Oct 22, 2018 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |
A few weeks ago we looked at dining room styles, so I thought it might be fun and useful to continue the series with living rooms, especially with the holiday entertaining season on the way. I hope this gives you some ideas of which one might be right for YOUR living room and lifestyle!
Vibrant Bachelor Pad

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
You could call this playful, eclectic condo a retro-futuristic design! Reminiscent of the 60s with the Eero Aarnio bubble swing chair, yet offering plenty of totally modern materials and finishes, this sensual bachelor pad is also easy to care for, brilliant for a person on-the-go who likes to entertain. The B&B Italia sectional lounge furniture offers multi-directional seating, and a plush crimson rug is great for large informal parties.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
Because this space doesn’t use a fireplace for its living room focal point, instead I custom-designed wall-mounted shelving and a media cabinet that also serves as a bar. It’s perfect for showing off my client’s cool collectibles, and hiding away the cords and cables so commonly found with boys and their toys, like the ceiling-mounted projector used for movies and games.
Comfortable Mid-century Meets Global Chic

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
Do you love mid-century design but want more vibrant or interesting textiles? This living room may be for you! The shapes of the contemporary furniture are streamlined and simple, like mid-century furniture. The colors and patterns of the textiles are globally inspired, bigger and bolder, while mixing in contemporary touches.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
Mid-century is a great choice for people who like to collect and display original and reproduction furniture, and those who enjoy entertaining at home with cocktail parties or coffee and book clubs. Juxtaposing different contemporary materials like glass and wood, plus fabrics and patterns from faraway places, makes for an exciting space!
Contemporary Hillside Retreat

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
If you love the idea of contemporary, clean lines, but don’t care for the mid-century style, then this hillside retreat’s living room may be the right choice for you. A mixture of colors, patterns, and textures provides interest, while the light-colored wall paint is the perfect background to let the colors do the talking.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
A variety of surfaces like the Flokati rug over wood flooring means it will never be boring or unwelcoming. The simplicity of this contemporary design allows the view to really shine. If you don’t have a view, bring in artwork and sculptures as really great conversation pieces.
Gentleman’s Modern Classic

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal
This living room would appeal to someone who values bold, rich colors, natural elements, traditional craft, and modern comfort. The masculine colors and patterns are balanced by a light paint color on the walls and ceilings. The octagonal hair-on-hide ottoman is a useful conversation piece, surrounded by more traditional furniture.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal
Warm wood trim and panelling around the windows and doors tones nicely with the aged leather club chairs. The soft woolly rug beckons under the chaise lounge, offering a cozy spot to curl up with a book or take a nap on a rainy day.

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal
If you love one of these living room styles, or want to discuss an idea all your own, Kimball Starr can be your personal stylist! Call her today for a complimentary consultation!
Labels: art, color, contemporary, living room, mid-century modern, pattern, texture, traditional, vintage furniture
Oct 08, 2018 | Posted in Inspirations |
Autumn is here! This time of year my thoughts turn to sweaters, raking leaves, and getting cozy by a warm fire. Here are a few of my favorite fireplace designs that my clients love, and I think you will, too!
Gentleman’s Modern Classic

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Marija Vidal
I like to call this one a modern classic because the room has elements of both traditional and modern design. We styled the fireplace with art, lighting, and a flower arrangement, to make it easy to use and welcoming.
Contemporary Warm and Cozy

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Paul Dyer
A simple yet elegant design that fits today’s busy lifestyle. I custom-created the fireplace and surround to contrast with the warm, knotty cedar wood wall construction, and personalized with art and pottery. The stool and rug are perfect for getting the fire started on a chilly night.
Comfortable Mid-century

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
Classic furniture is allowed to be the star of this living room, while the architectural fireplace is appropriately subdued. Having a fireplace without a mantel means you won’t collect clutter, showing off beautiful artwork instead. A simple metal screen stops loose sparks and beautifies the hearth.
Industrial Zen Loft

