Source: Decoholic It has been 1 year since I left my craftsman home behind in Redmond, WA, and moved to my modern design home in Newport Beach. While my Redmond house was my dream house 17 years ago when we moved in, my design style quickly shifted to modern with this new house. There is […]
Modern Rustic Design – perfect pairing Read More »
Source: Zin Home It’s here, my dining table and chairs that I ordered last June – and by last June I mean June 2020! It actually arrived a couple of weeks ago which was good timing because it meant that I could seat 8 for my 4th of July BBQ and more importantly my (and
Dining Table I Waited 12 Months For and Backup Options Read More »
Source: Curbly This is the question that is asked by almost everyone when it comes to trim. I am here to settle it once and for all, the answer is almost always PAINT THE TRIM. The primary exception where you may want to keep stained trim is in an older, historic home but I am
Trim: To Paint or Not to Paint Read More »
It finally happened, my wallpaper that was on backorder for 6 weeks arrived and it is FANTASTIC! The wallpaper is called Daydream and is sold by Hygge and West who also have a great selection of more fun options. I wrote about this decision in one of my very first few posts HERE and it
Po(WOW)der Room – Part 2 Read More »
Source: All images from Amy Storm and Co Sometimes a design image captures my vision so completely that I save it to a Pinterest board called Dream Home. Ostensibly, this will provide a wealth of resources when I get to design my dream house from the ground up. However, until then, I use these pictures
Designer Spotlight: Amy Storm Read More »
Here are 10 design trends whose day has come and gone long ago. If you have any of these and need some inspiration, check out the options below to help refresh your space. The first image is the “what to get rid of” just in case you were confused. 😉 Tile countertops If your cabinets
10 Design Dinosaurs That Need to Go Read More »
Source: Target I love to spend as much time as possible outside, and now that the weather is nice, it is go-time. In order for this to happen, you need to have some outdoor furniture, but sheesh, it can be very expensive. We purchased the outdoor furniture with our house, and while it is not
Take It Outdoors – 20 Outdoor Sofas <$500 Read More »
Source: Andrea West Design Natural wood cabinetry is back in a FANTASTIC way! I have the kitchen above saved in my dream home Pinterest file – it is perfection. Many who lived through the 90s hear wood kitchen cabinets and think orangey oak or dark red cherry wood like below. Nope, that is not what we
Natural Beauty – Wood Kitchen Cabinets Read More »
Source: McGee & Co. In addition to the ceramic bells I shared recently, there has been another change in my entry – a BIG change. I added a statement chandelier where there was nothing before and WOW has it made a difference! The entry to your home makes the first impression and more importantly, if
I’m Gonna Swing from the Chandelier – Showstopping Foyer Chandeliers Read More »
I am a huge fan of the HGTV series Rock the Block and am so sad that Season 2 is finished. I wanted to close things out with a few of my thoughts on the finale – warning spoiler alert so if you are going to watch, you may not want to read this now.
HGTV Rock the Block Season 2 Finale – Did the Right Team Win? Read More »
Source: Joybird If the title seemed a bit familiar, it is because I borrowed a line from the song Black Velvet by Alannah Myles but substituted green velvet which is what I am talking about today. Maybe it is because it is the beginning of Spring, or perhaps it is because I am craving more
Green Velvet with that Slow Southern Style Read More »
Source: Athena Calderone, Eyeswoon I am starting to crave more color in my home. Maybe it is because we have been in lockdown for nearly a year or maybe it is because Spring is here, and things are getting more vibrant outdoors. Not sure, but either way, I am craving more color in my life.
