“My heart has always been divided between the vestals of constancy and the avatars of change.”

- Yves Saint Laurent, 1936 – 2008

I really responded to this statement when I read it at the Yves Saint Laurent retrospective at San Francisco’s De Young Museum.  It’s true and I feel the same way…to some extent.  I’ve always been attracted to both the new and the old.  The home I grew up in was a constant evolution of modern necessities mixed into its traditional landscape – the exercycle and Apple 2E had to go somewhere!  (Please note, however, I have to question the concept of an exercise bike sharing space with the Living Room for anyone but Lance Armstrong, but my interior stylings were lost to the greater good at that time…)  Today, the interiors I create display an easy marriage of modern function, vintage comforts and a little joie de vivre.  My design sense has been labeled “eclectic”, “beautifully functional,” and “innovative.”  Not a bad mix in my opinion. 

Our eclectic spirit comes from a philosophy we describe as “Freshly Familiar.” What does that mean? We strive to retain the familiar qualities of the past while working with a fresh approach that takes advantage of today’s modern lifestyles.  In our opinion, a true “home” has as much a story as your wedding, your first child or your latest vacation.  These exciting moments were created by a series of events that add meaning to the outcome – much the same way that a home’s story cannot be created by one trip to the local furniture store. 

We start by evaluating the home’s story itself and its main characters – our clients.  This gives us insights as to influential architectural elements, function and necessity.   We address this research with an eye on today’s modern ammenities and a bit of romance for personality. To this, we layer in a mix of hardworking pieces that are meant to last generations and unique vintage furnishings that speak of character and charm.  The result is a unique assemblage of items that speak to each other through both form and function with a few surprises to keep things interesting.   Yes, you can have a home that is “eclectic” and “innovative” yet “beautifully functional.”  

So what do we think of constancy and change?  ”Be not divided between the “vestals of constancy and the avatars of change.  Be united by them instead!”

Take a look at some of the rooms created with our “Freshly Familiar” approach. 

And read more about the creative force who was Yves Saint Laurent at Wikipedia.

photo credit: Philippe Wojazer, AU

Take a look and enjoy a lovely article about our featured project!

P.S. More blog postings from JR Studio coming this month.  We have great thoughts for your savvy minds…

Best Regards!

We are pleased to announce the launch of our new consultation service called Elite Interior Styling where you can enjoy the benefits of professional advice and exclusive trade-only discounts on products ready to take home! Advice, discounts and instant gratification – what could be better?

Elite Interior Styling offers short-term assistance for your interior design needs – personal shopping with exclusive trade only pricing, and professional insights that are yours for the living! You will benefit from an exceptional service through consultations with JR Studio Principal, Joel Robare, who answers questions on any design topic desired and escorts you to shop with our luxury partners, delivering exclusive purchasing privileges. Half-Day or Full-Day packages are available with purchasing privileges ranging from 2-4 weeks following the consultation.

Our launch party for these services was quite an event at the glamorous Frette Linens store on Union Square in San Francisco!  View photos from the party and enjoy the moments with us. 

Thank you to all who attended and those who assisted in this very stylish event.  Cheers!

Now that you have mastered Color 101 (see earlier posts…) It is time to tackle the next chapter in our quest for color karma – What do I do with what I know?  Any professor will tell you a foundation is key to understanding how to manipulate the details.  You have the foundation.  You know what color is not a color (…white.) You know the worst color faux-pas (…over coordination.)  Now let’s take a step beyond and find fresh ways to earn your chromatic stripes.

Contrasting Combinations.  High contrast combinations work well if you find your furniture has lost its spark,  It’s like mixing prints in fashion.  Though plaids and stripes may be intriguing by themselves, both of them speak a bit more loudly when they are juxtaposed (albeit in a subtle, sophisticated way…)  Yes interior design CAN be just like fashion. Try contrasting dark dated brown furniture with creamy yellow or faded violet walls and beige furniture with inky blue tones.  Repeat the wall color with a few related accessory pieces in varying shades of the same hue, but don’t try to find perfect matches.  There is beauty to be found in the layered depth of related colors.

