When Nystrom Design was engaged to design a residence in North Beach, our clients gave us a wish list that represents a creative soul’s dream.  Music, sewing, reading, and knitting were just a few of the activities that we were asked to plan for.  Our objective was to align their values with the design.  We were careful to preserve the connectedness and sightlines afforded by the open floor plan while creating zones for each of the activities. 

The Wish List

• An upright piano and music stand – the wife is a serious pianist and vocalist
• A library for a vast collection of books and music
• Comfy places to read and knit, with good lighting
• A worktable for sewing projects, and a place to stash the sewing machine
• A place to store and display yarns for knitting projects
• Home office functionality, with places to conceal office supplies
• A cozy TV nook

 

The Mood

Our clients own all four levels of the building.  Each level could serve as its own unit, but they elected to use the top two as their personal residence.  This multi-purpose studio space is situated on the 3^rd level, along with their master bedroom.  They wanted it to feel intimate and moody.  Each time they walk through the door, they wanted to have the feeling of being transported.

 

Getting Started

We started the design for this project with two important elements – the bookshelves and the color palette.  When we met the clients, most of their books were stored on an assortment of bookshelves lining white walls.  We saw that built-in bookshelves could be a unifying element.  They would also help to define zones for different activities.  We calculated how many linear feet would be required to house their collection of books, which became a driving factor as we explored different layouts.    

We decided on a big wall of full-height shelves that spans between the sewing table and the TV nook.  This wall of shelving butts up against a cozy window seat by the piano, with drawers below to store office supplies and files. 

The other set of shelves lines the wall of the entry foyer, which doubles as a library.  It is outfitted with a favorite red leather chair that previously graced the office of the wife in her prior life as an attorney.  Two full-height shelves flank a console-height cabinet where more craft supplies are hidden away. 

The wallpaper was one of the earliest decisions made.  The wife had a very clear idea of the color palette she was drawn to, but she was totally open to how we applied the color.  We showed her a variety of wallpaper patterns that ranged from whimsical to quirky.  She and her husband both fell in love with the pattern and movement in the one above from Osborne & Little.

Once the wallpaper was selected, the rest of the design came together quickly.  We didn’t even need to use a custom paint because Benjamin Moore’s Newburg Green was a perfect match.  Fabrics and rugs in dusty rose, cream, khaki, and charcoal added warmth to the deep blue tones. 

 

When Your Client is a Skilled Seamstress

When it comes to interior design, custom accent pillows are equivalent to what the perfect pair of shoes is to a great outfit.  They make it all come together, and sometimes they cost a small fortune.  So, imagine how excited I was when my client told me that she not only intended to fabricate the pillows herself, she looked forward to it!  She is a talented seamstress and did a beautiful job.  This meant that while sourcing fabrics and trims, I was not preoccupied with the fabrication costs adding up.  I just considered each additional pillow as a way to fuel my client’s passion for sewing! 

 

Designing for Versatility

Even though our clients had specific functions in mind for how they wanted to use the space on a day-to-day basis, they wanted to keep their options open.  We put the worktable and loveseat on casters so that furniture could be easily moved around if they chose to entertain in the space. 

We love working with our clients to maximize and personalize their space.  This project gave us a lot to wrap our heads around, but making all the pieces work together to be beautiful and functional is part of the fun! 

All photography by David Duncan Livingston.