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Guest Blog: How to Work with an Interior Designer

Mar 17, 2025 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

by Guest Writer Jennifer Davidson, LEED AP

Image courtesy Wikimedia: CC4

So you’ve decided you want to do some work on your home, perhaps refresh your dated bathroom, upgrade your home office into a tech haven, or rip out that frustratingly-designed workspace and gain the cook’s kitchen of your dreams. You have some ideas, but don’t really know where to start. How do you organize your thoughts into a coherent plan? Where can you find the fixtures and fittings you want? This is a great opportunity to bring in a professional interior designer, who can help you realize your goals.

Before you even begin to seek out a designer, start by gathering some inspirational photos. Go through old and new magazines, look at design blogs you enjoy and start to identify what your style and taste is. There are several easy ways to do this. If you have a Pinterest account, start a board with your favorite photos. Collect them together and you will start to see patterns emerge – maybe you like mid-century modern, or art deco, or maybe you like contemporary but definitely not too modern. It’s easy to gather products and vignettes on Pinterest and you can even share your board with your spouse or partner, and later with your designer.

You can also save photos of real interiors to an ideabook on Houzz, a fabulous resource for all things residential design. There you can follow specific designers whose style you admire, and you might even connect with a few designers and feel them out, asking questions about their selections and techniques. Another very happening source of inspiration is Instagram – tons of designers post their project progress photos, and items they are sourcing. Use hashtags to search on specific keywords and discover new designers that way, such as #fauxfinish or #modernkitchen.

Once you have an idea of what your style is, and maybe a few designers whose work you admire, sit down and think about your budget. Do this at a time when you are not rushed, and you have access to your financial information so you can record facts, rather than guesses. What is your budget range? Have a low and high end. Make sure you are not breaking the bank, but have a comfortable amount that is realistic for the project you have in mind. If you’re not sure what that is, when you start interviewing designers, ask them for their advice.

A blond wood desk on sawhorses with a black lamp, multiple ringed binders, a pair of glasses, a sketch of a flower, and a cup full of colored pencils on top of a stack of magazines.
Image courtesy PXHere: CC1

Here are some things to consider when selecting your interior designer:

  • Do you like their style? Have you seen their work – either online or in person? Do you like what they’ve done for other people? If not, keep looking.
  • What is their work personality like? Are they prompt about returning phone calls and emails? What is their communication style? If you don’t like reading long emails and you can’t get this person on the phone, then you might not be a good match.
  • What is their reputation? Do they provide references from prior or current clients? Do they have a Yelp and what are the reviews like?
  • Do they have a professional affiliation and credentials? Are they a member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID) or the International Interior Design Association (IIDA)? Do they have a degree in interior design? From what school? Have they passed the National Council for Interior Design Qualification (NCIDQ) exam? Are they a Certified Interior Designer (CID)? They don’t necessarily have to have ALL these credentials, but they should be able to show that they are educated and knowledgable about the field in which they practice, and have specific current knowledge about building codes in the state(s) in which they work.
  • Do they share your values? Are you seeking a sustainable designer? They should be a LEED AP (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Accredited Professional) or certified in Green Globes or some other green building and construction program. If you are thrifty or have a lower budget, your designer should share that value as well, to watch the pennies for you. However, keep in mind that designers need to make money also, so your budget should not be so low as to only work for DIY.
  • Are they transparent about their fees? Does your interior designer take a certain percentage of the total budget cost or a mark-up on items purchased for you? Do they charge an hourly rate? What does that include? Will they be there for installation day or do they leave that to the contractor?
  • Do they have local and international knowledge? They should know whom to contact for draperies and where to source a specific sofa you’ve had your eye on. While of course you can order items from overseas and have them shipped, it’s good to have relationships with local showrooms, installers and shippers, in case you run into difficulties. A good designer will know people both locally and around the world.

