Brown Design + Development

Perfect Pendant Lighting

2010-06-24T18:03:26-07:00

Lighting is one of the best elements to help set the tone of a design. From vintage pieces to modern accents, each fixture can aid in creating anything from a chic atmosphere to a playful environment. Because lighting is such a vital part of our lives and design, it is important to have fun in picking your lighting fixtures, remember to think outside of the box!

Lately we've been searching for the perfect Powder Room Pendant. Here are a few of our favorite picks.

This Vintage Amber glass pendant really caught our eye because of the unique color and shape. The light that it emits gives off a warm glow, adding a more comfortable feel to any atmosphere.

These pendants from Twentieth are great to add some dimension to a Powder Room. Layering 3 different styles or 3 of the same style can create a fun and interesting focal point to the room.

For a lesser expensive option, this fixture from Cisco home creates a sleek and elegant look through the elongated glass shape. The rope "chain" creates a (blank feel), whereas a standard chain would be more contemporary.

You Asked, We Answered

2010-03-12T10:00:00-08:00

This wallpaper is hands-down the most asked about item on our website and blog. Here's the scoop. What's difficult to see from the images is that around the pattern are tiny glass beads, giving off a beautiful sheen. The wallpaper can be purchased from the Thomas Lavin showroom here in Los Angeles. However, sorry everyone... this one is only available to the trade. If you have additional questions about pricing or how to purchase, you can contact us at info@browndesigninc.com.

A Rustic Kitchen

2010-03-10T09:44:58-08:00

For more rustic houses, we often strive to incorporate recycled materials into the design, as it often provides features with a more antique feel. In the kitchen featured below, we wanted to maintain the character and rustic charm of the home. The cabinets were made of reclaimed (used) douglas fir wood that is fully recycled. You can see all of the old nail holes, knots, and dents adding much more life & character than "new" wood.

The island was also made from recycled douglas fir and the butcher block top was salvaged from a previous work table.

Books That Inspire

2010-03-01T11:39:48-08:00

Rooms to Inspire in the Country is an great compilation of country homes from weekend getaways to grand estates presented by Annie Kelly and photographer Tim Street-Porter, the second in their lavish Rooms to Inspire series. It is filled with homes that remind us to be deliberate in creating our environments as well as to combine the historical with the innovative.

This inspiring medley ranges from Tony Duquette’s exotic pavilion-style California home to a charming New York Victorian, a modernist Palm Springs desert getaway by Neutra, a nineteenth-century Gothic cottage on Shelter Island, and an eighteenth-century Connecticut house. Along with design ideas for interiors, the book also covers the garden and pool areas. Since outdoor entertaining is an integral part of country living, a section devoted to tabletop display is included. These beautifully photographed inspirations encourage the reader to explore the design opportunities in the country guided by some of the best interior designers.

Pick of the Week

2010-02-23T16:34:07-08:00

We love this Blake lounge chair from Crate and Barrel. It's handcrafted of solid teak and natural rattan. The teak has a beautiful worn gray finish making this chair feel vintage. The back and arms on this chair are a handwoven natural rattan which adds a nice texture juxtaposed against the teak wood.

Ryan Renovates a Music Rehearsal Space!

2010-02-19T11:24:57-08:00

Ryan renovates a music rehearsal space and the renovation is featured on E News! Click here to see the footage.

Our Latest Obession

2010-01-28T09:53:22-08:00

We are completely head over heels for this Aspen wall light. At only $210, you can't go wrong. We think this looks like it came from the renowned high-end showroom, Holly Hunt (but at a fraction of the cost!). Pick one up at www.ryanbrownstyle.com.

Books That Inspire

2010-01-13T10:22:15-08:00

For anyone who has ever dreamed of living under the Tuscan sun, Italian Rustic is the next best thing—a step-by-step guide to recreating the romance and appeal of the weathered Italian farmhouse. This nuts-and-bolts guide to Italian style walks the reader through all the elements that make the rustic Italian home so unique, from the hand-laid stone walls to the artisanal stucco wall finishes.

With more than 300 stunning photographs shot on location in Tuscany and Umbria, the book contains profiles of local artisans, engaging text on how the farmhouse style evolved, and targeted advice on how Americans can find Italian-style building materials and craftsmen close to home. This essential sourcebook will appeal to anyone building an addition or an entire house from scratch, or for homeowners who want to add just a touch of Italian style to their houses.

Maximizing a Small Kitchen

2010-01-08T10:06:10-08:00

The kitchen is often the heart of the home and a place where friends and family seem to gravitate. But for many, the space just isn't large enough. We have compiled a few easy tips to help your kitchen look and feel larger.

Create Open Shelving:

An easy way to make your small kitchen feel larger is by removing your upper cabinets and adding floating open shelves. This still allows for storage but really opens up the space. When placing items on these shelves, we recommend grouping by color and also keeping the color very minimal.

Add Light:

Natural light will always make a space feel larger. If creating more natural light isn't an option, adding ample lighting to your kitchen through the use of directional cans or under-counter lighting is a good alternative.

Spring Clean:

Just as with your closets, make cleaning out your kitchen an annual occurrence. (Take advantage of being able to get rid of those annoying containers without lids) Getting your kitchen organized is one of the easiest ways to revamp your kitchen space.

Free Up Counter Space:

If you want to create a more inviting and open space, it's important to keep your kitchen free of clutter. If you have a lot of appliances, try to store the ones you don't use everyday in cabinets. You can also install under-counter microwaves, spice racks, etc.

Use Soft Colors:

Using lighter colors when designing your kitchen is another point to keep in mind when working with a smaller space. Dark colors can close your kitchen in.

First Look - Santa Monica Condo Project

2010-01-04T14:41:13-08:00

One of our latest projects is a never been renovated, 1980's condo overlooking the ocean in Santa Monica. The client is the fashion editor of a high profile magazine. The condo consists of a kitchen, living room, dining room, 2 bedrooms, and 3 bathrooms. We will be replacing all surfaces -- flooring, counter tops, fireplace stone, etc. She'd like an understated, chic look that will remain timeless, staying with a neutral and tonal color palette while avoiding shades of gray. As you can see by the "before" images below, the space is going to need quite a bit of work to achieve the desired end result.

Here are some of our early concepts. Shown in the image below are some of the materials that have been selected.

We have also included preliminary sketches of the living / dining floorplan and fireplace concept. As you can see, we will be building custom bookcases and plan to furnish with several pieces of vintage and custom furniture.

Because this space will be undergoing a dramatic transformation, it is going to be fun to see the end result. Keep an eye out as we will post updates on the progress of this project.