It’s easy to say that inspiration is all around us, and of course it is. But often we may find it hard to translate that into our living environment. We look at our home and don’t know where to start. It’s important to find that something special that speaks to us and our vision and complete the interior we desire.

Everything in your home can be a source of inspiration. The idea for a room often begins with a single object: a family heirloom, a framed photo, a piece of fabric, that Merlot in your glass. Start from that single element that you love and watch the space take shape.

Even beyond that, inspiration can often be more obvious than you realize. That vacation you took last year to the beach or a visit to your local museum. The color of the sky or the leaves on a tree. Smell and sound can bring an idea to your mind. Music can inspire you visually. A song can bring the power to energize your space or be soothing and peaceful, and your home will reflect this.

I have helped clients create children’s rooms inspired by fairy tales or sports teams. We have painted stars and moons on ceilings of nurseries. A master suite enveloped in fabric can be a Moroccan fantasy and a South Seas paradise can be achieved by finding that right shade of blue you saw in Tahiti.  Anything is possible and the possibilities are endless.

Once you have landed on your inspiration, don’t feel pressured to move quickly. Let a room take shape naturally. It may take time for the elements to fuse together. Don’t be disillusioned or frustrated just because you have the perfect blue pillow but aren’t finding the sofa fabric to go with it. Keep an open mind, let the inspiration flow and allow the space to speak to you.

Finally, don’t be afraid to do the unexpected. It’s OK to take risks. Keep an open mind about your room and what it may be saying to you. Discover the hidden texture or spot of brilliance in your personal inspiration. Don’t be boxed in by convention!

I always try to help clients move just a bit further from their comfort zone. A home should be a personal statement.  Your finished space, if you let it, will spring from your inspiration and may just be the impetus for someone else’s imagination.

*Originally posted in 2017 – reposted by popular demand!

Taken from Insider.com

Pastel Palette’s are IN!

Aaron Lebowski, an interior designer and consultant at Juliei Salone, said this summer is all about bringing pastel colors into your space. He said colors like pink, yellow, and blue bring to mind summery images, like sunny days and pool parties. Adding soft colors elevates your mood. Often just an accent can bring a room to life!

Natural Materials indoors are IN!

Kate Diaz, interior designer and cofounder of Swanky Den, said we’ll see more natural materials in design choices this season because they bring the outdoors in. “Wood, stone, and leather are going to be big this summer,” Diaz said. Texture and tactile elements contribute for that indoor/outdoor lifestyle.

Floral Window Treatments are SO IN!

Florals are no longer just a trend of the past, according to Courtney Wollersheim, interior designer from FLOOR360. “Grandmillennial’ or ‘grandma chic’ is sneaking into many room styles as the summer season heats up because you need lots of florals and bold colors to achieve this look,” Wollersheim explained: “It’s very on-trend to recreate the comfort and coziness of grandma’s traditional style house with vintage pieces and floral fabrics for window curtains.” When incorporating florals, Wollersheim recommends mixing and matching tablecloth and window-curtain fabrics that are within the same color family.

The Movement to Arch Shaped Elements is IN!

Catherine Staples, lead designer at Aspen & Ivy, tells us arches are a timeless trend you’ll see more of this season. “From doorways to windows to mirrors and millwork, arches are a warm, whimsical way to elevate your space off the linear path,” Staples said. “I expect to see arched elements in design this summer in furniture as well.” Arches suggest a classic, European architectural addition – bringing even the most cookie cutter rooms a sophistication.

The Trend of Reclaimed Wood is SO OUT!

“The appeal of reclaimed wood kitchen tables, dining tables, chairs, coffee tables makes sense because it brings character and texture to any room,” Wollersheim said. But in recent years, she said, people are realizing there’s such a thing as too much reclaimed wood in a space. We recommend keeping one of your favorite pieces and contrasting it with glass accents and soft-cushioned chairs for a more holistic look. Beautiful, rich polished wood like walnut and mahogany up your game!

Overdone Rustic Interiors are OUT!

Known for its natural-looking aged look, the rustic interior-design style is on its way out. “It’s not that the rustic look is inherently bad, but the proliferation of it in homes can be overwhelming,” Lebowski said. He said you can find balance by having one or two rustic elements in your home, but you might not want to overdo it. Shiplap can be so 2010 – it’s time to move on to a more finished look in your home.

All White Interiors are OUT!

Toussaint Derby, a lead designer at Havenly, said sleek, all-white interiors are going to be replaced with colorful ones. She told Insider “the all-white aesthetic may have felt a little too cold and impersonal” so it’s falling out of favor as people try to cozy up their spaces. Try an accent wall in lime green, periwinkle blue or salmon to add a punch to your space!

