Have you ever taken notice to no matter how large a home is or who is living in the home, everyone always congregates in the kitchen. The kitchen is truly the center hub of any home and should show tasteful design (no pun intended!)
As we know, trends are constantly changing and a kitchen should not be renovated or redesigned more than once in the home’s lifetime. The key to having a kitchen that does not lose style over time is to make the style compatible with the homeowner. Traditional kitchens continue to be the most popular design trend for kitchens in 2010. Contemporary is closely behind, but shades of white, beige, and bone are in which carry heavy weight in traditional style. Cherry wood remains to be the most popular for kitchens, cherry evokes a warm feel and that is most comfortable for kitchens. To coincide with cherry wood, hardwood floors is increasing in popularity, although ceramic, tile, and stone are regularly seen in kitchens.
Now the whole world is moving towards green energy and conservation. It is not difficult to find energy saving appliances and now they are smaller and more efficient as well. For example, dishwasher drawers don’t carry as large of a load but use less water and remind users to conserve as well.
If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, consider what is most important to you. The form, functionality, or perhaps the size? Consult what you don't have currently and what you find dire to have. This will help greatly when beginning your renovation process.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Thursday, June 24, 2010
ASID 26th Annual Design Awards Celebration
Last night, Wednesday, June 23, 2010 was the CA Northern Peninsula Chapter’s Gala. It is a big celebration for professionals in the design industry in which they are recognized for their achievements and are able to applaud fellow designers. The event was hosted at the Tech Museum of San Jose and approximately one hundred guests attended. Green was seeping out of every corner of the room, inspiration drawn from the Gala invitation designed by BCDA designer Kate Puvogel.
The award ceremony took place after cocktails and Bethe Cohen Design Associates walked away with four awards! Three of which were gold awards: single family residence over 3000 sq. ft., bath, and single space—house entry. The fourth award was a platinum judge’s choice award for a single family residence over 3000 sq. ft. All awards were well deserved and it was very exciting for the BCDA team to be recognized among fellow professionals in the industry.
This year, owner and founder Bethe Cohen herself, was the co-chair for the Gala. In addition to Bethe’s contribution, other members of the BCDA team helped coordinate and execute plans of the Gala. Numerous gifts were donated by vendors, clients, friends, and businesses to raffle throughout the night. Cocktails and dinner were served and guests had an amazing time. The BCDA team had so much fun, they are already looking forward to next year’s gala.
The award ceremony took place after cocktails and Bethe Cohen Design Associates walked away with four awards! Three of which were gold awards: single family residence over 3000 sq. ft., bath, and single space—house entry. The fourth award was a platinum judge’s choice award for a single family residence over 3000 sq. ft. All awards were well deserved and it was very exciting for the BCDA team to be recognized among fellow professionals in the industry.
This year, owner and founder Bethe Cohen herself, was the co-chair for the Gala. In addition to Bethe’s contribution, other members of the BCDA team helped coordinate and execute plans of the Gala. Numerous gifts were donated by vendors, clients, friends, and businesses to raffle throughout the night. Cocktails and dinner were served and guests had an amazing time. The BCDA team had so much fun, they are already looking forward to next year’s gala.
Monday, June 21, 2010
How About a Sculpture?
Does your garden feel drab and uninteresting? Do you believe you have planted all the flowers possible and raided every nursery around, but there is nothing that you see fit for your yard?
Consider putting sculptures in your garden. Sculptures, whether, metal, glass, or stone offers much character to any yard. Many feel that adding a sculpture to landscape gives the garden a contemporary feel. On the contrary, many sculptresses create pieces that complement any styled home. Many sculptresses around the Bay Area create custom sculptures for customers that have an exact idea in mind. Sculptures come in all sizes and sometimes they are not even the centerpiece of the garden. They can be discreetly placed beside a tree or in bushes to add a natural look to the garden.
If considering purchasing a sculpture or finding out more information, here are some recommended sculptresses.
Benbow Bullock
Jerry C Karlik
Arthur Norby
Consider putting sculptures in your garden. Sculptures, whether, metal, glass, or stone offers much character to any yard. Many feel that adding a sculpture to landscape gives the garden a contemporary feel. On the contrary, many sculptresses create pieces that complement any styled home. Many sculptresses around the Bay Area create custom sculptures for customers that have an exact idea in mind. Sculptures come in all sizes and sometimes they are not even the centerpiece of the garden. They can be discreetly placed beside a tree or in bushes to add a natural look to the garden.
If considering purchasing a sculpture or finding out more information, here are some recommended sculptresses.
