left, holding white cow-lily plants, in front of a window.
Photo courtesy LuxeDeco

Fluffy stools with brass components contrasted with the sleek console table and multiple vases and ceramics give a fun sense of glam.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

This dramatic city skyline view is complimented by the textural sensations from the faux fur rug, soft pillows and blankets, the smooth wood flooring and sleek blue vases filled with fresh flowers. I’d love to cozy up here and spend hours taking in the view, wouldn’t you?

Kimball Starr designs for textural, sensual 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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