Of course, this process is not unique to our RYR clients.  So, here is a round-up of some stand-out stories from our custom project portfolio.

Our Berkeley Hills clients had a deeply personal connection to their artwork, with much of it having been created by family members.  The pencil drawing in their breakfast nook was done by their daughter.  

After the furniture was installed, Bridget and I spent a day with the clients, testing out different pieces in different locations until we knew where we wanted everything to go.  The piece below is by the husband’s father, local artist Jerry Eknoian.

Our West Clay client encountered the black and white photography of Youngbok Park over the course of the project.  She purchased two pieces of his work, and each one elevates the room where it hangs.  The piece in the dining room is a focal point above the sideboard and pops against a chartreuse grasscloth wallcovering.

The photograph in the living room sits quietly above a console table as part of a composition that includes a set of lamps, stacks of books, and botanicals.

Our clients at our Lake Street Residence also have an eclectic collection of art.  When we began the project, they had just been gifted this Robert Kelley piece and knew that they wanted it above the fireplace.  We waited until their new furniture was installed to place the other pieces.

After this existing wall of shelving in the media room was painted, I spent an afternoon with the client to curate various objects including a grandfather’s Louis Vuitton briefcase, children’s artwork, and baskets acquired on a trip to Africa.  

On one of my first projects, the client had always had a portrait of her grandmother hanging above the sofa.  Though the portrait was beautiful, the proportions were wrong, and it felt a little heavy as the focal point of the room.

When the client revealed this delicate painting of a tree, which had been boxed up and stashed away, it was clear that this piece would be perfect above the sofa.  Grandmother moved to a different wall, where she is still very much part of the room.

Sometimes artwork is an anchor to start a room, and other times the art placement reveals itself along the way, often through serendipitous circumstances.  In any case, at the end of a project, hanging beloved artwork feels like reconnecting with old friends.

If you have artwork that you’d like to bring out of hiding or would like to talk to me about your interior design project, click the link below to get in touch.

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The post Beginning & Ending with Art Placement appeared first on Nystrom Design.

With two of our current ‘Reinvent Your Room’ projects, each client already has a compelling collection of artwork that is meaningful to them.  So for both projects, we are making existing artwork a focal point, and the room designs have evolved from there.   

At our Menlo Park project, we are excited to see a large-scale abstract painting by Sam Tchakalian that had been gifted to the clients by their parents become the backdrop for a game table and cozy fireside seating.  When the room is complete, it will include a range of blues and neutral textural fabrics, leathers, woods, and a few special accent pieces.

At our project in the Miraloma neighborhood of San Francisco, the wife has collected many interesting pieces through her work in the art world.  As part of their living and dining room ‘reinvention’, we agreed that the dining room should balance serenity and drama.  Since the long wall is visible from the living room, a gallery wall will serve double-duty, adding character to both rooms. 

We decided to compose the gallery wall with a serene vibe by selecting pieces from their collection that share a neutral color palette.  We chose a deep blue paint color for the room to lend calming impact. 

If you have artwork that you’d like to bring out of hiding or would like to talk to me about your interior design project, click the link below to get in touch.   

Schedule a Discovery Call

The post Reimagine Your Artwork appeared first on Nystrom Design.

With plans to use the home as a pied-à-terre for weekends in the city, the clients were eager to furnish the rooms quickly, and excited to take a hands-on roll with the design implementation, making this project an ideal fit for our Reinvent Your Room service.

Developing a Color Palette

The first order of business was to develop a color palette so that they could have the entire condo painted while furniture was on order.  We developed an atmospheric color palette that softly connects the interior with views of the water and sky.  We suggested special wallpapers for the elevator vestibule, powder room, and hallway, and introduced them to one of our rockstar paper hangers.

Space Planning

While painting and paper hanging were underway, we developed space planning options for the Dining Room, Living Room, and two bedrooms.  The Living Room warranted the most consideration, with common modern-day questions regarding TV location, size, and how to factor in the existing fireplace.  Our recommendation was to place the TV on the wall opposite the fireplace, rather than above.

