Unusual Tile Patterns

Sep 09, 2024 | Posted in Inspirations |

If you’re a fan of kitchens and baths, by now you’ve seen the standard subway tile, or modern vertical tiles, or even the classic herringbone pattern that never goes out of style. But have you considered these tile patterns?

Mismatched Geometric Tiles

Geometric mismatched Scandinavian floor tiles in black and white contrast with plain white subway tiles in the rest of a modern bathroom. — *_{Photo courtesy Poulsom Middlehurst Ltd.}*

These black and white Scandinavian floor tiles encourage experiments with forms.

A modern white bathroom with gold fixtures and door handles on a glass curbless walk-in shower. Inside the shower's niche are Carrara Thassos Hexagon Water Jet Cut Marble Mosaic tiles, which tone with but don't match the oversized hexagonal grey floor tiles. A pair of white towels sit rolled on a faux stump across from a standalone white tub. — *_{Photo courtesy Erica Gelman Design Inc.}*

Carrara Thassos Hexagon Water Jet Cut Marble Mosaic tile is featured in the shower niche, harmonizing with but not matching the floor tiles.

Contemporary Floor Patterns

White subway tiles on the walls constrast with mustard-yellow, white, and dark blue geometric patterned floor tiles in a modern bathroom. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr, photo by Steph Dewey}*

Here a contemporary floor pattern tones with rounded bathroom fixtures and a black shower niche, while contrasting the white toilet, walls, and ceiling. Black and white as the only colors allows the floor pattern to really stand out.

White toilet, tub, and shower niche constrast with a multi-patterned Moroccan-inspired floor tiling in this unfinished children's bathroom. The shower surround is yet to be installed. — Design and photo by Kimball Starr

In contrast to simple white and grey wall tiles, see how black, white, grey, tan, and yellow patterned floor tiles create interest in this unfinished San Francisco child’s bathroom. The shower surround has yet to be installed.

Rounded Tiles

Rounded white tiles on the vertical surfaces contrast with the colorful circular floor tiles on this recently re-vamped modern fireplace in a San Francisco condo. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr, photo by Steph Dewey}*

Two types of contrasting modern rounded tiles create interest in this newly-redesigned fireplace for my San Francisco condo client.

White backgrounds contrast with brick-colored scallops in these throwback-inspired tiles. At the bottom of the image you can see 4 ways to combine the tiles in different patterns. — *_{Photo courtesy Jatana Tile}*

Rounded reproduction tiles such as these pink cantaloupe-colored Mexican scallops replicate an old world feeling to create atmosphere and charm, enhance the character of an old apartment block, add elegance to a modern condo, instill mood and a touch of mystery to a dimly lit bar, or create instant impact on a feature wall.

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

Labels: bathroom, black-and-white, ceramic tiling, color, pattern, tiling

Your Personal Oasis

Aug 12, 2024 | Posted in Inspirations |

Where can you go, when you need to escape the outside world into a personal oasis? Here are some ideas from around the web for creating an oasis in your home.

A white standalone oval tub with a towel hanging over the edge, in the center of a plant-filled bathroom with wooden floor slats, wood countertop, vessel bowl sink, and floor-to-ceiling windows with an arched top. — *_{Generative AI image courtesy Adobestock}*

Bring the outdoors in with wood, plants, and natural textures.

A white tub with a wooden board across it, supporting a cocktail glass, a yellow flower in a glass vase, a bottle of perfume, a bottle of bath bubbles, and some flowers and leaves floating in the water below. A window just behind the tub has more vases filled with plants sitting on the windowsill, and greenery outside the sheer curtains. — *_{Photo courtesy DIYversify.com}*

Scents and tastes: A simple wooden board holds your drink.

A silver standalone oval tub reflects the geometric shaped floor pattern. It has a wooden stump as a side table, and gold telephone-style shower fixture. Above the tub hangs a clear glass pendant light encasing 4 candelabra candles. Gold drawer pulls and door pulls appear on the white cabinetry to the right. To the left is a shower room just barely peeking around a corner. Behind the tub is a window filled with outdoor greenery. — *_{Design by Decorilla designer Ibrahim}*

Soak with a view: A metal freestanding tub reflects the patterned floor.

