Asian Eclectic style results in an exotic, distinctive space.

Being in San Diego we talk a lot about coastal and Mediterranean design styles, but Asian is more rare. I’ve recently had the opportunity to assist two different clients with incorporating Asian design into their homes, and it’s given me a new appreciation for this exotic look that some people call “Asian Eclectic.”

One of those clients just moved into a Spanish house with an extensive collection of beautiful Asian accessories purchased for a previous home. So I was charged with trying to blend those pieces with the home’s architectural style. Our first task was deciding which of the client’s Asian items were absolutes for the house and which could be set aside. For example, her master bedroom nightstands were particularly Asian in style and would have been too prominent to blend well. But her other bedroom furniture – such as her black rattan chairs – were less so, and we were able to incorporate those into a gorgeous ink-blue palette with cream and paprika accents. Carved wood nightstands and bench add to the look. Her three-foot-by-six-foot gold-lacquered panels provide another dramatic Asian influence on one wall.

What I found is that the room could successfully combine diverse styles if I allowed some pieces to relate to each other, such as the woods. We clearly kept several of the Asian pieces, but then we balanced them with Spanish touches, such as tile work around the bedroom’s fireplace and an iron chandelier and sconce in the sitting area. The overall effect is reminiscent of Moroccan, which tends to bring a variety of cultural themes together in one space.

My other client just moved here from Seattle and brought along a beloved collection of Asian art and artifacts that have been passed down through her family generations. Her furniture, however, is more transitional and not Asian, such as her Ethan Allen sectional sofa. So to create a balanced space where the homeowner’s Asian pieces could shine, we chose a neutral yet warm color scheme. Floors for the main living area were darkened from light maple to a rich brown, and grasscloth wallpaper was hung on most walls to give a textural accent. Light wall colors allow the distinctive statues and large Buddhas to take center stage without being overwhelming since the background is so simple. I liken it to a spa feel – striking, but in a livable way that complements the art.

By mixing different textures with Asian pieces, everything in the room is complementary.

I’ll admit when we began both of these projects I was concerned about how we could integrate Asian pieces into rooms that lent themselves to other styles. But as we moved forward, I saw again how the right combination not only makes an eclectic style “work,” but it gives the homeowner a strikingly unique space. I love these rooms and how they turned out, as do the clients.

If we can help you integrate Asian influences into your design – or with any of your redecorating needs – please contact us

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When the TV returns to inside the cabinet, the top surface is another useable space.

Even with compact flat screens, sometimes TVs are problematic to decorating. Perhaps you don’t have enough wall space in your bedroom for a TV. Or maybe you want a TV in a more formal room but you don’t want it to conflict with your décor. If you are trying to reduce TV watching in your home – but don’t want to eliminate the TV completely – you might be looking for a complete storage solution.

I have the answer for you: a cabinet or console with a TV lift installed.

These are perfect for anyone who wants occasional use of a TV because the TV actually drops into the cabinet, giving you a smooth surface on top. When you’re ready to watch the TV, you simply punch a remote control and it rises from the cabinet. When you’re finished, hit the button and it returns to its hiding place.

I recently had one of these installed for a client who wanted a TV but the walkways in her living space made a wall-hung or tabletop TV impossible. We placed the lifted TV inside a console table, and now she can access it when her family is ready for TV yet it’s not in the way at other times.

Components for your lifted TV can also be hidden in the cabinet so they don't distract from your decor.

Another client only had adequate wall space for a dresser mirror but also wanted a TV. Our technician mounted the TV inside her dresser, so now it can be raised to watch TV from the bed or lowered for full access to the mirror above it. The dresser’s drawers remain useable, although they are shallower to make room for the lift mechanism.

This concept works especially well for rooms full of windows, such as a high-rise where the focus is on the view. Plus we can add a 360-degree swivel base to make the TV visible from any angle in the room. And since lifted TVs can be added to virtually any type of cabinet or console, you don’t sacrifice function for beauty. You can also hide your media components inside the unit, providing a clean look.

