LOVE THAT BLUE, SANTALUZ
#projectlovethatbluesantaluz

What can I say about Santaluz, other than yes!  It is peaceful and serene, and the homes are so lovely.  You can imagine the joy when I received a call that my clients had recently purchased a place in Santaluz.  Happy dance...

We had recently completed designing their previous home, which they decided to sell, furnished, down to the last candle. They wanted a fresh start, bringing only a card table and piano to the new place.  (Fun fact: the buyer of their previous home is now my client. So great!) We took a morning and laid out the entire home as a complete presentation, which truly is the best way to go as you view the cohesive design as a whole, rather than moving from piece to piece over a long spread-out season. At presentation the client made commitments and we were ready to jump in. The best part!

We started with a rich velvety blue on the living room walls, gorgeous against the white painted fireplace.  I pulled together a savvy grouping of furnishings that became a luxe sitting room while remaining approachable and casual at the same time. I wanted texture in the room as it doubles as the music room (with piano) and it needed to be sensory. Perhaps my favorite thing in the living room is those knockout tie-dye curtains. Or maybe it's the blue sofa with blue walls. And I can't resist a gorgeous gourd lamp...

The dining room began with a glam-rustic table (yes, that’s a thing) paired with earthy side chairs in casual coloring but with dressy shape. The mirrored-front console with fretwork is wonderful, and the soft, patterned rug has amazing colors, the room really came together. Of course we had to place preserved coral sculptures in the room… it’s a trademark for this client. The oversized Benson Cobb art piece is dreamy, and the whimsical chandelier (purchased off the showroom floor at DRC, my favorite showroom) was a great find and brings the room together beautifully.

Family room was intriguing, the builder had put exit doors in two corners, plus interior pass-thru in two corners, which made the room harder to furnish. We opted for a primary deep-seated down sofa, with two oversized lounge chairs with ottomans. Perfect for movie night or sprawling over a big family chat. We added a massive coffee table in the center, and I really enjoyed picking out the rest of the smaller tables and accessories, what a perfect room.

Kitchen was originally planned as a facelift - painting the existing cabinets - but on closer inspection the client felt the cabinets were a little run down and didn’t see the sense in painting them.  We had new cabinets installed in the same configuration but with a few upgrades.  One of my favorite parts is the hand painted terra cotta tile from Tabarka we had custom colored... brings the smile.

The raised fireplace hearth in the kitchen nook was keeping us from using a nice big table for their growing family.  I suggested we demo the raised hearth and put a flush hearth inset in the floor, with another painted terracotta tile as the surround.  It turned out to be one of my favorite spots in the house.  And we were able to put an 8-seater in that location, so wonderful!  I’m a huge fan of  kitchen nook family tables, so this made me happy.  And I couldn’t resist a couple chairs in a fabulous chevron, because fabulous is... fabulous.

Master suite we went a little 50s era glam, keeping with the casual earthy colors - sans blue - and what a stunner.  The white shag carpet must be raked, but it was worth it. Gorgeous. Custom blackout curtains full-wall, elegant padded bed frame, ethereal wallpaper behind the bed, and a modern leggy chandelier to top it all off. The crème lacquer dresser from Caracole is so special, it has inset herringbone wood in the front, and gorgeous knobs. The drawers slide with a whisper, so elegant. And yes those are real ostrich feathers on the nightstand. How cute is that! 

All in all I loved this project so much. I loved that my client trusted me to furnish and accessorize the place down to the last candle, just as we did in their previous home. She and her husband are a joy to be with, her leisurely vibe paired with his get-it-done attitude made for a steady paced job completed in a fairly timely manner. Well done! Feet up, mug in hand, and coffee on...

-Di