TBD Monthly Round-Up
Things we are loving right now…
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about our ethos and the starting point for us is the idea that when you walk through a finished home you can’t see the “new.” The goal is for the whole house to feel as if it has been there all along. It’s the feeling that the pieces are right and all fit together to tell the story of the home and its’ inhabitants. It’s the concept of building a new, old home.
How does one go about doing that. Well, here are a few tips to do just that:
1. Look to the past for inspiration. Doing some research on the architectural style of the specific period you are trying to replicate will go a long way to curating an authentic design direction for the entire project.
2. Add architectural elements and interest with the use of natural materials, both inside and out. They increase the value and truly make a home more timeless and lasting.
3. Good windows add architecture. It is important to be thoughtful about scale and style of windows. The right choice can truly make or break the project.
4. The floor plan is the foundation of the space. Getting it right is vital. Leading with a more traditional floor plan with designated rooms versus the “newer” great room concept will create a cozier, more comfortable feeling.
5. Layers, whether soft or bold, are what create a feeling of a lived in home, regardless of how long it’s been there.
6. Add detail with finish work. Curating a combination of base, case, crown and paneling add an architectural layer.
Wondering what we’ve been working on?
We completed a large renovation project here in Sebastopol about a year ago but have been holding it back as it received placement in American Farmhouse Style magazine. You can see it in the February/March 2025 volume, which will be out and about on 2/20/25. Here is a sneak peak. Check out our portfolio page to see the full project. It’s a good one!
New and Noteworthy
We’ve had a wonderful furnishing project with client’s that were open to custom pieces for the house. We worked on two dining tables and a pair of walnut side tables that turned out beautifully. It was a pleasure to partner with Fox Den Studio to create these one-of-a-kind pieces.
A Tip From TBD…
Not a tip this month but words that sparked something in me, that felt like the truth of the moment right now.
Maggie Smith Said We Could Make This Place Beautiful
“And I want to believe her / Even though I’m running low on things to believe in / Even though all ninety-seven days of January have been beyond belief / and now we are in a free-for-all freefall in the name of freedom / If it’s true that our little lizard brains were designed to stare at the sky / and marvel at the stars / and hold each others’ babies as the sun back-walkovers into the horizon / it’s no wonder we are so burnt our – so bored yet so busy --/ spending all day as we do: blinking away blue-lit horrors from across the globe / and across the street / There is nothing and everything to do / so when the world offers me the choice between hope and despair / I take one in each hand / and let go of what’s heavy.”
-Lyndsay Rush
Hoping you are able to let go of what’s heavy today.