I started with fabrics, which are hands-down my favorite tool of the Trade.  It was like getting re-acquainted with old friends when I was reminded of special fabrics I’ve collected over the years for future inspiration.  

It feels like a confession when I share that it was like playtime to me.  Could I seriously consider this to be part of my work? But after each 20-minute session (well, sometimes 30 minutes…), I felt energized by the creative sparks, and that feeling of Flow that Mihàly Csíkszentmihályi writes about.

Even though I wasn’t pulling fabrics for a specific project, the process of handling the fabrics prompted endless ideas for combinations that I’ll mentally file away for the future.  And I’ll enjoy the creative buzz right now.

One of my summer reads, Essentialism by Greg McEown, put words to my feeling that this play-like work has value to my business.  When I got to Chapter 7 on ‘Play and Embracing the Wisdom of Your Inner Child,’ I decided to lean into what I previously might have considered my ‘Type A’ tendencies.

Using this slow and steady approach to organizing the library means that I’ll be at it for a while…maybe indefinitely.  I think that is actually a good thing.

If you share my love for fabrics, keep in mind that one of the services we offer is to reimagine your existing upholstered furniture with fresh new fabrics.  If you’d like to talk to me about your interior design project, click the link below to submit an inquiry form and schedule a Discovery Call:

Schedule a Discovery Call

The post Play Time: Curating the Materials Library appeared first on Nystrom Design.

So when planning a trip to New Zealand, I was excited to see the source of this wonder fiber, and to learn more about production. I found an intimate Airbnb Experience at a small family farm, and it was a total crowd pleaser. 

When we arrived at Angie’s Sheep Farm in Waikite, the first order of business was to get fitted for rubber boots. With proper foot attire and sheep food in hand, we made fast friends with a few members of the herd, while Angie shared with us about life on the farm that she and her husband operate.

Above, Angie gave us a close-up look at a sheep’s coat. It’s sort of miraculous to me that this much wool grows in a single season!  The glands in sheepskin produce their own water repellent substance, known as lanolin. This natural protection from the elements is also why wool products are inherently resistant to staining.

Angie brought us to the sheering shed, where she explained the sheering process and the strength and skill that is required to sheer a sheep. Above is what un-processed wool looks like immediately after the sheep are shorn.

From here, the wool gets sorted. Angie keeps some for her own use, she trades wool with other local farmers, and she sells the rest, primarily to crafters and makers.

After a detour to cuddle with Cookie, an off-season surprise baby sheep that gets bottle-fed while the mama grazes with the herd, we made our way to Angie’s porch, where we got a crash course in how to comb & spin wool.

At the end of our tour, we each got to select a hat, knitted by Angie, and she was able to identify from which of her sheep the wool for each of our hats came.

I came away with a deeper appreciation of the labor and love that goes into the production of wool, the fragility of this resource, and the purity of the material that makes possible such beautiful and long-lasting products.

There is an enormous temptation to buy the equivalent of ‘fast fashion’ when it comes to home décor. To narrow the conversation, I’ll focus on area rugs, where there are endless sources for inexpensive rugs made of synthetic fibers. I feel the temptation, too! The rug can be delivered tomorrow?! I can ‘save’ how much money?! But what is the true, hidden cost of these decisions?

Human Health

Wool rugs are sort of like the equivalent of eating whole foods because you know exactly what is in them:  grass, sunshine, water, and fresh air. Clearly we don’t eat rugs, but the micro-particles and emissions from synthetic products are known to get into our bodies and to adversely affect indoor air quality.

Planetary Health

The same micro-particles and emissions eventually make their way into our water sources and soil, where they accumulate over time to detrimental impact on the earth.  This in turn impacts human health.  When a wool rug has completed its duration in one setting, it can often find life in a new setting. If not, un-backed wool rugs can be re-purposed as insulation or otherwise. In a worst-case scenario, wool is biodegradable.

Long-Term Monetary Cost

That fast fashion, synthetic rug may seem like a great deal today, but a hasty purchase now often leads to a re-do later. The lanolin in wool endows it with natural stain resistance. With regular maintenance and occasional professional cleaning, wool rugs will endure with beauty and luster for decades and often generations. Instead of spending time and money on a new rug every few years (and burdening the planet with the old rug), those resources could be directed elsewhere, helping to slow the cycle of consumption.

Still with me? Sorry to be a downer about fast fashion in home decor. No judgement, we are all inundated with these messages! But here’s some good news…

Through the Campaign for Wool and the Wool In Schools program, New Zealand is committed to supporting and promoting sheep farmers, sustainable farming practices, and wool production. With the support of King Charles, the program focuses on education programs that help youth and young adults learn about the wool industry and participate in innovation around wool production and application.

