Design Intelligence

Tastemakers share inspired details

Above Image: Designer Natasha Baradaran. Portrait by Stephen Busken.



KELLY HOHLA

“Sometimes the details are inspired by the architecture. For example, in a recent San Francisco home, we had a family room space that needed an infusion of personality. We took our cue from the slightly curved ceiling and curved stairway, and added subtle curved details to our custom cabinetry/bar and mantle. We also brought in curvaceous furniture like this arched lounge chair.

Project photo by John Merkl

NATASHA BARADARAN

“I love to use embroidery in my collection and in my interiors. And, having been raised between Los Angeles and Milan, my pieces often pay homage to the places that have most inspired me on my design journey. The embroidery motif of the Galleria Ottoman was inspired by the glass dome of the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan.”

Product image courtesy of Natasha Baradaran Collection
Portrait by Stephen Busken

ELLIOTT BARNES

“In 2021 I created a Iqanda, a collection of bronze lighting incorporating ostrich eggs for Tisserant Art & Style Paris. Going back to the bronze age, ostrich eggs have been given as gifts—they were carved and decorated—and are as resistant as porcelain bisque. We wanted to create pieces that felt very modern, so we worked with the pure form of the egg, slicing the shells vertically and horizontally. What’s really special is that because each egg is slightly different, every piece is unique.”

Portrait by Francis Amiand

MATTHEW LEVERONE

“In place of built-in millwork, we decided to custom design a cabinet for the client’s office to conceal file storage and printers. Featuring bespoke blackened steel laser cut legs, heavy textured linen wrapped doors and leather tab pulls from a saddle maker in Texas, it adds interest to the space as well as lightens the room’s character and visual weight.”

Project photo by Matthew Millman
Portrait by Meghan Kay Sadler

ALISON DAMONTE

“The majority of this home was built modularly, which meant that the dimensions of most of the rooms were dictated by the conditions of modular construction, and everything was very rectilinear. The client requested that the kitchen include both an island for cooking and some casual, counter-height seating. Due to the pre-set dimensions of the kitchen, there wasn’t enough room for two separate islands. Our solution was a two-sided, counter-height table. Since the function of the table was different from the kitchen island, we wanted to call it out as a piece of furniture rather than part of the cabinetry. We worked with Urban Hardwoods to craft a table based on the idea of origami to break up the otherwise very rectilinear design of the home. The end of the island folds in to create an interesting sculptural element and the top of the table joins the quartz countertop at an angle, further playing up the idea that the wood has been folded and unfolded to create the table. A blackened bronze inset strip runs the length of the table to add an additional element of interest.”

Project and portrait photos by Bruce Damonte

EMILY MUGHANNAM

“We recently completed this ‘Modern Mediterranean’ project in Sonoma. One of my favorite details was the edge on the kitchen counters.  We not only created a unique ogee edge, but in lieu of a simple straight line, had the counter curve and travel along the main work station and the counter bar.  This little detail helped to elevate a galley kitchen into a luxurious space for our clients.”

Project photo by Bess Friday
Portrait by Holly B. Rose

MADELINE STUART

“In the powder room of a recently complete project, nearly every surface reflects our firm’s approach to details, from the floor—inspired by ancient Roman mosaic patterns and handmade in Italy—to the solid marble sink discovered at a salvage yard, to the painted wall pattern which was inspired by the decorative motifs at the Villa Kerylos.  But the custom tassels on the bronze mirror we designed are one of my favorite details. We put a great deal of thought and attention into what is ultimately a simple element, but I can’t imagine the room being quite as beautiful without that understated detail.”

Project photo by Trevor Tondo

Two Henry Adams Street, Suite 2M-33
San Francisco, CA 94103

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