After perusing our image files for master bedroom inspiration, I realized how rarely I act as my own “client”. I unearthed a few rooms to start an image book for our new master bedroom design, which has exposed wood ceilings and tons of natural light (yay!). I will need to layer in more of my husband’s masculine tastes, but a girl can dream! Stay tuned for progress…
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Have you had it with your outdated bathroom? Consider remodeling using the following vignettes as inspiration! Each design features Heath Ceramics tiles, crafted locally out of Sausalito, California since 1948.
Sunny and simple shapes bring Heath’s Dimensional Diamond pattern to life. You’ll want to get up in the morning for this.
Above: Copacabana A Wall Light, Jonathan Adler Brasilia Mirror and Kohler Reve Pedestal
Classic shapes like Heath’s Half Hex Stacked in Shade and Shade Light are crisp and clean with a soothing palette.
Above: Kohler Revival Pedestal, Show Elisse Wall Light and Horchow “Glamour” Round Mirror.
Add some pattern and movement to your bathroom with Heath’s Dimensional Triangle tiles.
Above: Barbara Barry Realized Grand Starlight Mirror, Sonneman Verso Wall Sconce and Kohler Tresham Pedestal.
Visit Heath Ceramics Factory and Showroom to experience this amazing local tradition. Contact us for more information about our San Francisco bathroom remodeling services.
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Niche Interiors was contacted a month ago and asked to makeover a drab chemotherapy treatment room at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco. My family has been deeply affected by cancer, and it is a cause that is close to my heart. This was the perfect opportunity to donate our design skills to improve the experience for patients during this difficult time. The room is dedicated to my grandmother Delores, who would have been cheering us on all the way.
Before & After. A fresh coat of paint on the walls and cabinets are a big improvement.
Kerry and I painting the tulip vines "wallpaper"
A new chair and dimmable wall lamp create a welcoming space. Patients are now able to turn off the harsh fluorescent lights.
Thank you to Gerard Connor Painting, my Junior Designer Kerry, and my husband for donating their Saturday to help with this project. For more information and to get involved with this wonderful cause please contact Nancy at Rooms that Rock for Chemo.
Posted in Tags: Before & Afters, Inspiration | 4 Comments »
One of our favorite parts of the design process at Niche Interiors is creating custom furniture. Bespoke furniture allows us to select the perfect fabric, to produce a piece that is impeccably scaled for a space, and to fine-tune all those crucial design details. It also lets us source all the materials that go into a piece of furniture, assuring an eco-friendly, sustainable result. Take a look behind the scenes of some of our latest creations!
**Interested in our San Francisco custom furniture design services? Contact us today!
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This month’s images are officially filed under “dream home inspiration”. All of these rooms would translate well to a San Francisco home!
Vintage + modern + a little organic = Love
The modern vanity mixes perfectly with vintage sconces and a sheepskin ottoman.
Keri Russell's home hits just the right balance of restraint and detail.
Genius solution for hiding that pesky flat screen!
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The perfect vintage dresser is almost as essential as the perfect vintage dress. Paired with one-of-a-kind table lamps and the right mirror, a new dressing area can quickly transform your bedroom for summer. We scoured 1st Dibs to find the best contenders.
Feel beach-y with a casual two-toned dresser and striped gold and coral lamps. The slim shape of the lamps pair perfectly with a laid-back wire sunburst mirror.
Above: Glenn of California Dresser from Lawson-Fenning, Tony Paul Lamps from Reform Gallery, and Sunburst Mirror from Last Century
This bright dresser is refreshing with aqua lacquered drawers and drop earring brass pulls. Pair with a sleek round mirror and stark white marble lamps and you’ll be instantly transported to a swanky pool house.
Above: Widdicomb Chest from Monument, Marble Specimen Lamps from Dragonette Limited, and Round Swedish Mirror from Hostler Burrows
Nothing says classic cabin like the clean lines of a vintage modern walnut dresser. Two swan neck 1970s lamps and a pair of elegant mirrors add the right touch.
Above: Stormy Grey Walnut Dresser from Stripe Vintage Modern, Ceramic Studio Lamps from Paula Lerner Antiques and Gold Leaf Trumeau Mirrors from Douglas Rosin
Posted in Tags: Furnishings, Inspiration | No Comments »
June marks Niche Interiors’ 4th year in business – we’ve enjoyed these fun-filled, challenging, and fantastic years! A big thank you to all of our amazing clients and hard working contractors. To celebrate our anniversary, we wanted to share four insider design tips that will save you valuable time and effort.
Niche Interiors' first official project in 2007
1. Know Your Clearances
Placing furniture correctly will help create a functional room with good flow.
• Allow 36” for a major walkway, or 24”-30” for a traffic path between furniture.
• Cocktail tables should be placed 16-18” from your sofa.
• Allow 24”-28” of dining space per guest.
2. Bathroom Remodeling Cheats
• ALWAYS order 15% more tile than your square footage dictates.
• Don’t forget trim pieces! Anytime a material ends you will need a trim piece.