Minimalism is OUT!

According to luxury interior designer Margarita Bravo, monochromatic spaces just aren’t as welcoming as other design choices. “People are spending more time in their homes, and they want a more welcoming, inviting space with the use of different materials, textures, and accent colors,” Bravo said. There is a warmth and coziness to creating an environment that mixes textures, colors and styles. Maximalism rules!

What are the trends you’d like to see take a hike and what ones are you open to embracing in your space?

It’s important for our homes to be a physical and mental refuge from today’s unrelenting world.  The place where we gather defines our mood. Our personal space should enrich our life, not make it more stressful.  Here are 5 ways to return home at the end of a long day to a peaceful house.

1 – Start with the entrance and front door.  Paint your door a soothing color like eggplant or chocolate brown.  Plant an assortment of pots of flowers on the front steps, like a mixture of wildflowers.  Keep it simple and opt for a natural woven door mat, not one with funny sayings or crazy patterns.

2 – Keep your kitchen stress free by banning clutter, especially on kitchen counters.  Contemporary cabinetry often uses sliding doors at counter level, where you can store toasters, blenders and the like for easy access, but hidden.  Don’t let your kitchen table end up being a computer desk or the spot where you dump your keys and mail.  Keep it clean and ready to set for dinner.

3 – One word about bathrooms: SPA! This room, more than any, is your personal sanctuary.  Paint it a restorative color.  Roll white fluffy towels and keep them in a basket or on the tub decking.  Use a silverware divider or handled plastic bins for toiletries and make up.  No more searching around your vanity drawers for what you need!

4 – Home offices and children’s playrooms are an important part of todays home. They will never be completely organized and don’t need to be.  The key is to close the door to that space when not in use.  In real life, there are just some spaces that are what they are.  Resist the urge to try and de-clutter this space, but go to the rooms where you can relax.

5 – The best place for renewal and recharging is the bedroom.  Use the bed only for sleeping and intimacy.  Take the TV and computer out of the bedroom completely.  Keep excess pillows and unnecessary items off  the bed. If every bedroom looked like the pictures in magazines, we’d be exhausted by the time we removed all those pillows from the bed just to get into it!  Have scented candles in the bedroom, you don’t even have to light them to enjoy the fragranced as you sleep.

In these times where pressure and stress run high, it’s important to have your sanctuary where you can start each day refreshed and ready to face new challenges.  Your house can do this for you if you allow it.  When you get home tonight, look around and see where and what you can improve in your own home.  Have fun and enjoy your new peaceful surroundings!

As we close out on 2021, it’s time to look ahead at the New Year and explore the latest trends in design. After living nearly two years now in the pandemic, more than ever our homes and spaces have become of utmost importance to our well being. Here are 5 trends and comebacks from the design industry, and they are fun! Let’s take a look –

Bold Color – Although gray is still a popular choice, we are seeing a move to warmer colors, with browns making a huge breakthrough. But, just in time to keep us from boredom, bold, bright colors are here and we need them more than ever. Yellows, oranges and lime greens help make a room pop, give us energy and work with almost any color scheme. Many of us are a bit nervous about color, so start small – a Canary yellow pillow, Mandarin orange rug or green accessories and when you feel ready, move on up to the latest in bright wallcoverings, upholstery and paint. Have fun with it and let your inner brightness shine!

Vintage Makes a Comeback – For years, top designers have scoured consigment shops and vintage flea markets to find that special piece that gives a room an anchor and a history. Vintage and retro looks help us embrace our roots and are usually very well priced. As the supply chain has pushed new furniture back to 6 months or more, clients aren’t willing to wait. Getting what they need now is important as well as that feeling of repurposing and discovering the past. From the 1920’s to the 80’s, vintage is in the eye of the beholder. Re-upholster a classic sofa or chair that you found online. The fun is in the search – you never know what you might find!

Organic and Sustainable – Although the growing need to support sustainable design has been around for a while, in 2022 we will see a whole new breed of companies working towards achieving this goal and clients asking specifically for it. I also love to see the wave of organic looks coming our way, like the return of macrame and textural fabrics, the renewed interest in bamboo flooring and kitchen design that matches the organic eating trend we all like to follow. Bring live greenery into your home, the energy they bring to your space is great for healthy living.

Smart Furniture – Along with seeing organic design we are really latching onto the idea of “smart” furniture – pieces that can be multifunctional. This is especially important for smaller spaces. Modular furniture, stand up desks and the return of bean bag chairs show that we want (and need) our furniture to not be static, but change and morph into being used in creative and necessary ways. One of my favorites is the look of Italian floor seating, cushions that work for napping, conversation, even cocktail hour.