Bring the outdoors inside.  Break the boundaries of a room (and extend your visual living space without remodeling…) by using color already peeking in the window, door or skylight. Repeating color seen outside from inside the room creates a dialogue between the spaces with color that feels fresh and familiar. If you live in the city, color cues may come from pale stone siding, rusticated metal and rosy brick otherwise taken for granted but surrounds you nonetheless.  In more natural surroundings, golden grassy fields, leafy emerald canopies or silvered stone paths will leap inside using this approach.  

Tactile surfaces render color in 3 dimensions.  One of the hottest trends for painted finishes is to achieve a tactile surface on your walls that the hand feels while the eye savors its color. Layering painted walls with waxed finishes, applying layers of integral colored plaster, using products like Benjamin Moore’s “Aura” paint with its slick surface, and using subtle low sheen glosses that reflect ambient light will take your walls from plain to complex and add elegance to a room. 

Unify your walls and architecture.  Simply painting trim work, cabinetry and other architectural details  to match the wall color immediately unifies a room’s aesthetic, giving the same air of grace you find when visiting a stately museum. Everything inside the room comes into focus when contrasts vanish between walls and architectural details.  Your furniture will appear to float on its own, providing fresh opportunities to animate your furniture arrangements.  This may be the quickest way to refresh a room using color and you will spend less time prepping and less money on paint supplies, too!

You tell us!  What ways have you found to exercise your color skills.  We’d love to know…share them with us!  Your submissions will be found in our next Color Installment this Spring.

 Photo credit:  jenn_jenn@flickr.com

There is nothing better than having a kitchen lay out with beauty in style and function. You should be able to effortlessly move, reach, dice and otherwise make a mess in your kitchen without having to hurt yourself (or others) in the process.  Of course, planning ahead for all your desires is the best way to start the kitchen design process, but there are ways to make the best of any situation no matter what the circumstances.  Here are my tips for creating perfect Kitchen Zen.

Counter height depends on genetics.  What height can you use a knife at that does not necessitate bending over in the slightest?  Answer the question and you have found countertop perfection. If you are not able to recreate your kitchen from scratch (designing counter heights to preference,) you can custom order butcher block of varying sizes & heights from 1” to 6”+ in order to bring the “work at hand” into yours.  Ordering custom wood cutting boards to cover a large area (2 – 3’ in length) will also eliminate the need to huddle up over small cutting boards.  These can be left out provided they are maintained and beautiful themselves. 

Upper shelving is for nuts (or other bulk items…)  If you are tight on space and find yourself using every last inch of shelving up to the rafters, consider bringing some items out of the cupboards and out on display.  I frequently use beautiful glass apothecary jars with snug fitting lids to bring dry pasta, oatmeal, dog food and even snack bars into easy reach.  This frees space in the cabinetry for other items and creates interesting displays of everyday items. 

Don’t forget me!  One of the smartest kitchens I have had low cabinetry designed for a children’s cooking area.  Grandmother worked out cookie dough on marble counters, transferring sheets of dough to her grandkids on the counter below where they could cut it into shapes without standing on chairs.  Ingenious!  Who else may be helping out in your kitchen?  Do you need a wine and cheese tasting area that is separate from your main prep area?  This could be at bar height. Is someone in your family using a wheelchair?  They would appreciate lower counters with plenty of access space below.  Varyied counter heights can be appreciated for their function as much as their architectural features.

The person who invented the slide-in range never cooked a turkey.  Have you ever bent over to pull your perfectly browned Thanksgiving bird from the oven and winced as you lifted it awkwardlya as you staggered to the countertop 3 steps away?  Eliminate this unseemly (and dangerous) situation by using a drop-in cooktop and locating ovens at arm height into cabinetry nearby.  Most manufacturers have double oven combinations that fit into wall cabinets and handle everything from popcorn to poultry with ergonomic ease.

Think twice, twist once... Think about adjacencies when you locate your appliances.  The dishwasher should be next to the sink and near the cabinet where you store your dishes!  Hang your pot rack over your sink instead of the cook top or island – you will appreciate letting the pots drip here instead of across your granite counters. The coffee maker should be under the cabinet where your coffee mugs reside, and the refrigerator should always have a landing space next to it.  Grouping related tasks together helps determine kitchen layout.  Planning makes perfect!

