Colorful Craftsman Project Introduction
A Tricky Layout for Modern Living
My client lives in a classic craftsman home in one of my favorite San Diego neighborhoods, Banker’s Hill. Her house is from the 1940s with original details like beautiful built-ins and paneling.
The entryway flows directly into the “front room” with window seats and a brick fireplace, and she was having a hard time figuring out how to orient the space – not wanting to block the front door, but still making the fireplace a focal point.
After living in the home for five years, she had put her focus on other areas, and the front room had become a catch-all for boxes, work-out equipment and miscellaneous decor.
The Project Scope: Kid-Friendly Rental Re-Design
My client has a 10-year old son who frequently has friends over, so we plan to create a “grown-up lounge” in front of the fireplace to give her a small retreat to curl up with a magazine (or who are we kidding, Instagram) and a glass of wine, while the kids are watching a movie or playing a game. She also has a 5-month old labradoodle puppy, so making the space both kid and puppy friendly is a priority.
In addition to tackling the area in front of her fireplace, we will refresh the living room, clean up the entryway, and eventually make some changes to the dining room. Since my client is renting the home we are limited on what we can change (wood blinds and wall color are staying), but her landlord happily agreed to most of our suggestions.
The Vibe: Layered, Colorful and Well-Traveled
The colors of the client’s recently purchased rug (middle) sets the tone for this project
My client recently purchased a colorful rug, which will inform the overall color palette of our design. She also has many beautiful décor items from her world travels that I plan to incorporate, all while paying tribute to the classic craftsman architecture. Some of the big furniture, like the sectional and media cabinet, are staying.
Our first step is to organize the space, donate or sell items that are no longer needed, and create a system that works for their family. We will bring in some new pieces of furniture and swap a few fixtures, but the biggest impact will perhaps be the fireplace, which we will give a much-needed facelift by painting it.
I hope you’ll follow along on Instagram and Pinterest as I work on this space in the coming months.
What do you think of this direction? Are you excited to see it come together? Let me know in the comments!