Moody Blues (and Greens, Greys and even Black) – Dramatic Paint Colors for your Home Read More »
Source: The Ally Exchange My goal is to convince you that your kitchen SHOULD NOT BE ALL WHITE! Many people choose all-white kitchen because kitchens are a big investment and white feels like it will stand the test of time. But, hello, boring! There are lots of other options that have staying power as well
End of the Road for the All-White Kitchen Read More »
With 4 episodes of HGTV Rock the Block released, I am already starting to morn the end. I loooooove this show. Episode 3 focused on the master bedroom and bath and Episode 4 focused on the basement. I think that the judges got both of them right but there were fireworks. Episode 3 – Master
HGTV Rock the Block – Master Bedroom, Bath and Basement Read More »
Source: Gabby Home I love music but lean more toward the Wombats (English Alternative Rock Band) versus Metallica. That being said, I would be happy to be able to go to any type of live concert right now! What I can get 100% behind is mixed metal. What that means is mixing finishes like black,
Mixed Metal or Heavy Metal? Read More »
Source: Rejuvenation Bad pun aside, I am talking about cabinet hardware today. New hardware is a great way to update your kitchen, bathroom or even an old dresser. It is amazing how much this small, relatively inexpensive update can make to modernize a space. Just check out how different this cabinet looks! Switching out your
Update Your Knobs, You Can Handle It! Read More »
The living room in our house has been through some subtle changes since we moved in last July and after a few tweaks, I think it is finally right! It is both the how a room looks, but more importantly, how it feels, when a room comes together. While living rooms are not the most
O.M.G.(etting it Right)! Read More »
I have a completely normal (ok, obsessive) relationship with lighting – I can spend hours looking for the perfect one. Updating your lighting really is the best way to modernize both the inside and outside of your home – I am continually surprised and saddened at how often I see people with builder grade lighting
Turn Up the Light – Outside Wall Lights and Pendants Read More »
Check out my feature HERE for more information about me and some design tips and tricks
Ybarradesign featured at Beauty, Brains and a Blog Read More »
When I am looking for furniture, some of my best finds are when I know I want a statement piece but do not have a clear view of what it looks like except that I will know it when I see it. That is what happened when I found my favorite furniture piece for my
Thomas Bina – Furniture Design Master Read More »
With demo well underway, it is time to finalize the finishes for the new bathroom which will replace the porta potty. This is my second bathroom design for myself which is good and bad. I really enjoy the back and forth with clients when choosing materials so would love to get your input. With three
Porta Potty Bathroom Replacement Read More »
Source: Kate Marker Interiors Have you ever seen a room in a magazine and thought, “I would love that room,” but you don’t know where to start in finding the pieces or worry that it will cost too much. I am here to show you how you can have the look or the look for
Finding the Look and the Look for Less Read More »
I saw the dining chair on the left below at Cost Plus World Market and was blown away by how stylish and budget-friendly it is! It is a pretty close match to the Restoration Hardware chair on the right which is also very stylish but definitely not budget-friendly when you consider buying multiples. Cost Plus
Have a Seat on a Cost Plus Dining Chair Read More »
New year, new living room? As we take down the Christmas decorations and start 2021, it is a great time to update your furniture to bring a fresh look to your house where you will likely continue spending more time than ever as we make it through hopefully the final Covid stretch. The good news
Living Room – Look for Less Read More »
Pantone has announced their colors of the year and it is Ultimate Gray and Illuminating which is a very bright shade of yellow. They share that these colors express an optimistic mood for 2021 with yellow expressing happiness and grey providing a solid and dependable feeling of resilience. The Pantone color of the year is
Today I am channeling my inner teenage girl but with better taste than the pink butterfly and rainbow bedspread that I actually had as a teenage girl. Design for a teen girl’s room is more of a stretch than the teen boy’s room because I have 2 boys, and because I am a tom-boy. That
Teen Girl’s Room – Sweet Dreams are Made of These Read More »
One of my favorite rooms in my new house is the master bedroom. The room feels calm, simple, and relaxed with a neutral black and white color pallet but still warm with wood tones and fabric textures. I will likely still add some artwork or mirrors over the nightstands which is a work in progress.
Modern Master Bedroom and the Look for Less Read More »
Teen boys need space that is their own corner of the world where they can retreat to sleep (they do a lot of this), study (a lot of this also), chill out, and escape from it all. At a high level, the room should include a bed, chair, desk, and dresser. A few tips/tricks: Drawers
Teen Boy’s Room – Eat, Sleep, Study, Repeat Read More »