Create a kitchen that cooks!  I’ve recently installed an “assembly line” kitchen for clients with a minimal amount of space – 10’ on one wall only.  (See image above and more photos of the project here...)  The clients were clear that they needed an efficient design that really worked, so we designed an assembly line that ran across the length of the entire wall.   This efficient layout starts with a landing space for groceries, moves onto the refrigerator, then to another landing space for items removed from the refrigerator for prep before rinsing at the sink.  (We even fit a custom cutting board into the sink well to further maximize the space.)  After the sink, there is a small landing space for prepped items before they are transferred from sink to stove.  It ends with a final landing space for food ready to serve. It functions beautifully and we did not have to spare any design flare to make it work either.  

Other inspirations.  Rolling islands that tuck into pantry cabinets for extra space (that hides them away when not in use!)  Pull out shelves in lower cabinets and pantries so you can find everything you need.  Include space for a folding step stool into your cabinetry plan. Create deep drawers below counters for plates and glasses you use every day. Use appliance garages to hide clutter and bookshelves for cookbooks under islands.  And, please, no more desks in the kitchen – they are ridiculous.  Tomato sauce has never been a friend of electronics and paperwork and when you are cooking there is no time for distractions!

Please send on your inspirations as well.  We love creative strategies for everyday problems…

Today’s (this week’s, this hour’s…) economy calls for careful consideration when planning your next interior design move.  I can’t stress enough that the best investment today is… longevity.  Use this as your benchmark and impulse purchases will never measure up.  Here are my top 5 trends that will outlast the headlines and position you for brighter times to come.

1. Technology & Entertainment Integration: Thoroughly integrating technology and entertainment can transport digital media anywhere in the house, providing customizable opportunities to enjoy the modern lifestyle to its fullest.  Apple TV and the Sling Box are great products that take full advantage of audio and video downloaded onto computers and DVRs, delivering them effortlessly to handhelds, computers and home stereo systems.  A significant plasma television purchase makes much more sense if it means that screen can become a media center worthy of a science fiction fantasy.  Investing in technology that intelligently adds to your lifestyle will defeat the urge to splurge on every new gadget that arrives as you grow your custom media center.  

2. High and Low Mix:  Today’s modern homes thrive on using eclectic furnishings from a variety of resources.  I encourage clients to splurge on everyday “high touch” pieces like sofas, window coverings, bedding, and dining furniture and home investments such as closet design, kitchen remodeling and landscaping.  Secondary pieces such as extra seating, lamps, pillows, and accessories can come from less expensive sources, providing of-the-moment interest without buyers remorse should styles change just after the dust settles.  

3. Repurposing dated furnishings with modern fabrics & finishes:  Classic traditional furniture in need of TLC and ready for reupholstery is easy to find at terrific values in vintage shops and the family attic.  These pieces have stood the test of time and look great dressed in modern prints and fabrics.  Dusty wing chairs recovered in a modern ethnic print are freshly familiar and instantly appreciated. Their classic form guarantees longevity while the new look brings them into today’s lifestyles.  Most importantly, repurposing is part of our formula for “Greener Living.”  There is nothing better than recycling great vintage furniture. 

4. Metal furnishings:   Interesting and formidable metal tables and chairs can be found everywhere now from high end showrooms to mass market retailers right now.  These sturdy furnishings add to a room’s eclectic layering and are almost bulletproof additions worthy of investment.  Finished in powder coated finishes in every color of the rainbow, they bring powerful life into a design scheme.  Gary Hutton Design has wonderful pieces – some I have had powdercoated especially to be used out of doors when the mood to rearrange strikes.  

5. Functional Accessorizing:  Fashionably functional gets a lot of respect in our office.  When I refresh an interior, I start by removing accessories that clutter a room and add no aesthetic value. (They can bring value, however, through sales at consignment shops!)  Your furnishings live best when they can accomplish two tasks at once – aesthetics & storage, display & serving, etc…  One functional accessory can take the place of an entire table of insignificant objects.  You will be happier in an edited space that works as well as it looks.

Should these ideas appeal to your home economics and you are looking for a partner with the savvy to bring them together for you, contact our studio for a consultation! Our services are yours for the living…www.jrstudiodesign.com

content credit: Joel Robare of JR Studio Design  

photo credit: image of currency of public domain

Click here for the articles in our “Print” section. 

In our own words, we encourage “Greener Living.”  We understand there are many levels to living the green life, and while we are always respectful of our environment, we work at making the best decisions we can with our client’s time and resources.  Working toward the highest standard of excellence starts with taking a few small steps in the right direction.  Here are a few thoughts on “Greener Living” you can start using today. 