Finally, when you sit down to interview your proposed interior designer, make sure you LIKE them. Remember, this person is going to be privy to not only your finances, the contents of your closets, and your personal relationships, but will also be with you for quite a long time. A renovation project does not happen overnight, so you need to enjoy this person’s company and feel comfortable with them, and above all TRUST them. Think of this not as a single project, but possibly a lifetime relationship – your designer can give you valuable advice about art, purchasing a new property and how to create an entertaining space that will make you the talk of the town. While you should of course consider this a professional relationship, it will be a more satisfying one if you genuinely feel a connection.

So now that you know how to do it, don’t wait – get started on that project of your dreams today! One final tip: Kimball Starr is an excellent interior designer who meets all the qualifications I’ve listed above. Contact her for advice on your next design project. You’ll be pleased, you have my word.

 JENNIFER DAVIDSON holds an M.F.A. in Interior Architecture and Design from the Academy of Art University. She consults with interior design professionals on their small business needs. Contact her via makesocialmediaeasy.squarespace.com

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Re-published in Blogs

Mar 04, 2025 | Posted in Starr Spotlight |

One of the cool things about being a published interior designer is that sometimes people like to share my work on THEIR blogs! Here are two that I’m proud to share in return.

A beautiful Adrian Pearsall vintage rocker sits in front of a trio of stringed instruments hung from a high rail in this Palo Alto bungalow.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

This post from Ayers Interiors is focused on musical instruments. There are many really cool music-related spaces in this blog entry.

Scroll down to see my client’s mid-century modern Palo Alto bungalow with stringed instruments hung from a picture rail as a personal display, among the fabulous ideas for how to incorporate music and musical instruments into a room.

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 / Photos by Eric Rorer

Valet Custom Cabinets is one of my design partners. They build gorgeous custom designs to suit individual tastes and needs. In this project, the clients wanted to hide the bed in a sometimes-guest bedroom, while also providing a second desk for occasions when both partners are working from home.

The Valet blog details several other parts of the home that required custom cabinetry to create the unique spaces my clients desired. Read the whole article to see how these areas work together to create a cohesive, colorful home.

Oh, and I won an award for this work!

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.

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Coffee Bar Update

Feb 24, 2025 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

Home coffee bar in Pantone Veri Peri purple cabinetry, white marble countertop, open shelving with mugs and vases, wall sconce, coffee maker, and bowl of fruit. The flooring is a thin varied plank wood creating a striped pattern.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

Update: Client Home Coffee Bar

It’s been 2 years since we were working on my client’s kitchen and home coffee bar, shaded in 2021’s Pantone Color of the Year Veri Peri, and I want to show you an update, above. She’s so pleased with how it turned out!

Read on for tips on creating a coffee bar in YOUR home. If I can help, use the link at the bottom of this page to share your ideas with me.

A custom shite cabinet filled with a Miehle coffee machine, wooden racks for tea and coffee, and on the counterspace, a toaster and French press, that all close away inside the cupboards.
Design and photo by Humphrey Munson

I don’t know about you but I can’t start my day until I’ve had a cup of coffee. That rich, aromatic smell of ground beans, the sumptuousness of adding thick creamer and sugar, the ritual of holding a hot mug and sipping until you’re pleasantly awake and alert. To create a coffee bar in your home, here are some ideas.

A pair of white cupboard doors open to reveal a small freestanding coffee maker, multiple cups and saucers, and on the top right shelf, wine glasses. A small wine fridge and bottle storage is just visible behind a partially open cupboard door. Underneath is a white drawer with silver handles.
Photo courtesy Designpad

Choose whether to have a full-service coffee machine, French press, or single cup server like a Keurig.

A custom built-in Miehle coffee machine above a partially-open stainless steel drawer filled with white cups and saucers. Dark wood cabinetry is visible above and below.
Photo courtesy HGTV

Where will you locate your coffee bar? A dedicated set of shelves and counter space or a classy built-in are good options.

