Small Space with a Big Design

If you've been fortunate enough to experience San Francisco, you'll know exactly what we're talking about when we say that it is an architectural feast for your eyes! Everywhere you turn, you're pleasantly bombarded with configurations of domiciles that literally take your breath away. Whether you've traveled there or not, you may, however, be familiar with the notion that living there is not exactly friendly to your pocket book. The key is to know and understand how to take a small space and give it a big design. We'll take a look at how this tiny brick boiler room that was transformed into a guesthouse by flexing a little creative muscle!

The split level design of this home draws your eyes upward, providing the illusion of a larger space. The ground floor is composed of the kitchen and living-dining room area; the closet and bathroom occupy the mezzanine floor, which can be accessed by a ship's ladder; and the sleeping area is lofted and hovers right over that. Having three floors provides different levels of privacy and gives the sleeping loft more of an alcove feel.  

San Francisco isn't the only city with small dwelling spaces, so no matter where you reside, we would love to help give your petite pad a big design! Whether it's 100 or 1,000 square feet, it's about looking for opportunities and experimenting with light, volume, and materials and we can't wait to work with you!

Virtual Tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's Taliesin

Have you ever wanted to step inside one of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpieces, but haven't made your way to the midwest? We've got you covered! Click on the photo below and this 360 Virtual Reality tour lets you experience his Taliesin home as if you were there! 

The tour includes mesmerizing views inside Wright's studio, home, school and several locations on the grounds of the estate. Be sure to watch in full screen and have your audio up! Enjoy!

An English Masterpiece

When traveling it's so easy to get inspired. Everywhere you look there is beautiful architecture, unbelievable design, and a myriad of ideas to take back to the states. Through research, we stumbled across this elevated house in England and view it as a true English masterpiece! 

Modestly scaled homes called Deckhouses were built in the late 1960s and early 1970s in Hampshire, England and each of them is just 538 square feet! Forming a secret enclave by the sea, these cabins sit on stilts in neatly arranged rows within communal parkland. They are cleverly designed and positioned so they don't overlook one another very much. 

These houses were originally designed by the British Architecture firm Gore, Gibberd, and Saunders. After spending time in the states, they were influenced by the mid-century modernist houses of Long Island, New York. The Deckhouses were initially designed as weekend and vacation homes targeted for sailors since they were alongside the harbor. 

Now highly sought after, these Deckhouses rarely becoming available for purchase, and if they do change hands at all, they're mostly sold privately between friends. So we're giving you an inside look at one these tiny masterpieces owned by Architect Paul Hinkin and his partner Chrissy Pearce. Check out the simplicity of design and how each square foot is calculated with purpose and precision, coupled with efficient and thorough design... Enjoy!

4 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Feel Bigger

You have the perfect house, apartment, condo, etc., but there's just one problem, the size of your kitchen makes you run to order a pizza, instead of cook a four-course meal! Don't fret! We're going to show you four ways to make your kitchen feel bigger, so you'll be Bobby Flay'ing in no time!

When looking to create more space without removing walls or doing a complete remodel, your design choices can make a big impact. These tricks will help to visually enlarge your kitchen for a light, airy feel. 

Focus on Natural Light

Removing any dark, dingy cabinetry and instead opting for a bright white option will add a crisp and clean look that will allow natural light to reflect from your space. Natural light plus a light-reflecting cabinet color will lend to a more spacious feel even though the square footage hasn't changed. Wide-plank flooring will also add to the illusion of more space and is a nice contrast to a tightly packed kitchen.

Same Countertop & Backsplash Material

Using the same material on both your countertop and backsplash makes the space feel larger by making it seem less busy. Giving the eye a vertical path to follow increases the apparent height, thus lifting the lid off a boxy room.  

Mind the Hood

Trim the visual fat from a wall of cabinets by adding in a sleek, wall mount vent hood over the cooktop. This will give the room a greater feel of openness. These are a plus in a smaller kitchen because they provide a cleaner and lighter look than regular undercabinet hoods. 

Eliminate Clutter

To enlarge a room, clear off counters, windowsills, and cabinet tops and stash as much as possible behind closed doors or carve out wall space. When your countertops are filled with cookware or collectibles, it overwhelms a small kitchen. If you do not have enough closed door space or you don't want to carve out space, you can reclaim that valuable area by adding in a recessed shelving unit. 

Looking for more space saving designs or just tired of the current style of your kitchen? Then contact us today!

Mid-Century Monday

If you follow our blog or Instagram, you know that we are big fans of Mid-Century Modern design, especially when it's done in unique and innovative ways. Below we'll show you our favorite spaces that display the height of modernist design and where form served function! 

A pair of vintage Jacques Adnet club chairs is the perfect compliment to a room surrounded by a Lucio Fontana canvas! The minimalist color scheme and clean lines add to the "less is more" home styling of the Mid-Century style. 

The use of bookshelves in this New York City loft delineate the living and dining room areas. Also, check out the Georges Braque print that adds a nice pop of color. In addition to the impressive Ib Kofod-Larson chairs and Rees Roberts + Partners dining table, the chevron wood flooring provides a nice pattern contrast to the otherwise understated design. 

This room is a complete feast for your eyes! There are just so many amazing things happening all at once. The George Condo painting making a splash on these stark white walls, the Vladimir Kagan sofa that perfectly curves around Pierre Chapo low table, and of course that incredible freeform wall light!

We love getting inspired by amazing home styling! If any of these custom designs spoke to you, then come speak to us! We can help turn your room or home into a beautiful and unique work of art.