If we can help with creating a TV lift cabinet for you, or with any of your design needs, please contact us.

Reclaimed wood works well as a rustic dining room table.

If you’ve shopped for furniture at any of the popular furnishings stores lately, you’ve probably seen a surge in reclaimed woods paired with metals such as factory zinc and cast iron. Restoration Hardware has been particularly fond of this style, but you’ll also find it at places such as Pottery Barn, Cost Plus and West Elm.

I’m a big fan of this look and used it when I recently redecorated my own home. Because the materials are reclaimed, they have a lot of durability, which is great for those of us who have kids. Since they already have a “lived in” look, another knick in the wood just adds to the character.

For some people, though, this is a little too rustic. For example, reclaimed wood can be difficult to clean – if you drop a glass of red wine on it, you won’t be able to wipe it up. If you think about an old French farmhouse, a little more red wine would just add to the table’s character. But if that’s not your style, you could still feature reclaimed wood by perhaps using a glass or metal top with a wood stand, or having the wood top sanded and refinished with a cleanable polyurethane.

Another consideration is the color. Some reclaimed wood is more of a gray while other types are a little warmer. Deciding on the look you want – more or less neutral – is an important first step to using reclaimed wood. If you lean toward more neutral, you can add interest to the room with black and white framed photos, and textures such as jutes, mohairs, and leathers to avoid creating a “flat” room with no character.

Reclaimed wood can also be part of a more contemporary look, depending on how it is styled.

If you prefer a little more color, add colorful rugs or throw pillows, upholster chairs in bright prints, and include potted plants. (Reupholstering chairs doesn’t have to be expensive – if you’re buying new, just order them in the most affordable fabric and then take them to an upholsterer who can customize them for you at less than $75 per chair.)

Don’t forget to add accessories to your new room. Antiques and vintage-style pieces go well with the reclaimed wood look. Shop around and you might find an old toolbox, for instance, that can serve as a storage spot for TV remotes. Or hang a large metal clock on the wall. The idea is to provide warmth through fun and interesting pieces, whatever that might mean to you and your family, so you can enjoy your home.

If we can help you blend reclaimed woods with your décor, or with any of your design needs, please contact us.

A sectional sofa can be customized to your room's size and your color preferences.

A few weeks ago, Mary told you about our custom woodworker and ironworker in Mexico. Today I’d like to share some thoughts with you on custom upholstered furniture, another important aspect of our design strategy.

When most people hear “custom furniture” they imagine handing over stacks of cash. Sure, customizing furniture can be expensive – but it doesn’t have to be. And most often you get what you pay for, whether that’s in durability, size or design. After all, not every living room is the same size, and not every client likes the same shade of green – that’s what makes custom furniture so important.

Our go-to custom upholstered furniture manufacturer in San Diego is Comfort Furniture Galleries. What I like about this store is they really do create what you want, and they usually do it in less than two weeks. So if you have a large family room wall that needs a longer-than-usual sofa, for example, Comfort Furniture Galleries can simply add as many inches (or feet!) as you need. Or maybe you want a super-durable fabric that can withstand your toddler’s jumping – they do that. Even better, you can select the softness or firmness you want in your cushions. They customize it all – right down to the leg style.

Customize your bedroom with an upholstered headboard in your choice of size, shape, and fabric.

We often see a piece of furniture we love but that is outside our clients’ budget. So it’s not unusual for us to take them a picture of, say, a $9000 designer chair, and walk out the door a few weeks later with an identical version for $900. Of course, $900 is still an investment, but at 10 percent of the original cost it is a comparable “steal” for a stylish, sturdy chair.

Not only do we order chairs and sofas there, we get beds and tufted headboards too, plus bar stools and ottomans. Basically anything that needs upholstery can be created at Comfort Furniture Galleries. And since we handle all the design and delivery for you, all you have to do is write the check– a much lower check due to the value we can provide using our quality supplier. Plus you gain a special room personalized just for you.

