Bedrooms for Romance & Relaxation

Feb 10, 2020 | Posted in Inspirations |

Detail of a feminine bedroom, with light-colored walls and wood flooring. The white bedside table has 3 drawers with gold ring pulls for handles. A bright yellow bubble lamp and shade sits atop the table, to the left of a partial view of a pink upholstered padded headboard with crisp white sheets and a yellow patterned throw pillow. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

Your bedroom is a key part of your life, the place where you restore your health with a good night’s sleep, and where romantic encounters happen. With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s a great time to revamp your most important space for romance and rejuvenation. I pull back the curtain on a few of my best bedroom designs, to inspire you.

Intimate Hillside Retreat

Photo of a luxurious contemporary bedroom. The bed is upholstered in a grey padded microfiber material, soft to the touch. Three white pillows are behind another layer of yellow patterned pillows, behind another layer of white and yellow and silver patterned throw pillows. A yellow and silver floral bedspread tones with the yellow floral lampshades and white bubble lamps either side of the bed, sitting atop yellow lacquered bedside tables. The entire bed rests on a grey and yellow geometrically-patterned rug, with warm reddish wood flooring underneath. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

Nestled into a hillside, this four-story home boasts breathtaking views of downtown San Francisco. Contemporary design, color, and character welcome the owners and their guests.

Another view of the luxurious contemporary bedroom. On the right, a dark floor-length curtain with a gold band detail near the bottom. Straight ahead, you see a dark wood dresser, with candles, a framed photo, and two white vases of flowers on top. Above that, hung on the wall, are two rounded-top mirrors, side by side. To the left, a dark brown door with white trim. Further to the left, the bed is upholstered in a grey padded microfiber material, soft to the touch. White pillows behind another layer of yellow patterned pillows, behind another layer of white and yellow and silver patterned throw pillows. A yellow and silver floral bedspread tones with the yellow floral lampshade and white bubble lamp, sitting atop a yellow lacquered bedside table. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

In the master suite, a chic array of vintage patterns, warm colors, and low lighting create an intimate retreat to enjoy with a loved one. Clean lines in furniture design make it easy to relax in the space.

Closeup of two white leather upholstered Barcelona chairs with silver metal frames, sitting atop a grey and yellow geometrically patterned rug. At the back left, you see part of a floor-length dark curtain, with a yellow band of fabric about a foot above the floor. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

White leather lounge chairs and daffodil-yellow lacquer nightstands brighten the mornings, while dramatic draperies dip the room in darkness for a restful night. I can’t decide whether my favorite finishing touch is the gold detailing on the window treatment or the floral lampshades!

Relaxing, Restful Colors

View of a bedroom painted in a light grey, with floating brown wood shelves as bedside table, 2 pendant lamps suspended from the ceiling, a dark upholstered headboard with crisp white sheets and pillows, layered with silver, grey, and blueish throw pillows, with a paisley blanket in the same colors. On the wall are multiple gold and silver elephant-ear palm leaves. To the left, you can see down a long open hallway. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

While the rest of this Bay Area condo is filled with bright colors, the master bedroom tones down the shades to cooler, calmer hues, perfect for relaxing and sleep. Floating walls without doors separate the office and master bedroom from the living area.

Another angle of the bedroom painted in light grey, with floating brown wood shelves as bedside table, 2 pendant lamps suspended from the ceiling, a dark upholstered headboard with crisp white sheets and pillows, layered with silver, grey, and blueish throw pillows, with a brown blanket layered under a paisley comforter in the same colors as the throw pillows. On the wall are multiple metallic gold and silver elephant-ear palm leaves. To the far left you see a floor-to-ceiling window, obscured for privacy. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

Metallic textiles and wall hangings create interest, even in a calm space. Suspended bedside pendant lamps provide dramatic lighting while leaving the floating shelf-as-nightstand uncluttered. Reducing the number of items within view helps to prepare for a restful slumber.

Gentleman’s Love of Travel

A large open spaced bedroom, with a huge Union Jack flag rug underneath a dark brown padded upholstered bed with white sheets, layered with white, grey, blue, and graphic pillows. White bedside tables have 2 drawers each, with bowling pin lamps and white shades. Behind the bed is a wall of bright red curtain. To the left is a window with slatted blinds in white, with white trim. The walls are painted a denim blue. Warm reddish wood flooring underneath the rug. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal*

The owner of this colorful bedroom loves to travel. We set the color palette with a Union Jack rug, which is a London nod to his favorite destination. Bright red also fans the flames of a passionate evening together.