Abstract Art Makes a Comeback – One of the most exciting trends we will see in 2022 is the return of 60’s and 70’s style absract art. Whether bright colors or black & white – bold, minimal looks are taking over our walls. Large pieces that make a statement and hold their own against the furnishings give a space that “wow factor” we strive for. Pulling the vintage card into it, think Bauhaus prints or graphic art of the Mid Century Modern era. Whether original pieces or prints, there is something here for every environment. There is so much great art to be found online – buy an original or a print – just go big or go home!

Take a look around your home and see which (or all!) these new design ideas will be a part of your 2022!

The holidays are nearly upon us. As we pull old decorations from storage, it’s a good time to
explore the latest trends to create your perfect space.

Here are 3 creative ideas that make this holiday unlike any before!
​
Tweak Your Christmas Colors – We all know red and green as the colors of the season. This
year explore the whole palette available to you. Silver, aqua and white are hot this season and
always a sharp and sophisticated element to transition into New Years Eve. Introduce chocolate
into your holiday décor – not only does it add warmth and modernism to the room, it brings that
organic feeling inside. Keep to tones that suggest a culinary experience, like latte, cocoa or
cinnamon. Use ornaments with stripes, polka dots or abstract designs.

Twist Your Tree – We all like to unwrap the ornaments and discovering the one that has been in
the family for generations, brought home from vacation or made in grade school. This year, do
something completely unexpected. Decorate your tree in only one color or just with pink lights.
I’ve seen trees hung upside down, ones covered in high heels or with dog toys. Metallics are a
huge trend this season. Revive that pink aluminum tree from the 60’s or consider purchasing a
live tree in a pot and plant it after the holidays. It’s renewable and enjoyable year around.

Party The 2020 Way – The key word this year Is innovation. Mix things up and keep the energy
high. Throw a virtual party with friends and family. Have the “guests” dress in black tie or as
their favorite holiday character. Have them show their wackiest ornament and have a prize for
the most outlandish. If you are isolating due to Covid restrictions, don’t let that stop the fun. Mix
and match your dishes and glasses or add tropical prints to the holiday décor. Place palm fronds in a vase with pinecones and ban poinsettias from the place (they are so traditional!!)

Now, more than ever we need a little Christmas spirit. Find yours, spread the joy and ring in
2021 with your own style.

As we all look forward to 2021, I want  to share a few of my favorite design elements and inspirations.  Enjoy!

Favorite individual piece –The 54” Braziliance Commode is a two drawer cabinet designed by Dorothy Draper, one of the most iconic interior designers of the 20^th century. Originally created in 1939 for the Quitandinha Resort in Sao Paulo,Brazil, the styling captures the South American craze that swept the USA in the 30’s and 40’s. With classic oversized acanthus leaves, carved serpentine moldings and a shell carving in the center, it exudes class and sophistication. Approximately $7000 through your design professional.

Favorite color – No doubt about it, there is nothing that can beat basic black. This one color goes with every design style and brings out the best in any fabric or finish. Use it in high gloss for the dining room with a funky crystal chandelier, in a soft gray tinted black for that sexy, sophisticated bedroom or an upholstered slick mid-century chair in plush black velvet. This is the hottest in color for an all around perfect accent in your home.

Favorite new look – Although the avocado green appliances of my childhood still haunt me to this day, I’m crazy about the new color options being shown on washers and dryers. Bright reds, navy blues and soft grays allow us to bring the utilitarian laundry room into the new century. Just like flat screens have taken the television out of armories and cabinets and put them on display, now you can be proud to show even this room to your friends and not have to hide it behind bi-fold doors. Now when friends tour your home, you won’t have to stand in front of the door and say “oh that’s just the laundry room”.

 Favorite comeback look – Michael Taylor single handedly turned the design community on its ear in the late 1970’s and 80’s with his organic, beachy southern California  look.Michael died of AIDS in 1987 but his signature style is back with a bang, starting with his famous basketball shaped sofa pillows. No other style from that era is more au courant than the Taylor aesthetic: interiors of textural fabrics, sexy curves and casual comfort. Other designers, such as Donghia that were big in the late 70’s and 80’s are also experiencing a resurgence of interest.

Favorite place for inspiration –PARIS! What more can you say? Not only does the city of lights spark romance, it’s also the catalyst for design inspiration. The history, the architecture, the furniture shops and the famous flea markets all add up to the best place in the world to feel creative. Only the French can make design look so effortless. Whether you purchase a trinket or bring home a container of French antiques, anyone can feel special with a bit of Paris in their homes. There are numerous, beautiful coffee table books on French style. Check them out.