If we can assist you with custom furniture or any of your design needs, please contact us.

The dramatic art-like tub is the focal point of this luxurious modern bathroom.

In San Diego, it’s pretty common to find Mediterranean types of interior design styles since they pair so well with our Spanish and coastal homes. But even if your taste leans a little toward contemporary or modern, you can easily mix that theme into your existing décor.

A lot of people shy away from contemporary because they think it’s all about cold steel, hard plastic, and stark white. While that palette can be appropriate in the right home, you can incorporate some contemporary touches without losing your home’s warmth.

For example, I recently remodeled a fireplace in a Scripps Ranch tract home using contemporary aesthetics. We removed the 16-inch travertine surround and replaced it with 12×24 dark brown tiles that almost give the surround a wood effect. Laid in a brick pattern, they convey an angular, modern look. For another traditional-style home’s fireplace, we removed the cast-stone hearth and natural surround and installed rectangular tile from floor to ceiling.

Another way to tweak your home toward contemporary is through furniture choices. Perhaps just one large piece of furniture – such as a modern coffee table in an interesting shape – would give your family room just the touch you want. I really like Room and Board for this because much of their product is contemporary yet they use warmer colors and woods rather than chrome and glass. West Elm is another source for design-friendly contemporary furniture, although it is a bit more basic in design.

You can achieve a warm yet modern look with furniture such as this dining set from Room and Board.

If you love contemporary but can’t seem to make it work in your main rooms, consider doing a modern bathroom as in the photo above. For that remodel we removed the built-in tub and replaced it with that amazing work-of-art tub in the corner. The shower features contrasting cream and dark brown tile. And true to our name, to save the client money we retained the existing vanities but refaced them and stained them in a dark espresso.

Our private store, The Style Marketplace, is a great resource for contemporary pieces, as is the website All Modern.

Please let us know if we can help add a contemporary look to your home, or assist with any of your design needs. And Happy New Year!

With the right plan and remodel team, you can have a dream bathroom like this in just a few weeks.

As we enter into the new year, you might be thinking about doing a little remodeling of your home. Remodeling was our most popular service at Style on a Shoestring in 2011, and for good reason: you can reinvent your home much more economically than selling and buying a new one.

What I’ve found in consulting on remodels is that a lot of people think remodeling has only one path: Hire a contractor, write a check and wait for the room(s) to be finished.

Not only is that not true, it’s probably the worst mistake you could make with your home. Contractors are wonderful and they never cease to amaze me with their work, but they’re typically not designers. So unless you are an extremely educated consumer who knows every detail of your home remodel project, you will need a designer. I cannot tell you the number of clients who have contacted me too late – after they realize the kitchen they thought would be perfect is far from it, or the furniture doesn’t fit in the new room, or the carpet is making the paint give off an undesirable peach hue.

Although you shouldn’t rely solely on your contractor, the remodeling process does typically start there. Make sure your contractor is license and insured, and that you feel comfortable in your relationship with him or her. The contractor should understand what you want, and provide you a quote in writing. Once you select your contractor, do some shopping for materials and note what they cost so you have a better idea of your budget.

Next is the designer. If you go with a full-service firm, they will have a designer on staff who can help you. Conversely, some design firms employ contractors. But if you use a contractor who works alone, you should still consider hiring a designer, not necessarily throughout the project but perhaps for just a few hours to help you choose materials and select colors. That little extra expenditure could very well save your entire remodeling project.

For example, before hiring us one of our now-happy clients tried to manage her remodel on her own. Guess what? The painter she selected didn’t know recessed lights were going to be installed in her ceiling, so not only did she overpay since he bid on painting the entire ceiling, but he had to return to patch and paint around the lights, adding to the project’s cost. And that’s just one small example of how a designer’s guidance can save time and money.

Seemingly simple decisions such as where to place lighting can cause problems if you don't work with a designer on your remodel.