Closeup view of the bedroom. To the left, a dark brown padded upholstered bed with white sheets, layered with white, grey, and blue pillows. A white bedside table, 2 drawers, with a bowling pin lamp and white shade, next to that, a glass vase with fresh flowers. Behind the bed hangs a bright red curtain with wavy blue pinstripes. Warm reddish wood flooring is underneath the Union Jack flag rug. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal*

Dramatic wavy pinstripe drapery softens the walls, while the ink blue leather bed and silver bowling pin lamps complete the distinguished interior. We dressed the bed with comfy pillows, to dream of visiting London again – maybe for a romantic getaway?

Closeup view of the bed and pillows. You see a dark padded upholstered bed with gold nailhead trim, white sheets, layered with white, grey textured, and blue-and-white-pinstripe pillows. Behind the bed hangs a bright red curtain with wavy blue pinstripes. At the very front is a pillow featuring images of London - a bus, the Parliament clock tower, and a red phone booth, with the word London at the bottom. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal*

If you dream of a master bedroom that fulfills all your desires, Kimball Starr can make that dream come true! Contact her today!

Labels: bedroom, color, lampshade, lighting, pendant lights

Ingo Maurer Lighting Designer

Jan 27, 2020 | Posted in Inspirations |

Near the end of 2019, a legendary lighting designer, Ingo Maurer, passed away. He left behind a huge body of inspiring work, and today I’m sharing a few of his ideas.

Photo of the famous lighting designer Ingo Maurer with shoulder-length hair, wearing a pair of sunglasses with lit lightbulbs coming out of the lenses. His head is turned up towards the sky. — *Ingo Maurer / Image courtesy DesignerBox.com*

Ingo Maurer’s passion for light began in the mid 1960s, birthed from some of his earliest memories of fishing with his father, seeing the reflection of light dance with the water. Over 50 years, Maurer developed an outstanding career, with exhibitions in museums all over the world, commissions from international clients and brands, and a firm employing nearly 80 people.

Maurer’s work displays a love for light, the films and artists that inspired him, and a commitment to not making compromises. There is no one who creates lights as unique as Ingo Maurer.

Photo of a pendant light created by a number of wire rods emanating out from the lighting fixture. On each rod is a piece of paper, some with writing on them, so that it looks like a giant round push-pin board of notes. Underneath is a red chair sitting behind a surface so that only the top rail is visible, and on the surface is a set of white dishes, a stack of black bowls, and some red cutlery. — *Zettelz 6 Suspension Light by Ingo Maurer / Image courtesy YLighting.com*

Zettelz 6 Suspension Light from Ingo Maurer is meant to have the owner participate in its final look. Japanese paper sheets suspended from stainless steel rods are inserted into the central housing. The placement of the rods is up to the user, resulting in each piece being totally unique. Printed and blank paper sheets are included, for personalization.

Lightbulbs seem to fly away from their wired centerpiece in the chandelier, each with a small pair of white wings attached at the base of the bulbs. — *Birdie by Ingo Maurer / Image courtesy Mohd.com*

Birdie by Ingo Maurer is created by wings in real goose feather-wrapped bulbs. The line includes table lamps, pendants, wall lights; all free to fly in the imagination of design. LED technology combines with creativity, and the result is a beautiful winged collection.

A can of Campbell's Tomato Soup is suspended by a spring above a table where a bowl of piping hot soup and a spoon await, steam rising in the light of the pendant lamp emanating from the bottom of the can. The entire background of the image has a deep blue color. The can of soup is reminiscent of a famous pop-art piece by Andy Warhol. — *Ingo Maurer Canned Light by Christoph Matthias & Hagen Sczech / Image courtesy Lumens.com*

The Ingo Maurer Canned Light puts a different spin on Andy Warhol-inspired pop art; it actually appears to “pop” from the wall or ceiling from its spring-like top. This contemporary design by Christoph Matthias and Hagen Sczech for Ingo Maurer will likely be around as long as Warhol’s original.