We engaged the fireplace by configuring a sectional with an ottoman that opens in both directions.  This way, we could size the TV for optimal viewing in a large room, and pair it with an appropriately sized media credenza.  We incorporated the fireplace into the overall wall composition and sourced artwork that is well proportioned to the pre-existing fireplace and architectural molding.

Art Selection and Placement

When asked to assist with art selection and placement, I was delighted to introduce the clients to some of my favorite local artists and galleries, at a range of price points that would match their budget.  An original piece by Anastasia Faiella is a focal point from the dining table.

The vignette below includes a print of an egret that was purchased digitally from Etsy, professionally printed and framed at Cheap Pete’s Frame Shop, and has become one of the client’s favorite pieces.

Special Wall Treatments

We wanted to make the arrival a special experience, so for their dedicated elevator lobby, we selected a wallcovering with monochromatic texture and organic movement in the pattern.  The color palette is deeper than the rest of the space, creating an intimate moment before opening up to expansive views.

We elevated the powder room experience with a loose flame stitch patterned wallpaper and a mirror with a tiered frame made from bone inlay.

An existing niche in the entry foyer was the perfect place for a commissioned Jeremy Holmes sculpture set against a grasscloth wallcovering backdrop.  

The end result was summed up by our clients’ generous testimonial:

Ellen and her team’s interior design expertise transformed our space beyond what we thought possible.  Her exceptional ability to listen and translate our vision into reality resulted in a home that perfectly reflects our aesthetic while maximizing functionality.

We are currently taking new Reinvent Your Room projects.  If you would like to talk to Ellen Nystrom about this furniture-focused, flat-fee service, click the link below to schedule a call:

Schedule a Discovery Call

Photography by Vivian Johnson

The post Case Study: Nob Hill Pied-à-Terre appeared first on Nystrom Design.

Crash course:  Sister Parish may be best known for designing the Kennedy White House. She and Albert Hadley ran the influential firm Parish-Hadley in Manhattan for over six decades. 

The experience of designing a home for her grandson and his wife was meaningful to me in many ways.  As I learned more about Sister, I was inspired by her ability to give new life to antique and vintage furnishings and to create rooms that felt fresh and innovative in their time – and for years to come.

When making decisions about how to best use furnishings that our clients already owned, my goal was to channel Sister’s design sensibility.  In many ways, she was ahead of her time. I suspect that sustainability was not top of mind for Sister Parish, but her commitment to reimagining pre-owned furniture is one way to slow the cycle of consumption.  There was a range of storied art and furniture that our clients wanted to fold into the mix, including several pieces that were inherited from Sister.

We gave a lot of thought to this secretary desk that Sister originally bought for herself. To preserve or to reimagine?  Since Sister frequently had pieces painted, we decided she would have been pleased with our decision to paint it a solid pine green on the exterior and a creamy white on the interior.

For the chair, we preserved the weathered paint and the original silk fabric.  Paired with the reimagined secretary desk, and relocated from the living room to the stair landing, the ensemble got a whole new look.

This Fauteuil chair, inherited from the wife’s mother, also got a total makeover.  A modern chevron fabric with black piping and a fresh coat of paint on the frame make this chair feel at home with the rest of the updates to the living room.

A set of iron chairs that originated in Spain, c. 1786, were acquired by our client’s father in England before they arrived in San Francisco.  They had previously been upholstered in a sweet eyelet cotton fabric, and we streamlined the look with a faux leather.  Their story continues as companions to the dining room credenza, paired with a set of acrylic lamps.

As much as I love talking about chair makeovers, this project also included extensive cosmetic upgrades, breathing new life into dated spaces with minimal waste.  The guest bathroom received all new finishes, including a custom cut marble feature wall.  The original vanity was re-purposed with fresh paint and hardware.

Head over to our website to see the full set of photos from our Lake Street Project.  And if you would like to talk about an interior design project, reach out to schedule a Discovery Call with me.