Benbow Bullock
Jerry C Karlik
Arthur Norby
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Martis Camp
Located between Truckee and North Lake Tahoe, Martis Camp of the Martis Valley was the ideal location for this specific clients’ vacation home. BCDA designed the house interior from the very beginning and worked closely with the architect. This home has a contemporary feel, with dark colors, and minimal furniture. Below are three videos that highlight senior designer, Vivian Solemani’s, progress throughout different stages of the project.
In addition, this house is one of six chosen to be a part of Martis Home Tour 2010, benefiting Excellence in Education. If interested in viewing the home, tickets for the tour are available for purchase through the website and the event takes place on August 7, 2010 from 10am-4pm.
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Keeping it Trendy
These days we are all just trying our hardest to keep up with the current trends. We all want our house to be stylish, but most importantly we don’t want to be stuck with outdated furniture, trends from decades ago, or a house that makes guests feel like they just traveled back in time.
Conclusion to this dilemma? Make the foundation for the room you are designing basic, so if and when the time comes for an update, no drastic changes need to be made. Keep your walls and furniture neutral, grey is a great neutral for 2010, with an accent wall or piece that adds some character. The rest of the accessories in the room, such as artwork, carpets, and coffee tables are easier to swap out in the future.
When deciding how to ramp up the energy in the room after a neutral base color has been decided, first consider how the room will be used and what energy you want it to give off. If it is a formal sitting room, static pink is most likely not the best option. However, if it is a family room, possibly an energetic blue or green would suit the room well.
Colors that are sweeping the trends of 2010 are played up earth tones. Such would consist of bright oranges, fun greens, a mix of purples and exciting yellows. Above is an example of a living room using the neutral gray and bright red as an accent, the picture is from Fresh Contemporary Interiors.
Conclusion to this dilemma? Make the foundation for the room you are designing basic, so if and when the time comes for an update, no drastic changes need to be made. Keep your walls and furniture neutral, grey is a great neutral for 2010, with an accent wall or piece that adds some character. The rest of the accessories in the room, such as artwork, carpets, and coffee tables are easier to swap out in the future.
When deciding how to ramp up the energy in the room after a neutral base color has been decided, first consider how the room will be used and what energy you want it to give off. If it is a formal sitting room, static pink is most likely not the best option. However, if it is a family room, possibly an energetic blue or green would suit the room well.
Colors that are sweeping the trends of 2010 are played up earth tones. Such would consist of bright oranges, fun greens, a mix of purples and exciting yellows. Above is an example of a living room using the neutral gray and bright red as an accent, the picture is from Fresh Contemporary Interiors.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Inspiration for a Los Gatos, CA Home
Last month we completed a project for a residence in Los Gatos and we are very excited about the collaboration with the client. Daniel J Boyd Construction was the builder for this home.
In this four part series we highlighted how to take inspiration and design goals for the overall project and then how to break it into major elements: space planning, exterior finishes and interior finishes. While the home is not 100% completed in this series of videos, it is nearly so and in the coming month the final landscaping and minor finish work will be done. You might have to use a little imagination of your own to see the exterior patios and landscape as it will be when it is finished. Please take a look at these different segments with Vivian Soleimani, Sr Designer for BCDA as she talks thru the goals and products used while touring the home.
Part one overall design inspiration.
Video - Part 1: Design Inspiration
Video - Part 1: Design Inspiration
Part two covers the challenges and client objectives for the space planning. This home is for a young family with 2 children. It is essential that there is room for this active family and an easy indoor/outdoor lifestyle to suit the climate and location.
Video - Part 2: Space Plan
Video - Part 2: Space Plan
Part three begins to detail the exterior finish details and why specific elements were chosen.
Video - Part 3: Exterior Finishes
Video - Part 3: Exterior Finishes
Finally in part 4 the many details on the interior finish are discussed. This house has a very clear and consistent contemporary feel. It is also welcoming and durable for the young family. Many of the details are the very newest in design and construction techniques.
Video - Part 4: Interior Finishes
Video - Part 4: Interior Finishes
What is your feedback from the project? We'd love to hear your comments.
Tips on starting design process
One of the aspects we love about interior design is getting to know our clients well and understanding their lifestyle and personal design preferences. Of course there are many ways to get to know our clients better, but we have found that traveling together to different design centers really brings out the landscape of options and ideas in a very creative and collaborative setting.
We hope if you are considering hiring an interior designer that you will opt to take this step and ask your design team to show you many different venues and showrooms for different aspects of art, furnishings and home decor.
Who knows, you may find that there is something incredibly appealing about mixing in pieces from outside your traditional comfort zone. Inspiration comes to us in all kinds of places and at unexpected times, the key is to be open and ready for inspiration to strike!
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