To learn more about this program and the attributes of the wonder fiber that is wool, follow this link to read more about the Campaign for Wool NZ.

If you would like to talk to Ellen Nystrom about an interior design project, click the link below to submit an inquiry form and schedule a Discovery Call:

Schedule a Discovery Call

The post Healthy Home Files: A Case for Wool and Making Friends in New Zealand 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.

In spite of the urban coziness, many of the neighborhoods lend the feeling of strolling in a garden.  A combination of street trees, enticingly lush alleys, and glimpses into private gardens all contribute to this feeling.  But the detail I was most enamored by were the window boxes.  Each one adds loads of character to the home and the identity of the entire street, the way that a great pair of shoes can complete an outfit.  

Whether a home was modest or grand in scale, the attention to the window boxes extends a message of hospitality and pride in one’s home.  It’s a small garden element, but makes a big impact. 

As a gardening enthusiast, I was enchanted by all of the different combinations of leaf shapes and sizes, flowers, and color.  And of course, bonus points go to the gardeners who coordinate their plant selections with the color scheme of the home!

Most of these photos were taken in the French Quarter of the City.  If you go, and share my enthusiasm for gardening, please stop by Mrs. Whaley’s Garden on Church Street, and report back to me!  It is one of the few private gardens that is open to visitors, but only sporadically.  Sadly, it was closed both times I tried to go. 

The post Window Boxes in Charleston – Small Details, Big Impact appeared first on Nystrom Design.

Does that sound crazy?  I thought so until I shared this little fantasy with my business coach, Ashley Gartland, and she asked me that magical question: Why not take a sabbatical?

Well, I had about a million reasons why it would never work, but it opened a door to imagine.  Where would I go?  What would I do?  Who would walk the dog…?  You know, deep questions like that.

I talked to the people in my life that would be most impacted, and was met with support for this wild idea of mine.  (I began to wonder if I was the only person who thought it was so wild.)

The planning began.  I decided that after my family’s vacation in North and South Carolina, I would extend my time in the South.  I was drawn to the idea of surrounding myself with charming old homes, tree-lined streets, and lush gardens. 

I knew that I would need some structure, but not too much.  I’d had a copy of The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron on my shelf for several years, and decided that this was the time to dust it off and dive into her exercises for a creative recharge. 

My other course of study would be based on the book, One Color A Day by Courtney Cerruti.  I love the idea behind this book because I’ve always loved to use water color paints, but what I love most is mixing the colors.  When I let go of the pressure to paint a subject matter, then I can just delight in the meditative experience of the color. 

I’m leaving the rest of my time open to write, explore, browse shops and galleries, and (gasp!) do nothing.  This is my third day of my 4-week adventure, and today I’m on my way from Charleston, South Carolina to Savannah, Georgia. If you care to share my adventures, check back for more frequent blog posts, and follow along on Instagram.  If you have a sabbatical adventure of your own, I would love it if you would DM me and share!      

The post My Summer Study Tour appeared first on Nystrom Design.

But what happens to the old furnishings, especially when they still have life left in them?

This is a question that has weighed on me more and more over the years.

So when my interior designer friend Carolyn Rebuffel Flannery decided to wind down her design business to focus on building a local non-profit that diverts tons of furniture away from landfill, I was thrilled, grateful, and eager to be involved.

The organization, Make It Home Bay Area, solves multiple problems at once by partnering with local social service agencies to furnish the homes of families and young adults who are experiencing furniture poverty as they transition out of crisis.

Make It Home Bay Area got off the ground in the fall of 2020, and the impact has already been enormous. They quickly filled up a 10,000 square foot space with gently used furniture and household goods. A mighty team of volunteers grew organically to help Carolyn receive, sort, repair, and disperse gently used furniture to young adults and families experiencing furniture poverty.

A steady supply of furniture has kept the warehouse full, and a steady demand for furniture has reinforced the importance of the work that the team at Make It Home is doing.

To date, Make It Home Bay Area has furnished 176 households

and diverted 194 tons of furniture away from landfill.

Nystrom Design has made a commitment to donate time, product, and money to this essential work. I’m pleased to be serving on the board of directors and eager to be a liaison to connect others who want to be involved.

If you are interested in getting involved, feel free to reach out to me personally. Or head over to the Make it Home website, where you can easily make a monetary donation, volunteer time, or inquire about donating gently used furniture.

The post Make It Home Bay Area: Finding Solutions to Divert Waste and End Furniture Poverty appeared first on Nystrom Design.

