The Architecture of - Geoffrey De Sousa Interior Design

san francisco cottages & gardens February/March 2016
COTTAGESGARDENS.COM | FEBRUARY/MARCH 2016
Happiness
cottagesgardens.com
The Architecture of
HO ME
WHERE
HOPE
HAS A
WRITTEN BY
ANH-MINH LE
PHOTOGRAPHS BY
KEITH SCOTT MORTON
AND ERIC RICHARDS
ALDEN
MILLER
INTERIORS
GUEST ROOM
Flexibility was at the forefront of Alden Miller’s room
design, since its occupants
vary in group size and family members. The queen
bed includes a trundle, and
an armchair tucked into a
corner transforms into a twin
bed. “Because many people
are sharing one room,” she
explains, “we sought to define small spaces within the
larger space.” For example,
a curtain delineates the twin
sleeping quarters, while a rug
establishes a play area. Miller
worked closely with designer
and craftsman Victor Campero
on three bespoke pieces: a
storage wall, a closet system
and a desk. And, of course,
details were carefully considered. “By adding pin-up
boards, display shelves and
customizable cubby bins,”
says Miller, “arriving residents
can make the room their
room.”
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ASK ANY OF THE FOUR DOZEN INTERIOR DESIGNERS
who participated in the 52,000-square-foot expansion of Ronald McDonald House
at Stanford (RMHS) to impart their impression of the project and, chances are, the
phrase “giving back” will populate their response. Indeed, the collaboration between
RMHS, San Francisco Design Center and SFC&G was about more than selecting
furnishings and finishes. It relied on a sense of community and compassion that
manifested itself in the time and talents contributed by the designers, as well as the
services and products donated to their spaces. The end result? A house that now
feels like a home away from home for an additional 67 families every night.
FOR FURTHER DETAILS, SEE RESOURCES.
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sfc&g cottagesgardens.com february/march 2016
KRISTI WILL
HOME + DESIGN
DINING ROOM
“We started with the concept that mealtime brings people
together, providing a wonderful sense of community and
normalcy,” says Kristi Will, adding that she envisions the
dining room will be used for many activities, like town hall
meetings, music performances and weekly bingo games.
Among the furnishings are indoor/outdoor chairs from
Janus et Cie, Verner Panton children’s chairs, tables and
benches by Newell Design Studio—the latter upholstered in
Clarence House textiles—and a 19-foot A. Rudin banquette
covered in an aubergine vinyl by Nobilis. Will accessorized
with lighting by Anna Kondolf and John Pomp Studios.
Art includes a striking paper sculpture by Jeff Nishinaka
and works by Natural Curiosities. Not one to overlook
details, Will even incorporated a stroller parking area.
LAURA MARTIN BOVARD INTERIORS
GUEST ROOM
“Imagining families having some semblance of comfort on their journey of dealing with their ill
children…well, it makes me tear up just thinking of it,” says Laura Martin Bovard. Her vendors
were equally moved by the RMHS project and offered their assistance: Catherine Baldi of Arana
Craftsman Painters, Robert Allen (fabrics), Berland Design (benches), Kay Chesterfield (pillows),
Angelique Interiors (drapery), Renaissance Custom Upholstery (headboards), Panorama Framing
and Closet Factory. Together, they executed Martin Bovard’s vision of a space that “makes families
feel welcome, safe and special,” says the designer. “We chose a grounding, soothing color palette,
a warm approach and a modern vibe to accomplish this.”
BUTLER ARMSDEN
ARCHITECTS
YOUTH ROOM
Reba Jones, an associate principal at
Butler Armsden, took indoor/outdoor
living to a new level by designing a treehouse for the youth room. Fabricated by
Clayton Trimbell & Company, it features a
fort that allows for playing dress-up and
hosting puppet shows; a picnic table that
can function as a craft table; and outsized EIS Studio “river rocks” that help
set the scene and serve as seating. Custom decals by Ashley Licht of UpInFlight
depict animal creatures and enhance the
woodland aesthetic, achieving Jones’
goal of reflecting “the rolling hills and oak
trees native to the Palo Alto area.”