The bulb-inside-a-bulb design -- of a hand-blown crystal glass shade and polished chromium base -- is matched inside by a top-chromated incandescent bulb. The entire table lamp is shown against a solid black background. — *Ingo Maurer Table Lamp / Image courtesy Lumens.com*

Ingo Maurer’s first-ever lamp design, conceived in 1966. The Ingo Maurer Bulb Table Lamp shows just how far back Maurer’s appreciation of the form and function of the incandescent bulb goes. The bulb-inside-a-bulb design — of a hand-blown crystal glass shade and polished chromium base — is matched inside by a top-chromated incandescent bulb.

Three handmade shades are suspended one above the other by thin metal cables, while a single red iron ring provides a pop of color above. The paper shades of this pendant light called Floatation are crinkled, casting soft light over a dark dining table appearing to float in midair, with a white chair also floating behind, and a vase with a single rose, floating above the tabletop. Light is cast into the room from an open doorway at the back left of the image, creating interesting shadows across the floating pieces and the concrete flooring. — *Floatation Suspension Light by Ingo Maurer / Image courtesy YLighting.com*

Floatation is a suspension light made from Japanese paper shades for ambient illumination. Three handmade shades are suspended by thin metal cables, while a red iron ring provides a pop of color. The paper shades of Floatation are crinkled, an intended design attribute, casting soft light over a dining table or living space.

Two images, one longer one above the other. The top image shows a light fixture on a single wire with the power cable snaking around it. Ten Campari red soda bottles are suspended by multiple wires attached to the central cable. In the bottom image, a top-down view of the light fixture allows you to see the bottle caps saying Campari Soda, and a clear plastic cone-shaped top piece. Red light is cast upon a white wall behind. Eight additional bottles of soda are on the table below, out of focus. — *Campari Light by Ingo Maurer / Image courtesy 1001lights.com*

The Ingo Maurer Campari Light shows how innovative and creative luminaires can be. Ten original Campari soda bottles, still filled with the classic soda, are combined into one extraordinary ensemble, wrapping the room in a fascinating red. Down the center of the bottles, a transparent plastic body holds the light fixture, under a transparent canopy. All the bottles are removable, and the luminaire is height-adjustable with a Campari crown cap at the top. What a marvelous way to look at light!

Do you want to feature stunning lighting design in YOUR home? Contact Kimball Starr today for a consultation. She designs beautiful homes in the San Francisco Bay Area and Nevada.

Labels: art, contemporary interior design, inspiration, lighting, lighting design, modern style

Pantone Color of the Year 2020

Jan 13, 2020 | Posted in Trends |

Pantone recently announced their annual Color of the Year – Classic Blue.

Image of the 2020 Color of the Year by Pantone: Classic Blue #19-4052, with outlines of two people standing in the distance, their reflections showing in water below. — *Image courtesy Pantone.com*

From their website, “Instilling calm, confidence, and connection, this enduring blue hue highlights our desire for a dependable and stable foundation on which to build as we cross the threshold into a new era.”

Because Classic Blue is, well, classic, I’ve worked with this dependable color multiple times. One of my favorite projects was for a retired couple in San Francisco who wanted to bring the colors of their favorite travel destination of Guatemala into their home.

Close-up image of a bedroom, showing at the left, part of a bed with blue velvet headboard, white sheets, and blue pillow with multi-colored tassels, which echoes the multi-colored tassels on the blanket covering the bed. Above the headboard is a quilt made of many multi-colored and textured rectangles of fabric, sewn together. To the right, a light-colored bedside table with a single drawer hold two books underneath in an open space, and on top, a glass table lamp is topped by an off-white lampshade. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

In the master bedroom, we used the client’s own material to create a statement piece above the bed. The headboard, bed and footboard is upholstered in Classic Blue velvet. The bed is draped in a custom-sewn blanket of Classic Blue with brightly-colored tassels, while atop the nightstands sit beautiful glass lamps. At the foot of the bed is a bench, also custom-upholstered in the client’s own material from Guatemala.

Image of a bedroom with sliding glass doors to the far left, showing a bed with blue velvet headboard, white sheets, and a blue throw pillow with multi-colored tassels flanked by two off-white throw pillows, echoing the multi-colored tassels on the blanket covering the bed. Above the headboard is a quilt made of many multi-colored and textured rectangles of fabric, sewn together. To either side, light-colored bedside tables with a single drawer each hold books underneath in an open space, and on top, glass table lamps are topped by an off-white lampshade. At the foot of the bed, the patchwork quilt material is repeated as custom upholstered fabric. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

In the guest bedroom, extensive custom cabinetry in Classic Blue allows for dual use as a home office. The wall bed cabinetry color is echoed by Classic Blue filing and storage drawers.

