"Ocean Avenue"- Casa International

Beijing's acclaimed interior design magazine features a beautiful five page pictorial on the work of Sarah Barnard Design.

Sustainable design means different things to different people, but at its core, sustainability is the sensibility that objects and materials which are sourced responsibly are also beneficial for our mental and physical well-being, too. For professionals, sustainability is a standard that ensures our spaces are safe, comfortable, and beautiful. Interior designers like Sarah Barnard make decisions throughout the entire process that are geared towards that end: beauty and functionality melded in the healthiest way possible.

Working out of her Los Angeles based studio, Sarah Barnard is intrigued by clients who have unusual requests and lives for a challenge. She hasn’t met one yet that she didn’t like. In this project, the owners wanted an escape from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.  They wanted a space conducive to relaxation and meditation.

This space is quite small (under 2000 SF) and so creating a sense of visual expanse was challenging. One strategy Sarah Barnard employed to raise the ceiling height was to paint out the crown molding to match the wall and ceiling color (but not the baseboard).

The media room also functions as a second bedroom with a contemporary sofa that folds out into a comfy guest bed.  Also, this penthouse overlooks Ocean Avenue in Santa Monica, California. Anything that needed to go inside the apartment had to fit in the freight elevator. If the item could fit in the freight elevator...it couldn't be a part of the design!

The aesthetic is generally quiet and is a combination of contemporary pieces and vintage items. The living area is intentionally light and bright, encouraging the walls and furnishings to recede so that the ocean views can remain the focus. The master bedroom is intentionally considerably darker to promote sleep, while the horizontal lines of the furnishings and drapery echo the direction of the shoreline.  Careful selection of organic natural textiles, non-toxic wall finishes, re-use of on-site materials as was feasible, incorporation of vintage fixtures and furnishings as well as energy efficient appliances and lighting.

This space is amazing! The clients live full time in the San Francisco Bay Area and use this unit as a relaxing retreat. Everyone who visits falls in love with the interior and the views!
 

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Restaurant Design with Cuban Flair

Add a tropical flair to your household by drawing inspiration from Cuba! Mix earth tones and tropical colors with mid-century decor, and you'll instantly feel like you're on vacation. Use your chosen color scheme to color block the walls, pairing a bright color with a neutral like Terra-cotta. Explore natural elements like rich wood grains, and add tropical household plants to enliven your space. Choose furniture that predates the 1950's, and feel free to mix and match styles to give the area a vintage flea market look. The masonry walls, exposed beams, and outdoor style lighting create the illusion that the diners of this Cuban Café are relaxing on a cozy patio.

The lounge area in the rear allows patrons to relax and enjoy the infectious Cuban atmosphere while playing dominoes or listening to live music.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.
 

Green: Inside and Out

Environmental Concept creates unique outdoor living spaces for high-profile clients in the Los Angeles area and strives to use sustainable practices that create healthier environments.

When designing their offices, we were asked to create a contemporary space that used organic materials, giving a result that was eco-friendly inside and out. Objects such as the reception desk were salvaged and rehabilitated for minimal environmental impact. The polished concrete floors and painted branch mural embody the contemporary organic approach of Environmental Concept.

Floating wall shelves display colorful concept sketches, while Aduze pottery and a driftwood side table welcome guests.

This zesty bathroom scheme was inspired by the colors found in the exterior garden.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Old World Elegance: Luxury Primary Bedroom Suite

Give your home an old-world elegance by drawing inspiration from grand European interiors.  Use a darker color palette, and use wall texture to give your walls depth.  Through Sarah's home design, this primary bedroom transformed into an intimate and warm haven complete with elegant bed and plush tufted ottomans in colors ranging from mocha to chamois to beige to burnt sienna.

Accessorize your space with pottery and other mementos that recall European elegance.  Here Sarah gives reflective items highlights by placing a spark of rust that adorns twigs bundled at the hearth and places bronze tinted pots inside the inlaid wall. 

To lighten this bathroom, Sarah uses a buttery blend of cinnamons lending itself well to the highly sought after soft light of such spaces.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Party Planning With Style

Dinner parties or other home gatherings can be remarkable when a keen eye for detail and that special finishing touch are involved. When first starting the party planning process, scope out the locations in the home that will provide the space for the event. What appropriate accessories do you already own? How is the lighting? What tasks need completing before space can function? Consider rearranging furniture to create a fresh new look for the room and to open up the space to accommodate guests.

For a Christmas party, your decorated Christmas tree can provide a terrific backdrop. As most holiday accessories are collected over the years, using them to decorate your space is a nice personal touch and can be a conversation starter. Furniture can be rearranged around the tree to create a new lounge-like seating area for guests to occupy before or after dinner.

Small accessories used as accents are great for decorating any space and can help with the theme of your party. Here, a silver-leafed sea shell and starfish can serve a summertime, beach themed soiree.

For the dinner table, centerpieces and table settings genuinely add to the ambiance of the room. In this modern dining room, the pink tinted china adds a pop of color and compliments the nature-inspired centerpiece. Additionally, to set a table correctly can impress guests while adding dimension to the table as the glassware in the photo does.

Lighting can play a significant role home design and in the general atmosphere of your party. Here, a candlelit chandelier gives cozy warmth to the room.  Consider having lit candles throughout the rest of the house to continue this warm feel for your party. Natural lighting can also work for your event.  In this ocean view penthouse, the floor to ceiling window lights up this entertaining area. For your house, open up those curtains before the sun goes down to enhance any room.