3. Pick Two Paint Colors – Not One
Get rid of the idea that you should pick one paint color for each room. Start with narrowing your options down to 4-5 specific hues, then after taping up paint chips on the wall you should be able to narrow the options down to two. Paint a 1 foot square of each color on multiple walls and make sure to notice the way the color changes throughout the day. After living with the color for a day, you are ready to fully commit!
4. Realistic Timelines
Starting a project with a realistic timeline and budget will prevent stress and disappointment. While budgets vary, there are definite standards when it comes to furniture lead times.
• Upholstered goods typically take 6-8 weeks.
• Custom furniture can take anywhere from 12-16 weeks.
• Factor in additional time for hiccups along the way such as dropped fabrics, backorders, and shipping delays.
*Contact us for more information about our San Francisco interior design services.*
Posted in Tags: Decorating Tips, Quarterly Newsletter | No Comments »
Go big or go home should be the mantra for Big Daddy’s Antiques, a new arrival to the San Francisco design scene. If you are looking for something grand, fabulous, or unique, this is the place to go!
Their custom tables and cabinets are massive in scale and offered in a range of patinas and textures. Big Daddy’s light fixtures are the real kicker for me — their creative combination of antique parts lends an authentic & industrial vibe (without looking gimmicky).
Big Daddy’s Antiques: 1550 17th Street San Francisco.
(P) 415 621-6800
Posted in Tags: Furnishings, San Francisco Design Sources | No Comments »
I have a new design crush…on the city of Palm Springs! We just returned from a quick trip for some relaxation and design sightseeing. Luckily, my husband is a great sport and indulged me with a “self-guided” architecture tour of local mid-century gems, stopped in countless vintage furniture shops, and put up with my obsession to take photos of every well-executed design detail. (It’s a sickness I’m sure others share??). Read on for highlights from our trip!
The Viceroy: Loved it. Kelly Wearstler didn’t disappoint — the Hollywood Regency theme was evident in the lobby, rooms, and the restaurant (Citron – which is fab). Even the mini-fridge has lucite handles! Bonus: Fantastic people watching.
Mid-century modern architecture is everywhere you look in Palm Springs – even the Bank of America has architectural significance (it was inspired by Le Corbusier’s chapel in Ronchamp, France). Above are photos of the highlights:
1. The Kaufmann desert house designed by Richard Neutra in 1946 is one of Neutra’s last residential buildings. Sadly, we could only see what was visible from the driveway (which wasn’t a lot).
2. Tramway gas station designed by Albert Frey and Robson C. Chambers and built in 1965. Frey could be considered the father of the “desert modernism” style, and was the first disciple of Le Corbusier to practice architecture in the U.S. This building is now the visitor center.
3. Aerial tramway valley station designed by Frey in 1949 and built in 1963. This building houses the tram that takes visitors up over 5,000 feet in 10 minutes.
4. Home in the Twin Palms neighborhood of Palm Springs, built in late 1950′s by the Alexander construction company. A great example of tract housing with personality and style; homes have a mix of roof styles and floor plans.
5. Miller House designed by Richard Neutra in 1937. (This was the toughest to see — there was some lifting required!)
Palm Springs is THE place for vintage and mid-century furniture junkies (like myself). There are countless shops along Palm Canyon Drive, here are a few that stuck out. 20 First Modern & Vintage specializes in collectible mid-century furniture and had lots of fun items on their showroom floor. (Above: I’m testing out a vintage Herman Miller Marshmallow sofa.) Head over to Dazzle’s for funky modern home accessories, kitschy oddities, and retro garden furniture. For an elegant mix of vintage and contemporary furnishings check out Boulevard.
Posted in Tags: Furnishings, Inspiration | No Comments »
Have you ever tried to tackle an interior design project and felt disappointed with the way it turned out? Does the sofa look WAY too big for the room, or does the space feel too coordinated and static?
Read on for three ways an interior designer can help create your dream home, while helping you avoid common pitfalls along the way.
1. Scale and Proportion: Big house, little furniture. Little house, big furniture. Either way it makes a large space feel empty and a small space feel cluttered and claustrophobic. Interior designers have a well-trained eye for scale and proportion.
Above left: Two overstuffed sofas overlap each other and block the entryway. Above right: The tailored sofas and larger armchair create a sitting area that feels intimate and allows for easy circulation.
2. Matchy-Matchy: Catalogs do this quite well. However, your space should reflect your individual personality. A collection of pieces that suit you do not have to match perfectly; they can vary in color and pattern. Interior designers combine these elements in an intentional and stylish way.
Above left: The drab wall color and rug are too similar in color, and the only pattern in the room is repeated on both chairs. Above right: A neutral sofa and a light rug allow just enough breathing room between a mix of bold patterns.
3. Cohesive Style: A cohesive design comes from a focused concept. Interior designers develop a scheme, which considers the client’s practical and aesthetic requirements, and use this when selecting each piece for the space. This requires restraint, attention to detail and ingenuity.
Above left: A disjointed concept confuses the eye. Above right: A neutral palette with black accents give the space a masculine and contemporary feel.
When in doubt, ask an expert! Contact us for more information about our San Francisco interior design services.
Posted in Tags: Decorating Tips | No Comments »