Three views of a guest bedroom/home office design. All three images show the space with a custom-made desk in classic blue and white, filing drawers also in blue and white, plus a computer & white chair facing two large windows. On the right is custom cabinetry with open shelving and more drawers. In the center of the right wall is a large blue custom cabinet that contains a wall-bed also known as a Murphy bed. The bottom image shows the bed partly coming down, while the center image shows a custom fold-down white desk that is hidden within the classic blue wall bed cabinetry when closed. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photos by Eric Rorer*

I look forward to seeing all the ways Classic Blue will appear in 2020 interiors!

If you have a project you want to incorporate Pantone’s color of this year or any year, Kimball Starr can guide your color journey! Contact her today for a consultation.

Labels: bedroom, color, custom cabinetry, custom furniture, guest bedroom, home office, home office designs, lighting

Popular Interior Design Styles

Dec 30, 2019 | Posted in Trends |

View from a living room. Two hot pink recliners show just at the outer edges of the view. Further back, we see into an open-plan dining area, featuring contemporary purple head chairs with floral velvet backs, brown velvet dining chairs with silver ring backs, and a dark wood dining table under a triple-tiered glass chandelier. Just beyond that, a gold and copper triptych of water lilies hangs on tan and brown textured wallpaper, with hot pink and orange patterned sheer curtains covering the window to the left. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

The end of the year is a great time to look back at our predictions, and see how accurate we were in forecasting the year. I predicted I would work with amazing clients, who would challenge me to deliver just the right style for them in 2019, and I was right!

A look at what interior design styles were popular this past year takes us all around the country, with the overall most popular style searched for online being Industrial, according to Realtor.com.

Image courtesy Realtor.com: A list of the top searched terms for interior design styles in 2019 organized by number of states they won, starting with Industrial at 12 states, Vintage at 6 states, Shabby Chic at 5 states, Mid-Century Modern at 4 states, Minimalist at 4 states, Rustic at 4 states, Urban Modern at 3 states, Art Deco at 2 states, Coastal at 2 states, and at 1 states each, Asian Zen, Bohemian, Eclectic, French Country, Hollywood Regency, Modern Country, Traditional, Transitional, and Victorian. — *Image courtesy Realtor.com*

Below are the top design styles by state. California’s is Hollywood Regency, which is no surprise. I’ve created spaces for people to feel like stars in their California homes for over 16 years.

Map showing the United States, with graphics indicating which states preferred which interior design styles in 2019 — *Image courtesy Realtor.com*

List of top interior design styles in 2019, organized by state, in alphabetical order.

Alabama: Shabby chic
Alaska: Industrial
Arizona: Industrial
Arkansas: French country
California: Hollywood Regency
Colorado: Asian Zen
Connecticut: Vintage
Delaware: Bohemian
Florida: Coastal
Georgia: Rustic
Hawaii: Minimalist
Idaho: Modern country
Illinois: Industrial
Indiana: Rustic
Iowa: Rustic
Kansas: Vintage
Kentucky: Rustic
Louisiana: Industrial
Maine: Victorian
Maryland: Shabby chic
Massachusetts: Shabby chic
Michigan: Industrial
Minnesota: Midcentury modern
Mississippi: Shabby chic
Missouri: Midcentury modern
Montana: Industrial
Nebraska: Art Deco
Nevada: Art Deco
New Hampshire: Industrial
New Jersey: Midcentury modern
New Mexico: Minimalist
New York: Urban modern
North Carolina: Industrial
North Dakota: Industrial
Ohio: Industrial
Oklahoma: Vintage
Oregon: Minimalist
Pennsylvania: Vintage
Rhode Island: Minimalist
South Carolina: Coastal
South Dakota: Traditional
Tennessee: Urban modern
Texas: Vintage
Utah: Industrial
Vermont: Vintage
Virginia: Midcentury modern
Washington: Eclectic
West Virginia: Shabby chic
Wisconsin: Urban modern
Wyoming: Industrial — *List courtesy Realtor.com*

View into an open-plan dining area, featuring two contemporary purple head chairs with floral velvet backs, six brown velvet dining chairs with ring backs, and a dark wood dining table under a triple-tiered glass chandelier. Just beyond that, a gold and copper triptych of water lilies hangs over tan and brown textured wallpaper, with hot pink and orange patterned sheer curtains covering the triple window to the left. — *Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Eric Rorer*

Glam is a similar style to Hollywood Regency. To show what I mean, in the photo above, my client wanted her Oakland home to feel welcoming to both men and women. So I brought in glamorous feminine elements, juxtaposed with heavy, masculine woods and tones. In her now-elegant dining space, the clean lines display an element of luxury while the glass chandelier and detailed head chair backs provide the glam.