Although it may seem as though you can’t have it both ways, a happy medium is possible. This is why Nystrom Design has created a new service package called ‘Reinvent Your Room,’ which is a furniture-focused, flat-fee package for the hands-on client.

We use our refined design process to simplify decision-making and create a design that is tailored to your style and lifestyle.  You get access to our expertise and creative vision, and we will equip you with a retail shopping list and tools to implement the design for your reinvented room. 

How Do We Elevate the Design of Your Room?

Let’s be clear, there is no substitute for a fully customized design experience. Let’s also be practical. Custom design doesn’t make sense for every room. But when we focus on a few high-impact areas, we can still create an elevated design. 

Below are some of the interior design components that will make a big difference in how you experience your room. When design is approached with a high/low mentality, we can choose to invest in one or two big-impact areas, then balance the budget with retail furnishings and by empowering you to act as the project manager.

1. Custom Window Coverings

Custom window coverings are one of the best ways to take a room to the next level. The combination of a gorgeous fabric, properly fitted hardware, and reliable functionality is like treating yourself to a well-tailored suit.  We will recommend the fabric, hardware, and style so that you can be confident that this investment will enhance the overall room design.  

2. Art Work

Coming home to artwork you love is like filling your home with good friends and happy memories. Artwork creates texture, adds color, and tells a story.  We will work with our network of art resources to find options that suit your style and budget.  

3. Give Your Favorite Chair a New Life

If you have a beloved but worn chair, keep in mind that many upholstered pieces have unrealized potential. When refurbished with a new fabric and filling, we can give them new life, keep them out of landfill, and sometimes even honor a sentimental attachment.  We will select a new fabric that works with the rest of the room, then direct you to a workroom that will transform your piece.  

4. Wall Treatments

Paint and wallpaper offer endless possibilities to create personalized mood and texture. From textural grasscloth, to vibrant patterns, to the perfect paint color, the walls are an impactful way to elevate any room.

When you decide to make any of these investments, you want to know that it’s part of a holistic and harmonious design. As part of the Reinvent Your Room service, we will assess which choices will have the most impact towards achieving your style goals, then recommend a materials palette that feels pulled together but not contrived. If you are in the Bay Area, we will also connect you with tradespeople who can turn it all into reality.

What Sets the ‘Reinvent Your Room’ Service Apart? 

The Reinvent Your Room package is meant to be a high-touch experience throughout the design process. It kicks off with a thoughtful questionnaire and a meeting in your home (if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area). It is structured around three face-to-face meetings so that we can really get to know you, your style, and your practical concerns.

At each stage, we refine the design based on your input to be sure that we are giving you a design that reflects your style and meets your budget.  

At the end of the design process, we equip you with your shopping list and guidelines to implement the room design. If you live in the Bay Area, we will share contact information for tradespeople that can assist you to make your room come together.  

How Do I Choose Between ‘Reinvent Your Room’ and Custom Interior Design Services?

We happen to love doing both of these project types. But if you’re having a hard time deciding what’s right for your needs, let me point out a few important considerations.

1. What level of customization does your project require? Reinvent Your Room is a furniture-focused service where we deliver a retail shopping list and guidelines for you to implement the changes. If you are embarking on a renovation, dreaming about custom built-ins, or delight in one-of-a-kind fabrics and furnishings, then Custom Interior Design is the way to achieve these unique results.

2. How much time do you want to devote to project management? It takes time to manage the details that transform a room. Ordering, tracking, receiving, coordinating, installing, resolving, styling… if you have the time to manage these details, Reinvent Your Room is a great way to get the room you desire and save on design fees.  If you prefer for us to handle all the details, Custom Design is the right service for you.  

3. How much money do you want to invest in a room? When we talk about budget, I like to break it into three categories: Design Fee, Furniture Budget, and Other Improvements. With Reinvent Your Room, we charge a flat fee for design services, and the cost of furnishings for a typical living room starts at about $25,000. Custom Interior Design tends to be a more organic process, so we charge hourly for design services, and the cost of furnishings for a living room starts at about $45,000.

4. What will make the process and the end result most joyful to you? This is different for everyone, but not to be taken lightly. With either service, you’ll need to commit a certain amount of your precious time, so give some thought to which activities will bring you joy.

When designing your home, the most important thing is to use a thoughtful, holistic approach, regardless of budget. Use the link below if you’d like to chat with me about the best way to transform your home.

Let's Work Together

The post Reinvent Your Room with Nystrom Design appeared first on Nystrom Design.