Always shop for products with longevity. This applies to small household objects you use everyday (disposable razors vs. metal razors) as well as your furnishings (quality furniture vs. “too good to be true” finds.)  I believe that living with less and demanding better quality not only avoids filling our landfills with impulse purchases, it is also a great way to save money in the long run.  If you only pay once for the perfect lounge chair, you will fill your home with personality and, perhaps more importantly, save plenty of resources by avoiding poor quality “standbys” that fill the shelves of most mass market furniture shops. 

Repurpose vintage furniture.  Sourcing quality furniture with good bones that need only creative re-vision is one of our favorite ways to update your interiors (and quite a green one as well.)  Hand built furniture that has already survived generations indicates great quality, even if the mauve upholstery speaks more to grandmother’s house than your own. (Though I bet grandmother was onto something when it was first purchased-have you asked?)  Reupholstering furniture gives you the opportunity to not just update the fabric, but update the detailing as well.  Change tufting to buttons and oversized arms to tailored forms. Most quality upholstery is simply padding over a great wooden frame – there is much to be gained from reimagining the final look. 

Select reclaimed wood for cabinetry and flooring.  On trips to the Midwest I always come across rural barns that are in stages of disassembly.  Wonder where they are going?  Would you believe into your dining room & kitchen?  Aging structures such as barns, bowling alleys and declassified military outposts are rich deposits of old growth lumber that is high in quality and just waiting to be reused for interior projects. These old boards are of size and thickness no longer available on the market today, and their beauty is easy to reclaim with refinishing.  

Consider area rugs of natural fibers and avoid wall-to-wall carpeting.   Many modern interiors are forgoing carpet all together and using area rugs that are flexible enough to move around the house depending on the season.  Area rugs are far easier maintain than wall-to-wall installations which have been proven to cause poor indoor air quality problems, leading to asthma and allergy complications. Natural fiber floor coverings such as wool, silk, cotton and sisal (from organic mills, of course!) are long-lasting earth friendly alternatives to their nylon counterparts.  You can further increase their longevity with rug pads made of recycled materials.

Interested in romance with your green design?  Install dimmer switches. Nothing gives a room more subtle drama than low level lighting, and reducing the amount of energy flowing into your fixtures makes as great impression on Mother Earth as it does to your sweetheart.  Yes, green design can be sexy. 

Select low VOC paints when painting your interiors.  VOC’s, volatile organic compounds, are the unhealthy gases released from chemicals in most mass marketed construction supplies.  Thankfully, almost every major line of paint now has a low/no VOC option – you just have to ask for it when you order.  These cost a bit more, but having the ability to repaint a room and use it immediately certainly saves time as well as your health, and you will appreciate not having to clear the house while the fumes dissapate (though they never really do…)  Other great paint options come from vendors creating low VOC paints with natural pigments such as clay, creating colors as rich as the ones you find outside your windows.  

Follow these simple guidelines, and you’re off to a good start!  Greener design is yours for the living.  Check back with us as we continue to pass along insights of an entirely JR Studio approach to an environmentally friendly perspective. 

content credit: Gazelle Garner of JR Studio Design  

photo credit: Flickr by jared at http://flickr.com/photos/35468148654@N01/2109670236

Decisions, Decisions… People come to us for advice on all things design, and we love the variety of questions that come up during the course of our conversations. Asking questions from those with experience is a great way to start your research and reach a decision (better by far than using a magic 8-ball, entertaining though it may be!)

One question that we hear often is “How do I decide if it is time to work with an Interior Designer.”  That particular query deserves an educated (and unbiased) response.  We warmly encourage everyone to achieve better living starting with a well designed interior, but the very personal decision is really up to you and timing is everything!  Visit our Press Room to read our article, “Are You Ready for a Professional Interior Designer,” and make the decision for yourself.  

Be sure to let us know your results! 

photo credit: flickr.com/photos/80124993@NOO/1246790051

A few of the more candid shots were too fun not to use and as revealing as the interiors we like to create. Thank you to Bridget Balsley (one of our favorite artists) for arranging this collage!  You can also email us directly for copies of the photos for your own use.  (info@jrstudiodesign.com)  We would be glad to share.   

photo credit: Mona Brooks Photography, image credit: Bridget Balsley