A private home is designed to look like a coffee bar, with a long bench seat and banquette along the left wall around a wooden slab table. The coffee bar itself is at the far end under a sign 'Cafe' with a chalkboard wall for graffiti, and an island with cooking surface and vent overhead visible on the right side. The sink and fridge are on the far right wall, in black countertops and white cabinetry with silver door and drawer furniture. Dark wooden floors welcome you into the long space.
Design by Peti Lau, Inc / Photo by Leslie Fisher

Providing a place to sit and talk or read while you sip your hot coffee is delightful for you and your guests.

A custom slide-out with a small coffee machine, creamer and sugar, underneath a shelf of colorful mugs, next to a window with a view to the outside. White cabinetry with black countertops, silver and dark metal drawer pulls and handles are visible next to a small stripe of exposed brick off to the left of the window. A plate of oranges dresses the counter.
Photo courtesy InDetail Interiors via Houzz

Personalize your coffee bar for that down-home touch. What a great way to kickstart a fun day!

Kimball Starr designs welcoming homes with coffee bars 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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Romantic, Relaxing Bedrooms

Feb 10, 2025 | 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.

San Francisco decorator creates a feminine bedroom with Bungalow 5 lacquer nightstands and tufted pink bed, and bright yellow glossy lamps.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

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.

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

Intimate Hillside Retreat

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

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.

In the main 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.

My favorite finishing touch is the gold detailing on the dark window treatments. Which is your favorite?

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

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Pantone COTY 2025

Jan 20, 2025 | Posted in Trends |

2025’s Color of the Year has been announced by Pantone: Mocha Mousse 17-1230

Mocha Mousse in a glass - Pantone's Color of the Year is a delicious chocolate brown, with white text on a light brown background, and a white square surrounding the official color, labeled Mocha Mousse 17-1230.
Photo courtesy Pantone.com

From the Pantone main site:

“Pantone selects a color each year that captures the global zeitgeist—the Color of the Year express[es] a global mood and an attitude, reflecting collective desire in the form of a single, distinct hue.

For 2025, the Pantone Color Institute selects PANTONE 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, a warming, brown hue imbued with richness. It nurtures us with its suggestion of the delectable qualities of chocolate and coffee, answering our desire for comfort.”

Pantone's first palette shows a pink called Bonbon, a red called Party Punch, plus a burgundy on the left of the screen while orange, another deeper pink, a taupe, beige, and peach horizontal samples are shown across the top of the page. A purse with a brown handle, pink panels, and multiple colors of the palette in squares on the front of the purse is shown as a product example.
Photo courtesy Pantone Connect

This year, Pantone introduces coordinated color palettes that start with the Color of the Year, and include accent, contrast, and toning colors to use in your 2025 designs. This set above is called Deliciousness.

On the left of the screen, 3 large blocks in colors Mocha Mousse brown, Tapestry teal, and an unnamed grey-green, while across the top of the screen are horizontal blocks in colors of Mocha Mousse, Tapestry teal, grey-green, a darker brown, a sky blue, a darker beige, and another shade of light brown. Underneath, a photo of a shiny model car using many of these colors sits on a dark blue background.
Photo courtesy Pantone Connect

This palette called Subtle Contrasts is described on the Pantone Connect site as:

“Sophisticated brown hues coalesce with nuanced contrasts of blue and grey for a classic and compatible statement. A shimmering buffed beige adds an elegant touch.”