BUTLER
ARMSDEN
ARCHITECTS
READING ROOM
BUTLER ARMSDEN ARCHITECTS
TODDLER ROOM
“We know that families will be using this space to take a break from a
challenging day,” says Jones. “So we did our best to design a space that
would provide a bit of comfort and a fun diversion.” She and her team created a retreat in which to “jump and crawl around, sing, get the wiggles
out and have a comfy place to relax,” all with a seaside theme. The room
features sea lion bean bag chairs by Woodnotes and a custom “sea wall”
designed by Butler Armsden. The latter, made by Framecom, includes a
crawl space for toddlers and seating for adults. Shaw hexagon-shaped
carpet tiles and a wall mural by Lark Pien round out the decor.
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According to Jones, the reading
room offers “the best little view
of a beautiful oak tree.” She
decided to apply an arboreal
motif to the walls with a custom
wallpaper that “honors the California hillside and connects the
space to its surrounding outside
environment.” The design and
installation are the handiwork of
Elan Evans. A fox or an owl—in
the form of a wall decal—keeps
visitors company and, says
Jones, “makes the space friendlier to the youngest readers.”
For the seating, she selected
low-slung Mah Jong chairs by
Roche Bobois upholstered in
vibrant fabrics from the Missoni
Home collection.
KOCH|NEVE
INTERIOR DESIGN
MARTIN GROUP
GUEST ROOM
Jeffrey Neve had a very personal reason for participating in the project. “When I was 19,” he recalls,
“my younger brother was treated for cancer and we
stayed at RMH in Orange County. He later passed
away, but I jumped at the chance to give back to a
charity that had a direct impact on my family’s life.”
A recent trip to Utah’s Amangiri resort served as visual inspiration for Neve and design partner Elaine
Koch. “The red rocks and desert colors heavily influenced our room,” he says. “The Trove wallpaper
is a watercolor of falling leaves, the headboard is
made to look like cork, the colors on the Osborne &
Little fabric are a perfect match to our vision—they
look like a beautiful desert sunset.”
KIMBERLY LARZELERE
INTERIORS
EXERCISE ROOM
“It was my intention to design a space that would
be both calming and inspirational,” says Kimberley Larzelere. “When I’m under stress, I find that
exercise is a valuable tool that helps to relieve
tension. The families that will use the exercise
room are undergoing a tremendous amount of
hardship. If I can provide them with a comfortable
place to express themselves physically, work off
some stress and even play a little, I’ve done my
job.” The designer worked with Chris Fisher of
Out-Fit to coordinate equipment donations from
not only Out-Fit, but also Precor, Expresso Bikes
and Interactive Fitness. The woodsy wallpaper
adds graphic pop, and artist Katina Huston
donated a stunning work to the room.
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CONFERENCE ROOM
Beth Martin aimed to evoke the casual California lifestyle and a feeling of home, as well as to accommodate
a range of activities, from board meetings to crafting
sessions, with her design of the conference room. For
Martin, “the selfless act of giving” was a meaningful
part of working on RMHS. Her pro bono efforts included
serving as the design co-chair of the project, and she
was the beneficiary of myriad donations, including
chairs from Lee Industries, Silestone for the tables and
counters from Cosentino, wallpaper from Elizabeth Dow,
and cabinetry from Poggenpohl. Martin also integrated
custom touches: Along with interlocking, reconfigurable
tables of her own design, she commissioned a work
from artist Jenny Phillips for the room.
DAVIDSON LE
GUEST ROOM
“The inspiration for the guest room
came to me quite easily,” says
Davidson Le. “Nature is all around
us, and to many from all over the
world, it represents life and serenity. Guests are already dealing with
more stress than I can imagine.”
Le’s design includes wallcovering
that evokes birch and a palette
highlighted by calming greens and
blues. “It’s also inspiring,” Le says,
“to know that there is so much support in the Bay Area for RMHS. We
couldn’t have done it without the
generosity of all of our supportive
donors and friends,” who included
Romo, Flor, HD Buttercup and
Timothy Oulton.