At Style on a Shoestring, we do all levels of remodel design work, from one-time consultation to complete project management. If we manage the project for you, we are there from start to finish to make sure your blue wall is the right shade, your cabinets are hung properly, and your new sectional doesn’t overpower your room. We help you stay in budget, and we double-check everything throughout the process to give you the best possible results. Because that’s what really matters to us: your happiness.

If we can help you with any aspect of design for your remodel, please contact us.

Our custom furniture maker in Mexico can create a multi-use unit that fits your entertainment niche perfectly.

A few years ago we were shopping in Baja – we’re always looking for unique items for our clients – and we met a woman who owns a custom furniture store. She is a designer herself, and she has a whole crew of woodworkers on staff who can make anything, she said.

Of course we were a little cautious because we wanted to make sure these items would be up to par with our requirements (yes, we’re picky!). So we asked Sandra to make some iron and wood wall art for us. It turned out amazing! We soon discovered this little shop could produce anything – any piece of furniture, and even banisters or staircases. All we had to do was show her a picture or sketch, and the next thing we knew we were picking up furniture or accessories that were exactly what we had envisioned.

So what does this mean to you? Savings! To be sure, Sandra and her team don’t do “cheap” work – they are true artists – but we do save our clients about 30 percent over retail by using her services. And there’s no worry about going to Mexico – we handle all the delivery so you don’t have to.

If your home is Spanish style, our custom designer can make decorative iron grates like these for your vents.

My favorite way to use this resource is for built-in entertainment centers. Many San Diego homes have those family room niches that are supposed to hold your TV and audio equipment. But good luck finding furniture to fit that space perfectly, right? When we call on Sandra, she has her workers make a unit that does slide seamlessly into the space we need. Plus we can customize it to the client’s preferences, such as including various sized drawers, a tray for the DVD player, slats to organize movies, glass doors, or whatever we want.

With custom furniture – whether it’s a TV console, a sideboard, or a coffee table – you get a uniquely sized and styled item just for you. It looks complete and clean, and gives your whole room that “I spent a fortune” look for a lot less money. And who wouldn’t love that?

If we can help you with custom furniture or any of your design needs, please contact us.

This stacked-stone fireplace with floating mantel is traditional but updated.

Baby, it’s cold outside – time to light the fireplace! This often overlooked accessory is actually a centerpiece in most rooms, so it’s important that it has the look you want, especially since it is a focal point during the chilly months. Here are a few ways you can update your fireplace.

Unlike most parts of your house, a fireplace can get a fresh look relatively inexpensively. For example, simply re-facing the front of the fireplace with stacked stone (see photo) can really make it pop and give it new life.

Large tile is a popular choice for fireplaces but I generally avoid it for a couple of reasons. One, the wide grout is difficult to clean, and it does get dirty from the fire smoke. And two, tile is tricky to cut around the fireplace opening, which means it doesn’t arrange correctly on the space. That leaves half-tiles and a cluttered look. Instead, choose from cultured or natural stone, or small tile.

If your fireplace has a floor-to-ceiling surround, you can remove all of it and then add new facing just to the bottom. Then drywall and paint the top, which will provide space for artwork, a mirror or a flat-screen TV.

Some fireplaces have no design – they’re more like a hole in the wall. If that’s your situation, we can have our custom woodworker make a mantel with columns that extend to the floor, framing your fireplace. I just did this for a client and it took their fireplace from dull to elegant in one step.

If you are only replacing the mantel, be sure it balances with the fireplace size, meaning your mantel shouldn’t be significantly smaller or larger than the fireplace itself. A floating mantel (see photo) is a contemporary option that works well with more rustic styles too depending on the wood you choose for the mantel itself.

A new mantel makes gives this fireplace presence and adds a decorative touch.

As you plan your fireplace redesign, stick with neutral colors. It can be fun to use colorful tile, for example, but if you want to change your décor later, the tile might have become dated. Instead, go for clean and classic, and add color through other room accessories. Also consider converting a wood-burning fireplace to gas. It will be easier and less expensive to operate, and it eliminates flying embers that could end up on your beautiful rugs and furniture.