A Pantone palette with 3 large colored boxes on the left, starting with a white Cannoli Cream, a pinkish Cream Tan, and another unnamed beige. Across the top of the screen, horizontal colored boxes in white Cannoli Cream, pinkish Cream Tan, unnamed beige, a rose pink, a reddish brown, a grey beige, a darker brown, and a deep chocolate of Mocha Mousse are displayed. Underneath, a photo of a wide open interior room with huge floor-to-celiing windows open to the sunset and green planted view outside, while inside long sheer curtains hang between the open windows, and 2 chairs and 2 large ottoman pillows sit directly on a beige rug in the center of the room. Two white columns separate this space from another open room beyond. The flooring is a light tan wood plank, and the walls appear pink from the color of the sunset light coming in.
Photo courtesy Pantone Connect

A third palette called Relaxed Elegance is shared as being:

“A core range of beige, cream, taupe, and brown tones take the lead in Relaxed Elegance, providing a strong and versatile base layer. Along with Pantone 17-1230 Mocha Mousse, they set a new pace of elegant simplicity, opening a wide array of design possibilities.”

I would love to use any of these color palettes or others I could recommend for your specific wants and needs while working on YOUR designs in 2025.

Kimball Starr designs for colorful 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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Refresh and Renew: Light Demo Reno

Jan 06, 2025 | Posted in Before & After |

Want a new home in 2025? HOT TIP: Light renovation is easier than full demolition!

It’s completed faster, creates less construction dust and waste, and costs less than a full renovation. Let me show you what I mean.

Refreshed kitchen with green Ann Sacks ceramic tiles, honey colored wood flooring, white cabinetry and countertops, and open wood shelves next to the windows.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

Here in my client’s San Francisco home, the biggest item we replaced was the kitchen flooring, matched to the existing flooring in the rest of the house to provide a sense of unity.

A green kitchen with purple wallpaper in place of a backsplash. The island has a butcher block counter. The island's cabinet doors are open. Samples of tiles are on the counter under the windows, near a silver dishwasher. The kitchen is a bit dark, and the grey flooring contributes to that.
BEFORE
A head-on view of the refreshed kitchen, with white cabinets and counters, bright green Ann Sacks tiled backsplash, and honey-colored wood flooring that matches the rest of the property.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

In the kitchen, we updated the moss green cabinet doors with crisp white and added brighter green ceramic Ann Sacks tiles for the backsplash, and a set of open shelves near the sink.

View of the old stove area, with red brick behind a stainless steel cooktop, over, and hood, and small stainless shelves balancing either side.
BEFORE
After, a view of the oven and cooktop plus hood, now backed with bright green Ann Sacks tiles to match the rest of the kitchen. Two coordinating oval artworks of fruit on a yellow background flank the area. A small microwave now rests underneath a stainless steel counter to the left of the stove and cooktop, with storage underneath.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

The oven needed an update from a commercial-looking fixture. Now it’s a sweet, modern cook-station with personality that harmonizes with the rest of the kitchen.

The corner drinks station before updates was blocking light from entering the green kitchen with purple flowered wallpaper.
BEFORE
Now the backsplash matches the rest of the green Ann Sacks tiles, plus the wooden floating shelves match the other end of the kitchen. Removing the upper cabinets allows more light into the space.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

The corner drinks station was wasting valuable space at the end of the kitchen. The L-shaped cabinets were blocking light from entering the room, so we removed and replaced them with the same bright green tile backsplash. We added open shelving to match the other end of the space, plus a wine fridge for a modern touch.

The breakfast nook was dark and mismatched, though it does show the egress to the lanai where there's more light.
BEFORE
Now the breakfast nook matches the rest of the space, with the same honey-colored wood flooring, a corner bench seat and a pedestal table with two chairs, and the walkway out to the lanai is bright and enticing.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

Now the breakfast nook leading to the lanai is sunny and colorful, featuring a custom built-in corner bench seat, table, and chairs.

Now the kitchen is light, bright, and cheerful, with white cabinetry and counters, bright green backsplash tiling, honey-colored flooring that matches the resst of the space, and updated cabinet handles.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client
A view of the breakfast nook, door to the lanai, and the drinks station with the new backsplash tile and wine fridge.
AFTER: Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Client

See how much more natural sunlight is reaching the interior of the house? It makes the newly-replaced golden wood flooring really shine.

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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