Flexible Spaces
This year’s Houzz Home Survey reveals that homeowners want design options offering more flexibility within the existing footprint of their homes.
Searches for TV armoires with pocket doors, queen Murphy beds, and nesting side tables have increased on Houzz, all of which create dual-use rooms by creatively hiding when not in use. Swivel accent chairs create flexible definitions between rooms, while custom cabinetry offers multiple uses. Clever storage and guest bed solutions for dual-use rooms are all increasing dramatically in demand.
Here are a few from my own portfolio that are very successful solutions. I hope these give you ideas for your own spaces!
![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.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Home-Office-AFTER-Convertible-Desk-Bed-580x388.jpg)
Custom cabinetry conceals a bed AND a desk in this smart combo I designed for a couple who own a condo in San Francisco.
![A wall of white custom cabinetry accented with a pop of yellow and red conceals media, books, and office supplies, while displaying vases and collectibles. In the foreground, a dining table and chairs, dressed with fresh yellow flowers, and a modern glass ball chandelier.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Condo-Storage-AFTER.jpg)
In the same condo, custom cabinetry hides away the mess to make a home office/living room/media space work in the same room alongside a dining table and chairs.
![Metal circular staircase with silver railings is complemented by an orange-backed bookcase that twists around the stairs, and can be hidden by a moveable white wall.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design_Blog-Loft-Bookcase-AFTER-1.jpg)
In this San Francisco loft, a staircase doubles as bookshelf storage in dual-use design. The bookshelf slides to hide the storage away.
![A convertible Murphy bed pulled down and dressed with bedlinens, ready for a guest. Translucent walls slide into a stack to reveal the guest bedroom, with built-in lighting over the bed.](https://kimballstarr.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/04/Loft-Living-Guest-Bedroom-Murphy-Bed-Kimball-Starr-Interior-Design.jpg)
Still at the SF loft, this guest bedroom transforms to additional living room seating with retractable light-transmitting walls. The transforming bed makes this possible – get this look only with custom cabinetry.
Kimball Starr designs homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe, specializing in flexible spaces. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.