Interiors by: Sarah Barnard

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Colors From the Garden

Choosing colors for your home can be difficult when there are so many from which to choose.  Sometimes the answer can be as simple as looking for inspiration in your garden.  Nature's color palette provides the perfect balance of neutral tones, vibrant greens, and lively colors.

Elements from your garden can serve as decor.  Not only do they tie your interior and exterior design together, but they bring freshness, life, and color into a room. 

Potted succulents serve as great centerpieces, and are easy to take care of for they need little water to thrive. Pair them with interesting found objects such as rocks and found wood to add organic shapes to a room.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Decorating with Seasonal Details

The changing seasons can serve as the perfect inspiration for home design and is a great way to keep rooms looking fresh!  Check out these seasonal details from Sarah Barnard Design.

Spring
Fresh flowers bring life and color to a room.

Pastel colored flatware reflects the blooming flowers outside.

Fresh fruit reminds us of the lush bounty brought from spring showers.

Summer
Sea themed decor gives any room the easy-breezy feeling of summer at the beach.

 Rustic wood flatware recalls a cool autumn day.

Neutral tones and orange flowers mimic the changing fall leaves. 

Winter
Holiday garland, white flowers, and traditional Christmas decor adds holiday cheer.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Best and Blue-est Blues for Home Design

Blue is a versatile color that looks great in any room.  Often used in home design, blue can be calming, peaceful, and charming.  Check out these great blue rooms by Sarah Barnard Design.

The existing antique brick and the chosen cool blue tones of the locally made cabinetry make for a delightful collection of old and new in this Scandifornian style home. Founded in a Scandinavian aesthetic with an appreciation of natural materials, light and bright spaces and a California cozy style all it’s own makes this eco-friendly kitchen one of them most loved rooms in the house.

Refreshing blue tiles offset a limestone niche and give the serene primary bath a splash of color.
 

Blue, a predictable choice for a boy's bedroom, transforms this 'little man's' room with the warmth of traditional design elements and cutting edge details to create a youthful, contemporary space.

This mural, featuring a vintage Aston Martin inspired by the classic James Bond film 'Goldfinger,' is paired with blue wainscoting.

The soaking tub echoes the oval forms present elsewhere in the space and allows for a feeling of lightness overall.

 A sea of blue ceramic tile paired with organic form glass floor tiles and an orb-like wall sconce create a fresh aesthetic for a child's bathroom.

Quarts countertops infused with real seashells pair nicely with the seaside location of the residence.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Sexy Spaces

Creating a sexy space is all about the attitude of the area in question.  Not only are sensual spaces beautiful, but they are spaces of self-expression.  Check out these sexy spaces created by Sarah Barnard Design.

Surfboards painted by youthful members of LRO add interest to the conference room as works of art.

The Teen Choice Celebrity Gift Retreat was designed to be both fun and modern while emphasizing a commitment to sustainable practices.

This coastal penthouse has a bird’s eye view of the Pacific Ocean. Eco-friendly furnishings, natural textiles, and organic rugs provide a perfect Zen retreat.

Vintage rattan coffee table ottomans pair perfectly with a sleeper sofa from Linea and lightweight linen sheer drapery.

 A therapeutic bathing tub, heated floor tiles and soothing views of nature enhance the splendor and comfort of this primary bathroom.

Large multi-toned pebbles set the tone for this powder bathroom. This design melds classic Moroccan influences with the contemporary strategy for a delightfully balanced composition.

This former laundry room, now a primary bath, has been transformed into an oasis retreat.

A breathtaking painted wall screen sets the tone for this sumptuous sitting room.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Interior Design Focus: Roman Shades

Window coverings are the perfect finishing touch to any room, but sometimes long draperies can end up looking too fussy. Roman shades are the ideal alternative window covering that helps create a classic yet practical home design solution to blocking out the sun.

Adding neutral linen roman shades to these french doors are a subtle way to block out sunlight.

Here you have subtle roman blinds blending in with a well-designed room.

In this dining room, Roman blinds are used to add texture and contrast.

Natural woven shades mimic the textures and materials seen in this family room

 These wood woven shades are a great way to diffuse natural light.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Long Luxurious Draperies

Window coverings serve many purposes. Not only do they block out sunlight and create privacy, but they add a decorative element to the room that ties it together. Long beautiful drapes add an item of luxury and sophistication to any home design.

This lightweight linen sheer drapery adds an airy elegance to this seaside room.

Pale pink draperies add a sense of luxury to this majestic room.

An example of how light sheer linen draperies can complete a room without looking fussy.

Long red velvet drapes paired with patterned sheers bring Christmas cheer to this historic mansion.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.
 

Kids Room Interior Design Ideas

These rooms provide big style for their little inhabitants.

A pink playroom that all little girls dream of. This shade of pink was personally approved by the little princess who resides here.

A multi-tonal mix of pinks and prints.

The smocked pink drapery and antique painted beds are a traditional foundation while the light fixture, custom polk-a-dot chairs and whimsical bubble murals create a playful harmony.

A boy's bedroom is transformed into a 'little man's' room with the warmth of traditional design elements and cutting edge details to create a youthful, contemporary space.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

Scandifornian Style in a Gorgeous Guest Bath

This serene guest bathroom has a custom vanity cabinet and matching wood framed mirror that float above the cream colored pebble flooring. Inspired by Scandinavian design the space is intended to be light, bright and connected to nature. Distinctly California in style is the onyx countertop and protea blossom, together these elements make for a wonderful blending of elements known as Scandifornian style.

The sleek white vessel sink rests upon a decadent onyx counter top.

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.