A bathroom with a walkway out across a tiled pool to a wooden seat between two green trees, under an outdoor shower head. To the right on the indoor space is a pair of square vessel sinks on a wooden countertop with two mirrors and lights either side. To the left is a freestanding oval white tub and some candles on wooden stands. A green rug is a soft place for your feet to land after getting out of the tub. Light streams in from the overhead open sky and bounces off the white walls and floor tiles. — *_{Photo courtesy VizPixStudio}*

Creating a journey, the trek to the outdoor shower.

An Asian-inspired semi-outdoor temple design, with a wall niche and Buddha statue with prayer hands standing toward the rear, between large plant fronds. A small walkway approaches the statue and leads from the dark tub in front of a beige and tan stone patterned half wall, with the shower and tub fixtures on that half-wall. A white towel is draped over the edge of the dark tub. Red wooden walls are enclosed by a reeded partial ceiling, beyond which the light glows onto the statue niche. — *_{Photo courtesy Kindesign}*

A temple as bathroom oasis.

Kimball Starr designs for homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe that could contain a private oasis. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.

Labels: artwork, bathroom, claw-foot tub, indoor-outdoor, oasis, pendant lights, plants, shower & tub, windows

Design Your Ideal Vacation Home

Jul 15, 2024 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips, Travel |

So you’re buying, inheriting, or rehabbing a vacation home, and you’d like to make it your own. As a designer of many years and many homes, read on for my top tips on key questions to ask yourself to create the vacation home of your dreams.

Vision and Functionality

A hexagonal open plan living/dining area with vaulted ceilings and exposed honey-colored wood beams. Wood flooring tones with the beams. A dark wood dining table is surrounded by 10 high-backed matching wood chairs. A seating area is visible at the rear, with a skylight in the center above the whole room. — *_{Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com}*

What is the feeling you want for your vacation home? Relaxing? Fun and playful? Luxurious? Consider gathering keywords or inspirational photos onto a mood board to help guide your choices.

Who will use your vacation home? Just you and your partner? Extended family? Multigenerational groups? Will you AirBnB or VRBO when you’re not there? Factor in age ranges and accessibility needs.

How often will you be using it? Weekend getaways or longer stays will influence furniture and fabric choices for durability.

What activities will you do there? Entertaining? Cooking elaborate meals? Relaxing by the pool reading a book? Design the space to support these activities.

How much maintenance are you comfortable with? Leather furniture looks good, but is it ideal if the house is empty much of the year, or being rented out?

Budget and Logistics

Large kitchen seats 6. A high-ceiling with recessed lighting. Walls and ceilings are a creamy beige. Cabinetry is medium dark wood shaker style with tan flecked quartz countertops and stainless steel appliances. Checked pattern pink and mauve high-backed chairs surround a wood plank dining table underneath a 6-lamp chandelier with white mini candelabra shades. Light streams through the large triple windows at the rear of the space, with a peek of greenery showing, inviting guests to explore the property. — *_{Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com}*

Have you set a realistic budget for the entire project? This includes designer fees, furniture, decor, and any potential renovations.

Are there existing pieces of furniture or decor you want to incorporate? Tell me about these so I can integrate them into your design.

How long is the project timeline? Influenced by the designer’s availability, lead time for furniture, and any potential construction. This is something I can really help with, because I’m knowledgeable about lead times, and I often have relationships that can help move the process along.

Will you be managing the project remotely or locally? If remote, discuss how the designer will handle communication and onsite needs. I’m available to meet remotely or socially distanced, in person.

