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Looking to cut costs for his start-up software company, David Fishman moved his office into his Brentwood home and set up work in a corner of the master bedroom -- an arrangement that wife Lara says quickly became too claustrophobic for everyone.

"He was getting cabin fever, and I was getting sick of his stuff overtaking our room," says Lara Fishman, an interior designer and owner of Storm Interiors/Designers Call. With two young children and no available space inside, Lara decided to push the boundaries of the live-work concept further -- right out the door, in fact, and into the garden. She set up her husband's shop outside, making use of the couple's courtyard between their master bedroom and bathroom.  For more check out the whole article

For more of our own pics: 

1. Identify your design style.  Do you want to go modern or traditional?  Country or old world?  Allow the fixtures, colors and finishes to follow suit.  Here is a remodel for a powder bathroom that we did that we consider to be transitional.

2. Choose a simple finish/color palette.  What type of material do you prefer - stone, tile, wood?  Do you want to go monochromatic, pops of color or simply all color?  We prefer high contrast in terms of light and dark colors expressed through different textures.  See what we did in this bathroom - colorful wallpaper mixed with greys and white of carrera marble.

3. Determine a feature wall or focal point.  Often it is the vanity wall.  In order to use materials sparingly in an attempt to stretch the dollar, tile only the feature wall or even use a wallpaper to play with texture.  See how we played up the wall with this glass tile.

4. Don't forget storage.  What are you currently storing in your bathroom?  Do you need room for linens and toiletries?  Drawers, cabinets or both?  What about shampoo niches in the shower?  Be sure to purge before a remodel so you can determine exact storage needs.

5. Lighting is a critical aspect of good bathroom design.  Wall sconces coupled with overhead can lighting and/or perhaps a fun pendant fixture is the approach to take as light should be directed from various heights and angles plus you look better in the mirror to boot!

Clutter is not only a drag to look at but it can also take a toll on your outlook. 

Here are some quick tips to help begin the cleansing of clutter:

1. If you don’t use it, need it, love it, or feel inspired by it, get rid of it. 

2. Empty is o.k.  No need to decorate every corner.  Don’t think that every empty space must be filled just because it’s empty.

3. Don’t feel you must keep every child's drawing or painting. You can let go and still love your child.  Purchase some plastic archive boxes to house artwork but be particular about what you stock pile away! 

4. Try the one in, one out rule. Create a giveaway pile and pay it forward monthly, at least.

5. Be extra smart about purchases.  Know beforehand where it will go in your home, or don't bother.

6. Utilize organizational systems. We especially love spice drawer dividers to help keep toiletries and medications organized.

   

walls & ceiling

Pick a color that you love BUT tone it down a notch to maintain sophistication, i.e., love an intense teal...go to the fan deck and look at the blue green colors but pick one less saturated (not pastel) just a touch less than the true color...

Wallpapers are also a great way to add texture that you could never really use in a formal, corporate type of office.  Designers Call would suggest texture rather than pattern.  For example, pick a grass cloth, which is inherently eco friendly to boot.  Some are available with cloth backings, i.e., the raffia basket weave doubles as a tack board...

For ceilings, Designers Call likes Benjamin Moore's flat white but lighting is critical here as well and depending on what is existing.  If you have a bad track light change them out to bullet cans that do not remain on the track - much more modern and clean - they come in various metal finishes and white...or if the room could bare it, change out a can or add a pendant fixture in the center.  This really serves to dress a space and add a bit of drama and elegance.
 

floors

If the floors are a nice hard finish like concrete or wood, invest in an area rug to soften the atmosphere - there are so many options today and many well-priced.

If you have the wood but it is tired and old, a cost-efficient way to give in new life is to paint it an off white and let it wear (rather than stripping it and re-staining it).  The natural patina feels very residential and cozy.  Keep in mind that a home office should feel residential and never too cold and corporate.

window treatments also finish a space nicely - we use a lot of Belgian linens as roman shades.  Simple flat pleats are preferable to cornices.   Match the wall color or simply go with an oyster linen...or use a woven wood roman shade - matchsticks, bamboo.  Be sure to line all window treatments to keep out the glare as you work.  Be sure your laptop or computer monitor isn't facing the window.

space planning is critical.  Avoid putting your back to the door. backs to doors.  Don’t be afraid to float your desk in the middle of the room.  If you don’t have a dedicated space, just be sure to have some kind of clear delineation between your workspace and your home space.  If you don’t plan ahead to draw this important physical and mental separation, it will be harder to do so in the future.

Desks are also key in making up your new workspace.  We often use executive desks.  But you can get more creative.  Use a fine Parsons dining table, or purchase a flat door and put it up on simple trestles (see below).  File pedestals act as additional drawers.  

This leads us to storage.  You need to be able to organize your files and keep a place for everything.  But storage can also serve to add texture to a wall.  Use floating IKEA shelves as an inexpensive and attractive way to group your materials.  By simply “merchandising” your shelves (grouping items by color), the shelves can double as storage and artful display, meeting both form and function needs.  

The chair is key too. Designers Call likes to find vintage chairs and reupholster them in great patterned fabrics to add a splash of color.  There are great repros today of the classics like the Eames executive chair.

As with any space, lighting is the final important touch.  overhead lighting - low voltage mr 16 recessed is energy efficient and task lighting - desk lamo is best for eyes - this combo - scones are also good as they carry the light at eye level and less shadwos are cast vs. all overhead - mix it up circa lighting is a higher end solution for decorative and I mentioned the pendant fixture...the bullet cans are available at most lighting stores or online - an inexpensive solution to overhead lighting and they are directional.