Close-up of a contemporary dining area, featuring brown velvet dining chairs with silver ring backs and silver nail heads around the edges, and a dark wood dining table under a triple-tiered glass chandelier. A vase of purple hydrangea flowers is in the center, with two vases of green cuttings either side. Behind, a gold and copper triptych of water lilies hangs over tan and brown textured wallpaper. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

The heavy wood dining table is balanced out with additional shine — the copper triptych artwork. She can come home from a long day at the office. and still throw a glamorous late-night dinner party with very little effort in a dining room like this, adding a little texture and sparkle to the evening under a fabulous chandelier.

Do YOU want help bringing glam into your life? Kimball Starr designs homes for stars just like you in the Northern California and Nevada areas. Contact her today for a consultation!

Labels: chandelier, contemporary dining room, contemporary interior design, contemporary window treatments, dining room, window treatments

6 Tips for Hosting Holiday Guests

Dec 16, 2019 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

The holiday season brings chances to gather and be festive together, with family, friends, and guests arriving to join in the fun. Here are some of my best host tips to create a welcoming guest space for a memorable experience in your home.

Tip 1: Fresh Flowers

Two images side-by-side. The left showing red, pink and coral-colored bedding with a vase of pink and red tulips next to the bed. The right image shows a bed with white bedspread with a blue blanket over the top, and a copper tray holding a vase of hydrangeas, ready to welcome guests. — *Left photo courtesy HGTV.com / Right photo courtesy DesignEnthusiast.com*

Nothing says clean and fresh like clean sheets and linens, and freshly-cut flowers. Place a seasonal arrangement next to the bed, or pick some from your own garden, for a personal touch.

Tip 2: Hand-Rolled Towels

Two images side-by-side. On the left, a light green and white bathroom with double sinks, flowers in a vase, and a tray of hand-rolled towels on the counter. On the right, a basket of hand-rolled towels, with a lotion dispenser and white vase of fresh greens on a grey counter. — *Both images* *courtesy SobelAtHome.com*

One of the preparations that makes a spa or hotel feel luxurious is the special way they roll their towels and washcloths by hand. Take it a step further by placing towels in a basket or neatly stacked on a tray on the counter.

Tip 3: Lotions & Beauty Products

Two images side-by-side. On the left, in teal blue and white, multiple bottles of Bulgari lotion plus soap, face cream and spritzer. On the right, in tan and white bottles, four types of lotions from Sheraton's le gran bain, with two on top of white towels, in front of a vase of aloe vera. — *Left image courtesy Bulgari / Right image courtesy Sheraton Le Grand Bain*

How many times have you forgotten your face cream, soap, shampoo, conditioner or hand lotion on a trip? A hotel or spa will provide you with a matched set: Classy, luxurious, and sweet-smelling. You can do the same thing for your guests, but go a step further – find out what brand they prefer, and have theirs available. They’ll be very impressed at your thoughtfulness.

Tip 4: Turndown Bedding & Chocolates

Two images side-by-side. Left showing a white basket of flowers behind the head of a bed, with pink flowered blanket turned down to reveal white sheets, with a white chocolate on the pillow. Right image shows two chocolates on glass trays, next to a pile of pillows on a bed. — *Left image courtesy Chase.com / Right image courtesy Glass Studio St. Regis*

Who can resist snuggling into bed when the sheets and covers are turned down for you, with a chocolate on the pillow? Not me! Guests will feel like they’re receiving the white glove treatment if you provide this simple service.