Location and Sustainability

Stunning view through a row of tall pine trees over Lake Tahoe's blue lake and blue skies. A wooden private dock starting in green grass juts out between you and the lake. A wire balcony railing, wooden flooring, overhead beams and finally, dark-colored seating facing the lake complete the view from your private balcony. — *_{Photo courtesy TahoeRealty.com}*

What is the climate at your vacation home? This affects material choices for furniture, flooring, and window treatments.

Does the location have any design considerations? Beachfront property might need rust-resistant furniture or special flooring, for example.

Are there local artisans or sustainable materials you’d like to incorporate? Supporting local businesses and eco-friendly choices can enhance your vacation home’s character.

By reflecting on these questions before meeting with an interior designer, you’ll have a clearer vision for your dream vacation home and a smoother collaboration with your pro.

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

Labels: how to work with a designer, travel

Hang a Sophisticated Photo Wall

Jun 17, 2024 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips |

You’ve finally gathered together all your family portraits and memory photos, and you want to create a gorgeous, luxe photo wall display. Here are my top designer tips:

#1 – Freeform Thin Black Frames

A staggered collection of black and white photos with thin black frames and no matting hung on a white wall behind a marble table dressed with a plant, Kate Moss book, a square candle holder and tapered candles, and a candle under a glass container. — *_{Image courtesy DigsDigs}*

Select all black and white images. Use the same frame color and frame width, without matting. Loosely line up your frames and photos in a pleasing layout.

#2 – Wood Frames in a Corner

Two photo walls joined in a corner, created with blonde wood frames and black and white images. A stool acts as a side table with a table lamp in black with a white shade sat upon two books. Next to that, the end of a textured grey sofa and a beige throw pillow with white stripes. — *_{Photo courtesy Brooke Wagner Design}*

Stagger and align your wood-framed black and white images images with same-size white matting along two walls in a corner for easy viewing of a larger collection.

#3 – Gold Frames, Aligned

A wall display showing 9 gold-framed black and white photos with medium white matting, aligned into 3 rows of 3. — *_{Photo courtesy DigsDigs}*

Use the same size white mat for all your images. Gold frames really make the black and white prints pop and a pleasing rhythm is created by keeping the same number in each row, creating a grid.

#4 – Picture Ledge

A grey wall with multiple photo ledges holding mismatched framed black and white photos with white matting and one with grey matting under white matting. An indoor tree is partially blocking the view of the frames.

To the left is a walkway showing stairs and a glass loft wall overlooking the rest of the space. Beyond is a doorway with greenery outside. A tiny peek of angled wooden ceiling is viewable at the top near the loft wall. Pale knotty wood flooring runs throughout the space. — *_{Photo courtesy DigsDigs}*

Mismatched frames on several ledges create a casual display that’s easy to change up. Add small plants or collectibles for additional interest.

#5 – Stairway Stagger

Huge, oversized white matting inside identical black frames make these staggered images going up the stairs draw you through the space. The huge matts have a gallery feel, drawing you in closer to see the art.

#6 – Aligned Edges

A black background with white frames of different sizes aligned along the top edge, so that only the bottom edges are different lengths and sizes. — *_{Image courtesy Lumas}*

Line up all your frames by one edge to unify them. You can also create an aligned grid for even more interest.

A black background with white frame outlines arranged in a 4 area grid pattern. Dotted lines run up the center horizontally and vertically, and within each section there are 2-3 frames lined up so that they're even along the dotted lines and staggered along the outer edges, based on their different sizing. — *_{Image courtesy Lumas}*

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

Labels: art, artwork, black-and-white, display, photography

Houzz Winner x2

May 13, 2024 | Posted in Starr Spotlight |

Light colored living room with white walls and ceilings, honey-colored wood flooring, grey sofa and area rug, and a swooping modern white pendant light in the center of the room. Windows with green trees outside at the rear of the room, and to the right side, the dining area. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

We couldn’t be prouder to share that we’re a multi-award winner on Houzz this year, jumping from 10 to 12 in 2024!

Houzz is the well-known social media focused on interior design, connecting designers with clients. They separate categories into Houzz Design and Houzz Service. We won in BOTH categories for 2024 – how about that?!