Embrace the things that are your personal favorites. Make your home fun, the place you love to come home to and most of all your inspiratio. Take the time to explore and learn the new concepts, ideas and trends. You’ll be glad you did.

From the very beginning, before we began to put thought into our living spaces, we had art. Early humans drew on cave walls the story of their lives. At that time, we were probably still sleeping on the ground and eating hunched over a fire. 

Art and the human reaction to it is at the core of who we are and has always helped us to express ourselves and possibly leave a part of ourselves for others to enjoy and contemplate. Early on and in every culture on Earth – it has been our fascination and love of art that has told our story and allowed us to express our creativity.

I think the “art” of design came much later and from a much different place. Man needed a place to eat, a place to sit, a place to sleep. As we moved from caves to shelter of our own making, the need arose to express oneself, and family and community grew. Along with outside elements like weather conditions, mobility of a nomadic life and increased learning and mixing of different races of people, our homes became an extension of who we were, a way of showing others what was ours and what was important to us.

As culture developed, art and design interlocked fingers. Innovation of materials grew and changed what we could do. Maybe an early bed was straw on the ground, then straw sewn into a bag for easy moving about. Hand tools led to creating household objects and weaving fabrics, which in turn became interior design.

Modern man is still ruled by the instinct to be creative, expressive and the need to adorn their spaces, to enjoy art and feel comfortable in their environment.

Personal expression in art and our environment is essential. We still feel the same way about art as the first cave artist did and we now connect that to having a comfortable home.  Art and design live not only side by side but connected as one.

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As we navigate sheltering in place, it’s a great time to embrace your space and environment. Our home is very much front and center in our lives right now – we are in it 24/7. For many of us, this is something new. With work, social life and family events, we aren’t often home this much or this long at one time. Taking the time to slow down and look around your home is the new normal and it can make you and your house better for it! How can we keep ourselves sane and use this time constructively to love our space?

Here are 5 ideas that can make staying at home more fun and more productive!

Create a new space for yourself. A dining room can become an art studio, the guest room (who has guests now?) can be your personal yoga studio. It just takes a bit of imagination and ingenuity. We all have rooms and areas that don’t get much use. For example, in my house, the formal dining room mostly collects dust. I found the light streaming in the window in the mornings to be very inviting so it’s now a new home office.

Reassess your art. For many of us, we frame a favorite piece of art or family photo, hang it on the wall and there it sits for 20 years – fading, sad and forgotten. Art framers are opening up a whole new concept these days. Send them a picture of your art, they send back options for matting and framing. They pick the piece up and in a couple weeks it’s delivered back to your doorstep. Pay online and voila! You’ve freshened the wall and still social distanced!

Channel your inner bartender. Instead of sticking to the same old drink recipes, challenge yourself with some trickier (and more exciting) cocktail recipes. Learn about wines – for those of us who don’t know anything beyond Merlot and Chardonnay there is so much out there to discover. Everyone will thank you— then pull out the good wine glasses and appetizers and share a virtual wine tasting with your friends.

Rediscover your environment. We live our lives so fast and so hectic, we hardly ever slow down to look at our home. Now is the time to really see it. Work with what you have – move accessories around, rearrange the furniture, pull down those dusty old drapes. Now is a great time to make that list of what you would love to refresh and when this is over, call your designer and say “I’m ready to make a change”!

Make it green. This is the perfect time to give your neglected plants some love. Re-pot those root bound ones. Start an herb garden in the kitchen window. Spring is here and flowers are in bloom – try your hand at flower arranging or learn online how to plant a succulent garden.

This is your opportunity to not only find new love and appreciation for your home but to see potential changes and be creative. Your home will thank you for it and soon you can look back and feel the great energy that comes from being proactive!

Steven Edward Wallace Design of the Diablo Design Group has been creating beautiful and livable interiors for over 25 years. His portfolio includes restoration projects in the Hancock Park area of Los Angeles, 1930’s Art Deco residences in the Hollywood Hills and Mid-Century Modern desert living homes in Palm Springs. Eight years ago he moved from southern California to Danville and has completed major projects for a number of Chevron Executives, families in and around Danville and a landmark building condo in the Marina District of San Francisco. Steve effortlessly demonstrates his design talents taking clients from conception to completion, as their liaison with workmen and contractors, minimizing stress and giving them a home they love and love to show off!

“The best design is the one that flaunts the rules. We cannot be afraid of making a mistake or feel we have to follow conventional wisdom. Every room has its own personality and is as different as the person who lives there. Those who color outside the lines show the most imagination and creativity. Those who walk the straight and narrow leave nothing behind to be remembered.”

Do you need ideas on where to start? Here are just a few kinds of projects we can create for you:

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