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The post Case Study: Reimagining a Home Filled with Family History appeared first on Nystrom Design.

The topic of downsizing has been on my mind for a while, and it seems that I am not alone.  Many people I know are facing a similar endeavor right now. We have been living in an era that has celebrated consumption. It has never been easier to acquire new things, and I think we are feeling the burden of unchecked accumulation.

This blog post is divided into two parts: the practical and the personal.  First, I will share five tips I used to help my mom downsize.  Since this was no ordinary interior design project, at the end I will also share a few of the personal experiences that caught me off guard, as well as some resources I found helpful.

The Practical

Here are five tips that helped me manage my mom’s transition to a smaller home.

Tip 1:  Space Planning

First we identified her favorite pieces of furniture, and then generated several furniture plans to show her what could fit and help her imagine how she might adapt her existing furniture for different purposes.  For example, since she won’t be entertaining in her new apartment, the sideboard from her dining room now functions as aTV credenza and storage for gift wrap, stationery, and office supplies.  Determining what was most important to her gave us clarity for how to pack and what to move.  Her new apartment offers a simplified lifestyle, while familiar pieces give a sense of continuity and comfort.

I mean, look at that shag rug in the picture below!  It might be one of my earliest memories from the living room of my childhood home.  It still grounds the room with inviting color and cozy texture – and still sort of amazes me that my parents made such a bold decision.

Tip 2:  Establish Time Parameters

Setting a move date will probably cause some anxiety, but it is really important to create a schedule that will impose constraint.  Every cabinet and closet at my mom’s house was full of stories, memories, sentiment, and deferred decisions.  I found it helpful to make mini-goals and set a timer.  For example, 45 minutes to empty this cabinet.  It was easy to get lost in rabbit holes, and the timer would bring me back to the task at hand.

Tip 3:  Practice Compassion

Remember that any kind of change can be hard.  Even for my typical interior design clients, I recognize that things often feel messier before they get to experience the payoff of their transformed space.  Downsizing can be an especially emotional process, whether you are doing it for yourself or for a loved one.

Tip 4:  Set Boundaries and a Small Dose of Tough Love

Whether you are downsizing for yourself or someone else, you will need some dedicated time and focused brain space to make progress.  Map out some blocks of time and put up a figurative (or literal!) ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign.  

In the days leading up to my mom’s move, I gently suggested that she not be in the room where I was packing.  In our case, I think this was the most compassionate thing for both of us.  I could tell that just by watching me sort through things she had not used for years, she felt a sense of responsibility for them.  The principle of ‘out of sight, out of mind’ was helpful here.

Tip 5:  Be Decisive

The ability to make decisions will be your best friend in this process.  In the next section, I will share the questions that I asked myself in order to make (mostly) quick decisions.  At the very end is a list of resources that I found helpful.

I gave myself permission to break up the china sets that my mom had inherited from various grandparents.  I assembled a slightly mismatched stack of dessert plates that I will hold onto.  I give you permission to edit your inherited china too…if you want to.

The Personal

Decision Making Before the Move

Since this was my childhood home, there were many things about this project that were very personal.  The best way to illustrate the inner dialogue of my decision-making process is with one particular coffee service set that was stored in the dining room credenza.

This set carries all the nostalgia of the 1960s, when my parents would entertain friends from the Scandinavian Club of which they belonged.  Our living room was filled with furniture shipped from my dad’s native country of Norway.  They would sit around the coffee table, and literally serve coffee and cake while they listened to records on the record player.  I love this image so much.

When I came across the coffee service set, I so wanted to re-create that scene in my life.  But my reality is that I never will.  I meet friends at coffee shops, but I rarely serve coffee in my home.  And, I am at peace with that.

So, it was pretty easy to answer my set of questions:

1. Will I use this?  No.
2. Is it realistic for my lifestyle?  No.
3. Do I love it?  Yes.
4. Do I have a place for it in my home?  No.
5. Am I willing to part with something else to make space for this?  No.
6. Could this benefit someone else more than me?  Yes.