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
Asian elements and organic surfaces appealed to this client’s understated masculine style, so I used a floating Douglas fir wood mantel to balance out the steel and stone fire surround. We finished off the fireplace design with simple plantings and art. The wood placed just inside invites you to light a fire and enjoy a peaceful evening.
If you dream of having a warm fireplace, Kimball Starr can answer your questions – contact her today!
Labels: contemporary, fireplace mantel, living room, mid-century, modern design, traditional
Sep 24, 2018 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |
Don’t you just love the breezy, open feeling of a residential loft? What most lofts don’t offer is built-in storage, and if there’s one thing that every city-dweller needs, it’s storage for their personal items. Looking at one of my favorite examples, a San Francisco loft that won a Design Excellence Award, here’s how you can address that need to hide away the relics and tools of daily life.
Feature Built-ins
Create a beautiful place to store and display china, books, and collectibles that fits into or around an architectural element. As you can see in the photo below, we made a feature of a rolling curved bookcase that wraps around this loft’s spiral staircase, making it feel like a real treat to use the stairs. We painted the interior casework with lovely high-gloss orange paint, and the exterior facing the living room in a faded metallic stencil pattern, for a sophisticated look.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Joe Fletcher
The entire height of the bookcase is attached with a piano hinge that swings back and forth on hidden floor casters, giving access to interior shelving and maximizing the available floor space. As seen on the left of the image above, the small recessed alcove repeats the orange color for a sense of harmony and rhythm, and the shape of the wall echoes the shape of the bookcase.
Laundry Storage
Because a loft is so open, there often isn’t a separate laundry room. It makes sense to place your laundry nearby or in your loft’s kitchen, for the best use of plumbing and electrical facilities, but how do you conceal the mess and contain the noise?

Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer
The washer-dryer storage solution shown above was another moveable wall concealed as a column, in the same loft. Similar to the bookcase whose shape it repeats, this faux column slides on casters to reveal a stacked washer and dryer unit right next to the kitchen, complete with interior shelves for storing laundry supplies. What could be more convenient?
Are you a loft owner who needs custom built-ins or other storage solutions? Let’s talk!
Kimball Starr Interior Design is a San Francisco award-winning loft design firm that provides contemporary design for residential interiors throughout Northern California and Nevada. Contact Kimball today for a complimentary consultation!
Labels: contemporary, kitchen, loft, modern design, residential design, storage, tips
Sep 10, 2018 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |
When designing their home, people sometimes leave their dining room as an afterthought. Here’s why you shouldn’t do that! Your dining room is essential for entertaining, as well as showing off your style choices. Let me show you what I mean.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Eric Rorer
This Oakland condo was purchased by a female doctor who wanted a little more glam in her dining experience, and to still feel welcoming to both men and women.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Eric Rorer
A heavy wood dining table is a bit of a masculine piece, so balance it out with some shine, like the copper triptych artwork. That way your space appeals to all genders.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Eric Rorer
You 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 your evening under a fabulous chandelier.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Paul Dyer
If you don’t like a lot of fuss, then a contemporary-style dining space might be for you.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by Paul Dyer
This dining room is streamlined by clean designs with an industrial charm, as you can see in the modern glass table with twisted metal legs, surrounded by blue leather dining chairs. Leather and glass are a very modern style choice. The table also expands, so you can seat up to 8, and the knotty cedar wood wall construction, like a ski lodge, keeps it feeling cozy.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by David Duncan Livingston
If you are drawn to natural elements with some history, a traditional dining room is a good style choice for you.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by David Duncan Livingston
The beauty of the natural wood and the craftsmanship really come through in a traditional dining space like this one. Going without a rug is in keeping with the style, and makes it easy to clean up after your meal.

Design by Kimball Starr / photo by David Duncan Livingston
Splurge on something like a Schonbeck chandelier made from gorgeous rock crystals, to continue the natural elements and complement the woodwork. This dining room would be perfect for someone who appreciates the classics.
So there you have it, three different dining room styles to announce the look and feel of your home, and the lifestyle you prefer. If you’re not sure which style is best for YOUR home, why not request a complimentary consultation with Kimball Starr today?
Labels: color, contemporary, dining room, modern design, texture, tips, traditional design, transitional design
Aug 27, 2018 | Posted in Before & After |
I’m often asked how to transform bathrooms that are dark and cramped into light and airy spaces. Oh, and also to make the space look high-end or upscale as well, without breaking the bank. A tall order that seems impossible, but I’ve done it here!