Task lighting is also critical.  An adjustable table lamp or two attractive side lamps work well.  Make sure you have enough lighting to reduce eye strain and increase your productivity.  Sconces are also great options to help distribute light at eye level.  Be sure to minimize overhead lighting with ambient to avoid casting shadows.

FInally, the last touchs are what makes an office a home.  Wall scuptures, flowers, pillows and other accessories add the warmth needed to get the job done and marry the house to the work space.  Here are a few of our faves from some of our office designs.

Design at your Door

click here for article

Girl's Studio- After (Super Chic!)

I’m looking around my living room, a “work in progress” for the almost five years we’ve lived in this house. Someday I’ll get around to finding that one-of-a-kind-handpainted-in-Italy coffee table for a really great price. (Yeah right!)

But I recently learned about a new service that I’d never heard of before. And I’m thinking that amazing coffee table could actually come true in my living room. Today I spoke with the Lara Fishman, founder of a new company based in Los Angeles called Designers Call. Designers Call uses their connections with hard-to-find suppliers of vintage pieces and designs and brings them to you at a cost that is…for once…affordable! Brilliant! Lara, where have you been all my life? Take a look at the “After” picture above and click here for the “Before”. Wow!

I recently sat down with Lara and learned more about her business ideas and what she hopes to offer her clients.

Best-Selling Tottoman

Lara expressed to me that Designers Call is about making the previously unaffordable design expertise, affordable for you. In addition, Lara offers a line of unique and functional design items that can also help dress up your room, including this fabulous “tottoman” that is adorable and functional in a child’s bedroom. The top comes off to reveal much-needed storage space without sharp corners or rough edges, avoiding the risk of pinched fingers.

But the best part of the Designer’s Call experience is their “designwagen“, a studio on wheels! It comes right to your door unloading option after great option right into your living room. But when I asked her if someone across the country could take advantage of this service, she quickly said “yes”. Their online capabilities have made the process of designing homes out of the area just as easy.

Here is Lara speaking more about Designers Call and how she loves to take unwanted pieces and redesign them before they hit a landfill. Learn why she is a favorite of so many people including A-listers like Christina Applegate.

Click here for more information about what this design team can offer you. We’ll be updating you on upcoming Designers Call news and events including “Trash to Treasures” coming in July. So stay tuned for more!

Thanks, Lara.

Lara’s tips walk you through each room in the house… Whether it’s as simple as placing your favorite scented candles around the bathroom to creating a meaningful collage of treasured pictures and your children’s artwork in the bedroom to adding gorgeous greenery to the kitchen windowsill, these details can make your everyday spaces feel more unique and a delight to inhabit!

BATHROOM

Mobile Drawers

Call it a tool kit for mom’s peace of mind; a place where she can stash her favorite things- perfume, knickknacks, jewelry.  Mobile drawers come in all colors, shapes and sizes so there’s a style to fit every décor.  Storing treasures has never been so easy!

Boby carts by Joe Colombo are great storage for bathrooms and add a fun splash of color!

These treasure “chests” are great outside the bathroom too.  You can stow one in a closet or use as a side table in a family room or as a nightstand in a bedroom (even under a nightstand if size allows).  Here are a few or our faves:

Classic Crafstman

these four below are from fusion furniture gallery

Candles

We love Voluspa beautiful packaging and exceptional scents!

Jewelry stands or necklace keepers are fun, space-saving ways to display and house your favorite necklaces- accessories at arm’s length is a great thing!

This crocodile catchall tray is great to keep bedside for taking off jewelry at night and it comes in punchy lime green and coral!

BEDROOM

Pretty, decorative pillows adorning your bed can make it feel fresh and special.  It’s also an easy thing to switch out when you want to “refresh” the space.

We love these Adam & Viktoria pillows from Sweden – below are a few of their fabulous designs!

Create a cozy reading corner… comfortable lounge chair, good lighting, throw in a few throw pillows and voila!  A private little reading nook all your own!

This corner chair, designed by Storm Custom, maximizes corner space beautifully and is great to curl up on.  Storm Custom also designed the matching planter beside it.

Create a meaningful collage of favorite family photos, kids artwork, travel keepsakes, etc.  Having allotted space for these memories are sweet reminders of things you hold dear.  Here are a few ideas…

Integrate shelves and library lights to create a warm, artistic space.  The shelves allow you to add little mementos that help personalize the collage.

 
pics from Pottery Barn and homedesignfind.com

KITCHEN

This custom Tack board from Storm Custom offers form plus function with utility storage, tack board, chalkboard and a paper roll.  Add a dash of creativity to spice up the daily humdrum.  While one side could have the weekly grocery list, the other could be the canvas to your family’s weekly drawing contest or your favorite quote of the day.  Pair the usual with the unusual to keep things interesting.

Plants in favorite pots also add cheer and life to the “heart” of a home (i.e. the kitchen)

Love pots and hanging ones from sprouthome.com

This classic one below is my fave, “the peanut”

LIVING ROOM

Grant yourself your own bookshelves or even your own “locker”- a place to showcase your favorite vases or artwork or whatever you’re fancying at the moment.

The bookcase on casters below from quad 35 is simple and elegant and a perfect canvas for your handpicked treasures.

 

Or go a little more playful with lockers from twenty gauge and plaster them with favorite creations from your kids!


Creative book holders are great for housing your favorite books and current reads.  These versatile storage spaces can work in a family room, library or bedside.

A simple book truck from bretford

Alternative coffee tables from twenty gauge w/storage for family room