For over 40 years, Palecek has been creating furniture that focuses on the use of natural fibers derived from renewable resources.  They have beautifully merged high design with sustainability, creating products that elevate any design, and will last for years to come, both in terms of style and durability.   

It was fascinating to learn more about how the products are manufactured and crafted to stand up to the test of time.  The tour began in the Quality Control Department, where we learned about tests for strength and durability. 

We also got to watch as one of the technicians skillfully used a torch to burn off any minuscule debris that would interfere with a smooth finishing process.  Don’t you sort of want this job?

Next, we headed over to the Paint and Finishing Department where we learned about the different fibers and how they accept finishes.  Palecek has been developing their finishing techniques for 40 years, and some of their processes involve over 10 steps to get the right depth and variation of color along with the desired durability.  

The term ‘COM’ stands for Customer’s Own Material.  This is when the interior designer selects a non-standard fabric for a piece of furniture.  The fabric will come from a different vendor and has to get matched up with the correct piece of furniture, and applied in just the right way.  As you can imagine, there are about a thousand points at which something could go wrong! This is why it is essential that designers and their trade partners have systems and expertise to ensure that the results match the high expectations of custom design.

The head of the COM Department at Palecek shared with us her methods to ensure that our fabrics get matched with the correct furnishings, and that each piece turns out beautifully. 

Additional stops on the tour included Cutting and Sewing, as well as the Upholstery Workroom, where we got to observe a skilled team of seamstresses and upholsterers at work, carefully planning the placement of patterns, seams, nailheads, and all of the finishing touches.  

After touring much of the 200,000 square-foot factory, we had worked up a serious appetite, and our hosts did not disappoint.  We sat down for a lovely lunch, and I got a jump start on sourcing from the new catalogue!

A huge thank you to the teams at Palecek and Luxe Magazine for organizing this inspiring and educational event!

The post Palecek Factory Tour appeared first on Nystrom Design.

With a full-home renovation project we recently completed in the Parkside neighborhood of San Francisco, it was clear that an official celebration was in order.  Over the course of this multi-year project, just about every challenge imaginable had been presented and handled by a team of dedicated, builders, vendors, and tradespeople.  It was our pleasure to bring together the clients, their friends, and the project team to celebrate everyone’s contributions over a champagne toast.  

When Nystrom Design joined this full-house remodel project, construction was about 50% complete.  But some tricky design questions needed attention before things could progress.   

Selecting the tiles was just one of those decisions, but one that was very important to the clients.  Prior to starting their remodel project, the family had lived in the house for over 10 years, and color had always been a strong element.  The wife has a great eye for color, and they wanted the impactful use of color to remain a major design element.  The key was to develop a palette that felt unexpected and sophisticated, but still fun. 

We got to work thinking about the color palette in a holistic way.  We talked about site lines and the ways that certain colors would interact with others based on the application.  An important part of the color conversation is always about creating relief from color.  Color is most impactful when there is also a place for the eye to rest.

After much consideration, this Fireclay kite-shaped tile in tangerine was selected for the kitchen backsplash.  The wall behind the stove is tiled from countertop to ceiling, and visible from the entire upstairs hallway, so we knew this decision would influence all of the color decisions.   

Similar to many San Francisco homes, this one is not large by modern-day standards.  Killian O’Sullivan of O’Sullivan Architecture did a masterful job of maximizing the functionality of the home.  He created the illusion of more space with the light-filled staircase he designed to connect the main level with the newly-finished lower level.

When Nystrom Design came on-board, the clients were very excited about the new family room that they would be gaining and had an abundance of ideas about how it would be used.  With 10’ tall ceilings and expansive glass window walls that open up to a large deck, it was easy to get ambitious about the functions for this space.  But those decisions were holding up framing and needed to be finalized to keep things moving forward.  

Nystrom Design presented several furniture diagrams to help the clients think through the possibilities.  Ultimately, they decided to forgo the Murphy bed they originally thought they wanted. Instead, we came up with a solution to accommodate guests using a sunroom on the upper level.  The niche that had been planned for the Murphy bed was turned into a cozy reading alcove with storage below the seat.   

During the lull in the decision-making process, communication between the clients and the builder had become strained.  But as we produced the deliverables that the builder needed, the project got back on track.  With a clear and timely direction, Sunset Builders was able to implement the design with skill and efficiency.   

We worked through a number of design decisions with the same methodical, collaborative approach.  The primary goal was to facilitate the client’s decision-making process and provide the builder with a clear direction.   

Our clients moved back into their home in April, and have plans to be there for many years to come.  A worthy reason to celebrate!    

Stay tuned for professional photography coming soon to our website!

The post Cheers to a Successful Project appeared first on Nystrom Design.