The project featured in the Houzz winner’s spread is our Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Design:

On the left, a photo of a modern farmhouse kitchen with white cabinetry upper and lower, grey countertops, and wood open shelving dressed with herbs in small pots. The black circular pendant light, potted plants, and vegetables have white tags so you can shop the items on Houzz.com. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer / Layout by Houzz}*

White bedside table with drawers and gold handles, a yellow bedside table lamp with yellow shade, pink upholstered headboard, pink and white striped sheets and a white blanket on the bed, with a yellow and white patterned pillow at the front. — *_{Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer}*

To win in the service category, you must have at least one five-star review for the year. Humblebrag: ALL 28 of ours are five-star reviews!

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 Eric Rorer}*

If you want to be part of the winners’ circle, come work with me on your next remodel or interior design project.

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

Labels: awards, color, contemporary, dining room, farmhouse, Houzz, kitchen, living room

Sounds Good: Design for Audio Clarity

Apr 15, 2024 | Posted in Inspirations |

Have you ever been inside a grand, beautiful home, but it has an echo-y sound that ruins the effect of the space? There are now many modern solutions to this challenge. Let’s take a tour!

4 types of sound reduction fixtures. Walls, ceilings, baffles, dividers. — *_{Photos courtesy Carnegie}*

There are generally 4 types of applications for sound-reducing design elements: Walls, ceilings, hanging baffles, and room dividers.

Multiple triangular shapes in different colors of grey with and without patterning up on a wall to reduce excess sound. — *_{Photo courtesy Carnegie – Xorel Artforms}*

When thinking about residential materials, you want something cool and creative with flexible applications, such as this beautiful Xorel Artform from Carnegie that can create multiple shapes and patterns on any flat surface.

A sound-dampening hanging lace created by embroidered hexagonal shapes filled with thread and connected together, with some hexagons left open. — *_{Photo courtesy Carnegie – Veil}*

This beautiful material called Veil forms a delicate textural lace that also absorbs sound and keeps it from bouncing between spaces, especially good for open plan rooms and lofts.

A set of 3 sky blue unconnected hanging screens with wavy-shaped cutouts that get smaller toward the bottom in a room with a set of table and chairs in front of the screens, and an armchair and side table behind, against a white wall. The screens separate the two spaces visually. — *_{Photo courtesy Keirei – Echoscreen Current}*

Another solution excellent for lofts are these patterned screens from Keirei. Despite appearing open, Echo Screens easily absorb and soften sound while providing structure. Use them to separate your dining and kitchen spaces, for example.

A set of connected panels in an earthy mud/brick color but more orangey with a series of connected geometric lines running horizontally and vertically, connecting in the center and creating boxes and rectilinear shapes. A pile of rolled towels sits on the grey carpeting in front on the floor. — *_{Photo courtesy Keirei – Santa Fe Panels}*

If you admire solid walls instead of open panels for your loft, these beautiful etched Santa Fe designs from Keirei are simple and stylish.

On the ceiling are grey hexagonal shapes that are pushed in to meet in the center, creating a geometric pattern. Where there are no ceiling tiles, a black background shows through, and some lights hang down.

This is in an open space with purple chairs next to a grey rectangular table with white edging and white pedestal. A matching sofa table is behind an angular grey sofa with more chairs and tables beyond. At the back of the space is a hallway and several glass doors to small meeting rooms. In the wall are two cutouts that allow a person to lay or sit down in and on them. The cutouts are orange with wallpaper on the inside walls. — *_{Photo courtesy Keirei – Echostar Ceiling Panels}*

When you want a dropped ceiling but not the boring, department store-look, you’ll love these EchoStar hexagonal ceiling panels, especially good for lofts with their high ceilings. You can even leave them unfinished for an industrial look.

Kimball Starr designs custom acoustic solutions for fabulous homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.

Labels: bedroom, ceiling, dining room, kitchen, living room, loft, loft design, sound

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