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!

Labels: garden, outdoor, outdoor spaces

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!

Labels: antimicrobial, appliances, cleaning, countertops, quarantine

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!

Labels: contemporary dining room, counter seating, countertops, dining room, kitchen, kitchen designs, tiling

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.

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.

Labels: bathroom, bedroom, contemporary, country-style, dining room, kitchen designs, Lake Tahoe, living room, luxury, modern country style, modern style, shower & tub, wood paneling

Green Design for Earth Day

Apr 19, 2021 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

A comfortable and colorful living room, with a blue patterned rug over warm wood flooring, a grey sofa scattered with multi-patterned and colored throw pillows, a large plant in the corner behind. Two chairs and a coffee table create a comfortable conversation corner. A colorful photo is hung on the wall behind the sofa, featuring the sky and mountains. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

For the 50^th anniversary of Earth Day this year on April 22, let’s look at a few easy green design inspirations and actions you can do at home.

Plant a Tree

Image of a person's hand, holding a miniature version of a full-grown tree, above loose dirt. — *_{Photo courtesy Pinterest user MMore}*

“The best time to plant a tree is 50 years ago. The next-best time is today.” – old saying

The day before Earth Day this year is National Arbor Day, April 21, also known as Plant a Tree Day. How do you know which kind of tree is best for your area, and won’t contribute to pollen issues? Use this handy guide.

Reduce Your Energy Use

_{Image courtesy EPA.com}

Find out what your household carbon footprint is in 3 areas: Energy use, transportation, and waste, then learn how to reduce them with this handy calculator.

Design Interiors with Plants

Closeup view of a living room corner, with a peek of a brown leather sofa next to a brown metal round side table filled with multiple vases of varying sizes and shapes, all in white with slight brown stripes. In the corner, a pocket wall of live plants. Above the table, a round white pendant light. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Our last post is perfect for this! Just click over to Designing with Plants and get all the tips you need.

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

Labels: contemporary interior design, dining room, living room, mid-century modern, plants, sustainable design

Design with Plants

Apr 05, 2021 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

View of a living room corner, showing a dark green fabric and brown leather couch with floral graphic throw pillow, a side table with 4 white vases in varying sizes and shapes, and in the corner, a wall planter filled with leafy greenery. At the front of the image is a coffee table with a bowl of green and red grapes atop a stack of books. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

A plant is the world’s oldest housewarming gift (other than a bottle of wine), because nothing makes your home feel fresh and lived-in like live plants. Bonus that they naturally clean your indoor air, too!

Here’s a brief look at which plants to include when designing your home, with tips to get the most out of specific situations.

Best for Beginners

Image of a snake plant in a large brown ceramic pot on the floor, next to 3 white shelves stacked above each other that hold art, framed photos, and vases of flowers, plus green air plants, against a background of cornflower blue wall paint and blond wood flooring. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

Snake Plant (Sansevierias)

Snake Plants are some of the toughest plants around. Indoors or on your balcony, these spiked lovelies can deal with nearly anything.

Care tips: They’ll grow faster in strong natural light and slower in low light, so decide where to place them. Buy darker-leafed varieties for low light. No direct sunlight like a west or south window – they burn! Always ensure the soil is nearly completely dry before thoroughly watering again, though these will do well in a bathroom, too. Snake plants are mildly toxic to cats and dogs.

North-Facing

Photo of tan fabric backdrop featuring a ZZ plant in a grey planter on the light-colored floor, with a white and blond wood stool behind it, dressed with a clear pitcher and glass of water. The ZZ plant has oval-shaped dark green leaves. — *_{Photo courtesy Bloomscape}*

ZZ Plant (Zamioculcas zamiifolia)

Roots called rhizomes help this plant stay hydrated, while its variegated leaves go from bright green to a dark emerald.

Care tips: Low light and not much water, so it’s low-maintenance. Water when the soil is dry, or every two to three weeks. Poisonous if eaten, so keep away from kids and pets.

South-Facing

Photo of a delicate fern in a plain green planter, sitting on a pale off-white surface with a matching plain wall background. — *_{Photo courtesy Terrain}*

Asparagus Fern (Asparagus setaceus)

Stunningly delicate, the Asparagus Fern does better as a houseplant than an outdoor plant since it’s considered an invasive species.

Care tips: Keep in a sunny spot and let it dry out between waterings. Keep away from cats and dogs – it’s toxic to them.

Photo of a plant with round dark and light-green leaves with red veins, in an orange ceramic pot, sitting on a light-colored surface with a nearly-matching wall background. — *_{Photo courtesy The Sill}*

Maranta (Marantaceae)

Known as a prayer plant because the Maranta’s leaves will raise and lower with the sun throughout the day. Gorgeous variegated leaves include shades of green and bright pink.

Care tips: Medium to bright but indirect sunlight. Water weekly or every other week, when you see its leaves look droopy. Pet-safe houseplant.

Best Indoor Tree

Photo of a midcentury modern dining room, with patterned chairs and a deep wood table that nearly matches the flooring. Beyond, against the rear wall, is a bright blue sideboard dressed with a vase of fresh cuttings, a lamp, and a bowl of glass balls. Above the sideboard is a wall-mounted driftwood sculpture with multiple air plants and mosses growing. To the left of the sideboard in the corner is a tall fiddle plant with dark green leaves. — _{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}

Ficus Altissima (Variegata)

For those who love the look of a leafy indoor tree like the fiddle leaf fig, try a ficus altissima with large velvety yellow and green leaves. “This plant makes a statement without the more complex care instructions that come with the Fiddle!” explains Joyce Mast, a horticultural expert at Bloomscape.

Care tips: Place this hardy plant in bright, indirect light, then let it grow. Indoors, this statement plant can gain six to eight feet in height (outdoors, up to 40 feet!) Toxic to dogs, so take care.

Photo of a traditional dining table and chairs in front of a cityscape view out the window. Just between the two windows stands a tall leafy green plant. On the dining table is a bunch of white flowers, a fruit plate, a pair of orange juice glasses and a pair of breakfast plates with fruit on them. The dining chairs are dark wood and scrolled patterned fabric, while the dining table is covered with a textured tablecloth that reaches the wood floor. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*