This is not to diminish the significance of loving something.  But for me, in this case, it was not a strong enough reason to bring this coffee service set into my life.  I like to imagine that there is some young coffee-drinking couple that will be thrilled to have this set and put it to loving use.

Decision Making After the Move

This is where I take off my Interior Designer hat and share from a place that is a little more vulnerable.  The truth is that my pace has slowed, and as I write this blog, I am still wading my way through what is left at my mom’s house.

Once she was settled into her new apartment, there was still more than half a house of stuff to handle. I thought I was going to power through with my decision-making prowess and have the house ready to rent in 6 months.  It has been almost a year since my mom moved out, and I am here to say that it has not been quite so straightforward.

Most of the remaining furniture pieces are no-brainers that my brother and I will hire an estate company to handle.  But I feel compelled to empty the remaining closets and cabinets myself.  There are family letters, photos, and mementos that are hard for me to imagine someone else handling.  There is a weight to being the decision-maker about these things with which I am still grappling.  What do I want to pass on to my children and my niece?  Will they care?  Will anyone ever read the letters?  Who will thread together the stories behind the pictures?  Does it matter?

Without the deadline of the movers coming, there is more space for memories and emotions to surface.  I admit to feeling some frustration towards my mom that she had not purged over the years.  At the same time, maybe there are things for me to learn and to make sense of through this process.

All I can say for now is that if you are preparing to downsize, try to leave some space for the unknown.  Maybe in another year, I will have more concrete advice.  In the meantime, I do recommend a solid soundtrack for your downsizing efforts.  I enjoyed the company of Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, and Simon & Garfunkel, all on vinyl, of course.

Resources

The resources below offer a range of perspectives and services.  I found each to be helpful in different ways.

• The Gentle Art of Swedish Death Cleaning:  How to Free Yourself and Your Family From a Lifetime of Clutter | Book by Margareta Magnusson
• Minimalista:  Your Step-By-Step Guide to a Better Home, Wardrobe, and Life | Book by Shira Gill
• All There Is with Anderson Cooper | Podcast on CNN Audio
• Do I Need This? | Documentary by Kate Schermerhorn
• Make It Home Bay Area | Furniture Bank

If you are preparing to downsize and would like interior design support, reach out to schedule a Discovery Call with me.

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The post Interior Design for Downsizing appeared first on Nystrom Design.

The project entailed new furnishings, paint, and accessories for the family room and the primary bedroom, and a quick timeline was a priority. Our client likes to take a hands-on approach with her projects.  She looked to us for a holistic vision to update her spaces in a California rustic style, but she wanted to implement the design herself.

The big move in the family room was to paint the shelves that flank the fireplace a deep shade of blue. The rock fireplace surround was preserved but given a lighter appearance with a whitewash stain and a streamlined mantle.

The furniture we selected is durable for the grandkids and flexible for entertaining. Comfortable seating and plenty of task lighting was a priority for our clients who use the room for media entertainment and reading when it’s just the two of them.

In the primary bedroom, the clients had purchased night stands and a lounge chair that they wanted us to incorporate into the design. For new purchases, we focused on organic shapes and natural materials to emulate the calming effect of the natural environment surrounding the home. For the pan ceiling, we selected a neutral grasscloth covering that adds depth and gives a warm glow to the entire room.

To create a focal point across from the bed, we sourced artwork from Etsy and a console table with caned-front drawers. We made an inviting reading nook in the corner by adding a few decorative touches like a reading light, an accent table, and a cozy throw blanket to an existing chair and ottoman.

One of the things that clients appreciate about the Reinvent Your Room service is that we often integrate existing pieces into the design. It’s not uncommon for clients to come to us when they have inherited something, or made a new purchase, and are unsure how to proceed. This approach aligns with an office-wide goal of careful consumption, and we enjoy the challenge of developing a design that starts with a personal story.

If you would like to talk to Ellen Nystrom about the Reinvent Your Room service, click the link below to schedule a call:

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The post Case Study: California Rustic Style in Lafayette appeared first on Nystrom Design.

