San Lorenzo Ave

Dan and Jane wanted to keep the classic charm of their Berkeley craftsman bungalow while still giving it an updated, fresh look. To create this quiet retreat, I worked to incorporate natural elements for a soothing environment.

This project became a flip-flop of sorts, as the main room was originally their dining room before I got my hands on it. I wanted to showcase the classic craftsman fireplace and use it as a focal point for gatherings by turning the dining room into a cozy, inviting, and beautiful living room.

We enclosed the original front patio of the house and transformed it into an entryway/mudroom, giving the couple ample shoe and coat storage, as well as creating a buffer zone between the outside and the living spaces; it’s always nice to avoid walking directly into the living room with dusty shoes or wet umbrellas!

This project included a lot of custom work: the wall media center to hide the TV in the cabinet, custom ottoman, and the custom entry bench, which also serves as a trunk to tuck away shoes and other potential clutter.

I drew inspiration from a new Persian rug, using the colors and texture to inform my choice of the rest of the design elements and accessories. I didn’t want the rug to be to be too overbearing so I kept it small and layered it on top of a modern neutral wool rug. Jane and Dan’s piece of art ended up being the only piece that was found in the original room; funny enough, it stayed in the same spot from start to finish! I loved it and wanted to give it its own corner to really showcase it well.

Jane and Dan were in need of additional seating space for the occasional guests, but with little available space to work with, we had to get creative: we turned a garden bench into a settee by adding a custom seat cushion and pillows to make it comfortable. Its modesty and simplicity brought balance to the room and offered a nice contrast with the deep Restoration Hardware sofa that Dan and Jane use regularly to watch TV.