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with remodeling your fireplace, or any of your home design needs.

Storage is important in a family office where multiple people will be using computers and supplies.

For families with kids, the kitchen can become a catch-all place — meals, homework, crafts, games, you name it. Not only does that create a lot of clutter, it doesn’t allow anyone to focus, especially when you are trying to cook, one kid is bouncing a ball and another is attempting to study math.

That’s why a lot of our clients are turning to the family office concept. While many homes include an office for adults, few have a dedicated place for family workspace. But family home offices are easy to create — here are a few tips.

* Select a place in your home that is at least partially closed off from the rest of the hubbub. An extra bedroom is perfect.

* Think about how many workspaces you will need for everyone. A corner desk allows you to add two smaller desks to either side of it, for example, accommodating three people at once.

* In addition to desk chairs, include comfortable seating such as a chair or small sofa where the kids can read while you’re checking email or where you can curl up while overseeing their homework.

A comfy chair and plenty of light make this a welcoming family office.

* Since this is a space where you are likely to plan family events, menus and other activities, add a bulletin board and a large calendar. White boards are also handy for you and the kids to write messages and reminders.

* Store markers, pens and pencils in colorful jars. A plastic caddy can hold scissors, tape and glue. Look for cute yet functional storage pieces to give the room energy.

* If your space is large enough, add bookcases and a project table with child-height stools.

* Include a few green plants for a touch of the outdoors.

The best office is a warm and inviting place that provides a terrific work environment. When you create a family office in a designated space, your kitchen will re-gain its original purpose, and you will feel more organized. My family loves our office — I’m sure yours will too.

Please contact us at Style on a Shoestring if we can help with providing a family office of for any of your home design needs.

This living space shows how a Mid-Century modern can be updated but still have that same funky 60s flavor.

If you have a period home—such as a Spanish or a Craftsman, both prevalent in Southern California—it can be a challenge to remodel and retain the house’s character. At Style on a Shoestring, we’ve found it really takes a creative approach to establish the right balance between honoring the home’s original detail and upgrading it to current standards.

For example, I’ve been working recently on a 1960s Mid-Century modern ranch-style home. This is the new owners’ dream house, so we wanted to maintain the integrity of the design while bringing it into 2011. Fortunately these clients work in the arts, so they are willing to take imaginative design leaps with me.

One of the home’s centerpieces is an original atomic-look light fixture, somewhat common for that time but still a bold feature. So we kept that in the living room (we managed to keep all of the house’s original light fixtures!), and we also retained the vaulted wood ceilings. Launching from a green and white color palette—fresh and simple—we chose a low-pile green carpeting that is almost like felt. We also removed the original rock around the fireplace and used white modern tile instead. And I can’t overlook telling you about the fireplace hearth, which is magenta solid-surface quartz. It’s quite a statement!

All of those changes kept within the house’s style but brought it up to speed.

White glossy cabinets and globe lights give this kitchen a modern look without sacrificing utility.

Then we gutted the original kitchen because it just wasn’t functional any longer. To keep it modern, we installed IKEA cabinets in a high-gloss white finish with low-profile chrome hardware. We paired those with sleek white quartz countertops. To warm up the space, we used dark, large-plank cork flooring. For a pop of color, we added hand-fired turquoise and white tile in an elongated diamond shape—a classic 60s pattern with a modern take.

Are you starting to see how our strategy played out in this remodel? So while we kept the living room’s wood ceiling, we painted it white. We allowed the fireplace to continue its footprint around two walls but we improved the materials. And we kept the kitchen’s clean lines but we made it more practical for today’s cooks. The result of our “modernizing a modern” is a home that clearly reflects its original design but with current sensibilities. And it’s just a really fun space too!

If we can help you design your period home—or help with any decorating or remodel ideas—please contact us.