This service is typically a furniture-focused package, but for a young family in the Glen Park neighborhood of San Francisco, we added some custom design services to design a workhorse wall of built-in cabinetry. The carefully composed storage wall enables this family to embrace their minimalist style – even with two pre-school age children.

The size of the living room was fairly compact, so we were strategic about the furniture selections. We kept the palette soft and neutral to flow with the rest of the open plan. The curved chaise lounge in the bay window is a lovely look-out, a place to recline while watching TV, and a way to offer more seating when the clients entertain. A single swivel chair engages the adjacent kitchen, and the non-directional shape allows it to float in the room, looking graceful from every angle. A plush desk chair is well-suited for a future homework workstation, and can be easily moved to create more guest seating.

We created the Reinvent Your Room service because we noticed a growing demand for a streamlined interior design process and simplified decision-making. We heard from some clients that they prefer to manage the purchasing and implementation phase and were willing to forgo access to bespoke pieces. We have structured the service to deliver personalized style and an elevated design using a vetted list of vendors and tradespeople that sell direct to the public.

We love implementing a creative vision that meets clients where they are. We recognize that highly customized interior design does not make sense for every type of room, or for every season of life. But we believe that a thoughtful, cohesive design will enrich your life, and we are excited to equip you with the tools to implement your reinvented room!

If you would like to talk to Ellen Nystrom about the Reinvent Your Room service, click the link below to schedule a call:

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To read more about how our Reinvent Your Room service compares to full-service custom interior design, read THIS BLOG POST. 

Photography by Vivian Johnson

The post Case Study: Serene and Minimal in Glen Park appeared first on Nystrom Design.

Fast forward many years, and now that secretary desk lives with me in San Francisco. It has served me well for over 15 years, but I am most pleased with its current function, which is inside of my walk-in closet. The drawers offer clothing storage and I use the top surface for jewelry, a small lamp, and a vase of flowers.  When I open the drop-down leaf, I have a quiet place to work… or (gasp!) write an old-fashioned letter on stationery. During the WFH period of the COVID pandemic, I took several Zoom calls at my little secretary desk in my noise-insulated closet.

It turns out that I have good company with my attachment to my inherited secretary desk. Several clients have asked us to find ways to integrate a secretary desk into a new design. Recently we completed a project for the grandson of Sister Parish, an iconic American interior designer who practiced from the 1930s through the 1990s. Among the pieces that our clients had inherited was a classic secretary desk that had presided over the living room in wood tones and rose-painted accents. After much debate, we decided that Sister would approve of having the desk painted a soothing shade of green, and we moved it up to a bright stair landing where it is used to store linens and as an occasional place to sit with a laptop or pen and paper.

At our West Clay Project, our clients’ secretary desk found its home in the dining room. Most of the time, it is kept in the closed position, but when the clients entertain, it is transformed into a drink station. I suspect this is not the first time that spirits have been tucked away in a secretary. My personal preference is to keep a chocolate stash in one of the compartments!

 

Another project that I reference frequently is the Modern Craftsman Home by Andrew Mann Architecture. Using a hutch on top of a secretary desk could feel a little imposing; but against these quietly neutral walls, it feels gracefully at home and beautifully paired with a series of serene landscape paintings.

The post Secretary Desks in the Modern World appeared first on Nystrom Design.

I emphasize the word practice because my relationship with my own home is very much a work in progress. After designing homes for clients for over 15 years, I recently gave myself permission to design my own home. It might sound simple and obvious that an interior designer would design her own home, but in my case, I kept getting stuck.

So here are some things I’m learning and practicing along the way that have enabled me to engage in what I refer to as the Joyful Beautification of my home.

Begin with Intentionality

In the design world, we often call this the programming stage, when we ask lots of questions to understand how our clients want to live.  Ask yourself questions about how you want to feel in your home, what kinds of activities bring you joy?  What activities are necessary, and are there ways to do them with a sense of ease and flow.

Think Small! 