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston
This San Francisco bathroom was drowning in dark, outdated tiling with the toilet, tub, and sink all in tan. While I appreciate the effort from the original installer to color-coordinate everything, it unfortunately hasn’t stood the test of time, as you can see below in these “before” photos I took on-site.

The lonely mirror looked unfinished above a motel-style tiled edge, and the lighting was severely lacking. Those triangle tiles remind me of broken teeth!

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston
What a change in the “after”! To make the room feel bigger, I turned the floor tiles at a 45-degree angle, which visually widens the space and feels more welcoming, and kept the color palette to pale light tones. The angled flooring is repeated in the shower pan in a smaller-scale pattern, the repetition of materials visually elongating the entire bathroom. All the flooring is durable, stain-proof, and maintenance-free porcelain that replicates the look of Calacatta marble.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston
To create a high-end look, we added a custom detail for the shower niche. We splurged on real Calacatta and blue Celeste marble, and had our custom pattern fabricated just for us. The added bonus of having the marble recessed inside the niche and on a vertical surface means there will be minimal issues with staining.

Another way I opened up and lightened the space was by relocating the toilet where the shower enclosure was previously located. That allowed us to remove all the old shower tile, add a second window for more light, and brighten up the walls with a soft shade of blue.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston
A favorite custom detail is the stained glass window. The homeowner found a pattern she loved, and we had the stained glass window fabricated for us, installed to the right of the vanity. Custom elements like this and the marble shower niche elevate a simple utilitarian area into a higher-end space that’s unique and sophisticated.

Design by Kimball Starr, photo by David Duncan Livingston
Completing the bathroom with paint in a soft powdery blue color gives enough contrast to the white fixtures and finishes to make the space interesting, while maintaining the serene and airy look.
If you’re due for a bathroom update, and are excited to bring in custom design elements for an upscale space, contact Kimball Starr today!
Kimball Starr Interior Design works with homeowners all across Northern California to create beautiful “afters” of your bathrooms, kitchens, and interior spaces throughout your home!
Labels: bathroom, before and after, color, countertops, custom window, paint, porcelain tile, tiling, upscale design features
Aug 13, 2018 | Posted in Inspirations |
If you like plants and living things, like I do, then you’ll love this fun and unexpected way to bring more plants into your home — in the bathroom! Here are bathrooms featuring living walls of lush greenery to inspire you.

Photo courtesy VizPixStudio
This space gives the effect of walking on water on your way to the shower, with a wooden walkway over a tiled wading pool, ending in a simple wooden seat below the shower fixture, surrounded by greenery. A Zen feeling is a lovely way to start your day.

Photo by unknown
I adore the feeling of the skylight with the beams, a great way to filter light and add visual interest. This space has a global sensibility with the hanging lanterns and the Balinese wood, surrounded by tropical plants.

Photo courtesy WellAndGood.com
Here I like how the fixture is actually mounted into the living wall. Plus every time you shower, you can mist your plants – easy maintenance!

Photo courtesy Homedit.com
Similar to the prior image, this design also has the fixture mounted into a living wall of ferns and mosses, this time with a luxury freestanding modern tub.

Photo via Pinterest.com
The sunken design of this bathroom is very effective; it keeps the space cooler and feels privately luxurious, like a secret hideaway behind hedge walls.

Photo via Pinterest.com
This one may fool you – it’s a wall mural! This is a great way to bring greenery into your bathroom, very low-maintenance. The quality of the mural is absolutely key to making the effect work and not feel cheap in this Bohemian bathroom. I have some great resources so definitely get in touch if this idea inspires you!
If you want lush green living walls in your bathroom, or to just look like it, contact Kimball Starr for a free consultation.
Labels: bathroom, contemporary, creative interior design, modern design, residential design, skylights, tiling, water feature