Tip 5: Sleep Kit

Two images side-by-side. Left image looking into a basket, with multiple items for overnight guests such as ear plugs, toothbrushes, power cables for phones, spritz for pillows, and face care products. Right images shows a pink silk eye mask in a presentation box. — *Left image courtesy TheHomeEdit.com / Right image courtesy SlipSilkPillowcase.com*

A good night’s rest is probably the most important thing you can provide for your guests who’ve traveled to reach your home. A thoughtful way to provide that is to install blackout blinds in your guest bedroom, but if you don’t have those, the next-best option is a sleeping mask, and earplugs. Take it up a notch by also providing spare chargers for phones and cameras, extra toothbrushes, slippers, and a light aromatherapy spray for their pillow.

Tip 6: Drinks & Snacks

Two images side-by-side. Left image is of several luxury bottled waters on a quartz countertop. Right image is a basket of fresh fruit including pineapples, pears, apples, oranges, plums, tangerines, and mangos, plus fresh yellow flowers interspersed. — *Left image courtesy Oyster.com / Right image courtesy CentralSquareFlorist.com*

Imagine you want a midnight snack while everyone else is asleep. You tiptoe to the kitchen, open the fridge door, and see your favorite treat or drink waiting for you! You probably feel happy, plus relieved because you don’t have to wake your hostess. This is the ultimate in hosting, anticipating every desire and need of your guests. They will not only thank you, they’ll remember how you made them feel – like a million bucks.

If you want assistance creating the ultimate luxury guest bedroom in your home, or even for yourself, contact Kimball Starr today! She looks after the details that make superlative experiences.

Labels: bathroom, flowers, guest bedroom, holiday entertaining, kitchen

Small-Space Entertaining

Nov 18, 2019 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

The holiday season is almost here! To help with your hosting duties, I’m sharing some ideas on how to maximize the useable space in a petite home.

Cooking While Entertaining

A small kitchen space benefits from a butcher-block surface island, with a pull-out work surface, and plenty of open and closed storage nearby. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

In the photo above, the custom island appears in the foreground, clad in butcher-block for the perfect chopping surface. A pullout work surface provides additional drinks space for guests, while you cook and entertain.

A closeup on the kitchen reveals deep drawers under the island. Behind, a mix of open and closed shelving keep kitchen tools close at hand. Place pretty, infrequently-used items on the top surface.

Deep drawers are great for multi-use storage. A mix of open and closed shelving is ideal for displaying your china, and keeping kitchen items close at hand. Place infrequently-used pieces that are also beautiful at the top of your cabinetry, for a good way to utilize the top surface.

A corner banquette maximizes the space for seating guests in a small dining area. The custom coffee table is great for pre-dinner cocktails. Raise it up for dinner. — Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

In the dining area, a corner banquette lets you pack a lot of people in a small space. An adjustable-height coffee table is perfect for pre-dinner cocktails. Raise the table when you’re ready for dinner.

Entertaining in a Petite Living Room

The living room is the primary living space where we relax, spend downtime after a hard day’s work, and have fun with friends and family. If you have tight space restrictions, reducing clutter through clever storage will maximize your living and entertaining area, as in the sliding shoji screens below.

Up a small set of stairs with a wooden-topped metal railing into the living area, you see a set of sliding wooden shoji screens, with a TV visible in the open side. Open shelves to the left hold family photos. On the far left, you just see the end of a light-colored sofa. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

Here, the glass partition between rooms functions as the balustrade for the stairwell. Instead of installing a sheet-rocked wall, the glass partition takes up less depth, provides safety, and allows the eye to travel freely.

Looking further into the living room, a heavy wooden coffee table sits upon a blue, tan and brown patterned rug, in front of an L-shaped light-colored corner sofa with blue and brown throw pillows. Wall-mounted speakers save space and provide great sound for the party. Double glass doors surrounded by the same warm wood tones let in lots of natural light. — *Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer*

An L-shaped sectional sofa fits perfectly from wall to wall, to maximize comfortable seating. Keep the upholstery color similar to the wall color, so the room is visually open. The heavy coffee table does triple duty here — functioning as a table, providing storage underneath for remote controls and game consoles, and also serving as additional seating when more guests arrive.

If you need ideas for a space to entertain, interior designer Kimball Starr provides design for all sizes of homes throughout the San Francisco, San Jose, and Marin areas. Contact her today for a consultation!

Labels: banquette, contemporary dining room, dual-use furniture, holiday entertaining, island, kitchen designs, L-shaped couch, living room, small space living, small space solutions, sofa, tips

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