Creating Clean Lines and Harmony in A Beautiful Northern California Family Room.

After spending the last 2 years living in the city of San Francisco, the owners of this beautiful 1904 California bungalow in Marin decided it was time to come home.


Not keen to leave the clean lines and more contemporary feel that they had grown accustomed to behind, the homeowners brought GEORGE Interior Design on board to analyze the space and come up with a fresh design for the family room (proposed rendering of space below).


("before" image below left, "after" image below right)










Image of breakfast table (below) before transformation...

Woven shades and floor-length draperies were added to create intimacy and to enhance the architectural details of the house. The draperies provide a framework for the breakfast table to be on center with the window and the adjacent fireplace rather than to just be floating in space.


Additionally, the homeowners decided to go with a cool, green & blue palette, allowing the gorgeous hunter-green kitchen cabinetry to smoothly transition into the dining and living room beyond. The drapery pattern is Indigo Flower in Turquoise, Jasper by none-other than Michael T. Smith.


The sofa with chaise and ottomans were custom built to perfectly accommodate both him and her and helped to drastically open the floor plan of the family room up. (Below is a photo of Felipe and Emily discussing the finished arm before the framing phase of the sofa is complete.)


The openness of the chaise allows you to see clear through to the either side of the room, rather than being blocked by the loveseat which used to occupy the space. The result is a space that feels larger and much more inviting.("before" image below left, "after" image below right)











The floor globe is a vintage 1950's Paul McCobb piece. The pillows are an assorted variety from Tim Clarke in Los Angeles. The coffee table, a polished walnut top on an iron base, is from Patine at H.D. Buttercup, also in Los Angeles.

An Elegant 4th of July

To each American that enjoys the right to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness: We wish you a spectacular 4th of July.

Take a Style Cue from Architecture

One of the surest ways to make your interiors sing is to ENHANCE the relationship between the interior furnishings and the architecture of your house. If you are lucky enough to have a beautiful stone facade like the one shown above, consider playing up the "old world" quality by incorporating raw materials like iron, wood, and glass. Velvets, tapestries, leather, wool and silk fabrics will add to it's authenticity.


Take advantage of a beautiful window to create a focal point for the bedroom...



This outdoor room showcases a well-defined relationship between the beautiful moorish shape cut-out in the plaster; the tile-work; and the playful blue tables.


Place a great chandelier in the air-space created by a hipped roof. The chandelier adds a sense of intimacy to the voluminous ceiling.



Here you find a wonderful relationship between Modernist architecture made popular in the 1920's and 30's (can you see the great glass curtain wall) and modern furniture from the same period such as the Barcelona chairs created by Mies van der Rohe. We love incorporating classic Knoll furniture into clients' homes. We have found great prices from ALLMODERN.COM and they are a certified Knoll dealer.



Exposed rafters create a perception of more space and the feeling is even more enhanced with the use of white paint. If your home has such a condition consider beachy-cottage furnishings or you could play up an industrial-loft type space.


These exposed beams add an atmospheric warmth and intimacy. Exposed beams lend well to rustic, beach-cottage, modern, industrial or virtually any interior style. If you have a not-so-interesting ceiling space, you could always consider adding beams as well!