With my own home, I kept getting paralyzed by trying to do everything at once. If you are feeling overwhelmed about making changes to your home, I suggest starting with baby steps. The pleasure of a few tiny changes will often spark the energy to keep going at a slow but steady pace. Clear off and organize one surface that you use every day, place a vase of cut stems, and notice how it makes you feel. 

Create Nurturing Moments

For years my Instagram account has featured a Chair of the Week. This is because I see a chair as an invitation to mindfulness. It might be a window seat to listen to records, a sunny breakfast table for your morning coffee, a cozy place to read a book by the fire…What leisure activity do you find to be nurturing and delightful? Consider how you might support yourself to do more of that. A favorite chair can be a great place to start. 

Connect with the Natural World

I am a huge believer in the benefits of connecting to the nature.  I’ve intentionally planted specific trees or vines outside of certain windows to create sight lines that are calming, and that I know will change with the season.  I suggest making it a ritual to open your curtains every morning, and take a few extra moments to notice what is outside your window.  Maybe take a deep breath while you’re at it.

Nurture Your Relationship with Your Home, and it will Nurture You in Return 

I have found that when I neglect my home for a period of time, I convince myself that the whole thing is falling apart.  I know it’s a little dramatic, and that’s my point.  Just by tending to one thing, my entire perspective shifts to gratitude.  Part of it is about the result of having done the thing.  But I believe the sense of flow and satisfaction that comes from the process of doing the thing is equally impactful to my state of mind, and keeps me from getting stuck.   

Consider the Full Life Cycle of Your Furnishings

One act of mindfulness that more and more clients are requesting is to integrate their existing furniture into the design.  I love this request for many reasons.  It extends the life cycle, which is kind to the Earth.  The furniture often has a wonderful story behind it.  It adds a relaxed and inviting quality to a home that can be difficult to achieve when everything is brand new.  In the image below, the couple’s parents had gifted them the vintage Danish Model 64 chair and sofa by Georg Thams.  We had both of these pieces reupholstered and the room came together beautifully with new light fixtures and a few accent pieces. 

Treat your home like any other important relationship, and recognize that there are seasons and cycles to all relationships.  Start with intentionality, give yourself a mini project, and see if the process and the result are energizing to you. 

If you are struggling to get started, or planning to tackle a large project, consider our design services to support you on your journey. 

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The post A Mindful Practice for Joyful Home Beautification appeared first on Nystrom Design.

In the primary bedroom of our St. Francis Woods Residence project, the deep turquoise color of the accent chair and ottoman adds a richness to the room while maintaining the overall tranquil and serene vibe. Meanwhile, in the living room of our Berkeley Hills Residence project, the entire room – from baseboards to crown molding – was painted a similar hue. In this space, the color acts as neutral in that it complements all the other layers of pattern, color, and the client’s collections.

While the terms “understated” and “orange” might not seem a likely pair, the living room of our Noe Valley Residence project proves this combination possible. The subdued but still saturated rust-colored rug grounds the otherwise neutral room – allowing the creams, taupes, and natural finishes to pop against it. At the other end of the orange spectrum is the guest room / office space of our Berkeley Hills Residence project. A bright turtle-printed orange wallpaper sets the vibrant tone, which is only reinforced with splashes of orange in the roman shades and accent pillows.

White kitchens are popular for a reason. The classic look has a timeless appeal, but this room should not be overlooked as a space to add a dose of color. For our Castro Residence kitchen remodel project, a beautiful emerald green backsplash paired with white cabinetry keeps the room feeling quiet and calm while also fresh and unique. For a more dramatic vibe in our Berkeley Hills Residence project, we paired a rich mustard yellow backsplash with an equally bold blue for the cabinetry – a full embrace of bright and bold color.

Lastly, our North Beach Residence project is a great example of a home that balances restrained doses of color with rooms of full saturation. While the upper level living area was kept airy and bright with light-colored walls, punches of fuchsia add personality. Meanwhile on the lower level, enveloping blues and reds create a cozy and layered space.

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