MADRONE
INTERIOR DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
“I love the power that color has on our
emotions, so I chose a neutral color scheme
with bright accents of orange and green to
bring energy to the room,” explains Robin
Sussillo. “The art prints are titled Joy of Life
and Rhythm, which I feel complement the
spirit of the design.” To outfit the quarters,
Sussillo worked closely with Design Mart
Silicon Valley (furniture, lighting, rugs, accessories), as well as Paterson Floor Coverings
(rugs), In Stitches Design Solution (fabrication of custom pillows and drapery, plus
drapery hardware), Robert Allen (fabrics) and
All Natural Stone (bathroom tile and stone).
“Everyone was incredibly supportive and
generous,” she says of her vendors.
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PAMELA PENNINGTON STUDIOS
GUEST ROOM
“We approached our design with the idea that the space needed to
be comfortable and flexible enough for the families to make it their
own,” says Pamela Pennington. “It’s important that they not have to
worry about damaging anything.” One of the elements of her design that will put guests at ease is the art. She notes that nonprofit
organization Paintbrush Diplomacy “showed us a wonderful group of
art produced by children, culled from around the world.” From one
of those children’s paintings, her firm developed a wall covering—an
enlarged version of the original artwork—that now lines one of her
bedroom’s walls (Pennington worked on two suites). “We hope this
wonderful, colorful image will inspire healing, care and community
during the guests’ stay,” she adds.
EVARS +
ANDERSON
INTERIOR
DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
Over the past couple of
years, designer Nancy Evars
has been working with local
fifth-graders to make blankets
and blessing bags for RMHS
families, so she is no stranger
to the organization. Still, she
and Dimitra Anderson were
even more inspired to become
involved with the expansion
project after learning that the
addition would help eliminate
the nightly waiting list at the
house. The pair enlisted artist
Andrea Fono to work with the
fifth-graders on the large collage that hangs in the room.
“It was so meaningful to see
the children work so hard on
something they hoped would
make the families’ stay a little
more special,” says Evars.
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“I GREW UP
ABOUT
TWO MILES
FROM RMHS
AND HAVE
THE BEST OF
MEMORIES OF
VOLUNTEERING THERE
AS A TEEN”
NASH
DESIGN GROUP
GUEST ROOM
“I am a new mom and can only
imagine the difficulties these
children and parents are facing,”
says Kendra Nash. “Plus, I grew
up about two miles from RMHS
and have the best of memories
of volunteering there as a teen.
I was excited to be a part of the
house again as an adult.” The
tone for both of the rooms she
designed was set by artist Anjale
Perrault’s custom botanical oil
paintings. And businesses both
large and small lent a helping
hand, with Loloi, Pottery Barn
and Wayfair providing rugs and
furniture, while local firm Knox
Painting Co. and electrician Bob
McFadden offered up their labor
and materials.
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RKI INTERIOR
DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
While designing her room, Rise Krag and
her team “kept visualizing how we would
want to feel,” she says. Their criteria? “It
should be calm, it should feel spacious,
it should be inspired by the surrounding nature and it should be easy maintenance.” The space includes a solid
wood Hoot Judkins dresser, embellished
with hardware from Belmont Hardware,
as well as a stylish bench from Loggia
Showroom, lighting from Coast Lighting
and art by Carmel-based Victor Krag. A
clever closet solution by Rebarts Interiors—the company also responsible for
the window coverings—lends softness
and conceals the family’s personal items.
STUDIO
NAHEMOW DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
To achieve a home away from home for
guests, Studio Nahemow “sought out
a mixture of furnishings that we could
repurpose to suit this need,” says interior
designer Eugene Nahemow. “With the help
of our vendors, we refinished and reupholstered furniture with a palette of colors
that would inspire hope.” Among those
who assisted the firm with its design goals
were Luis Norori Antique Restoration, Jovinas Custom Upholstery, Welch Construction (interior finish installation), Dianne
Kirchner (drapery and bedding fabrication),
Savanna Hobbs (wallpaper installation),
John O’Brien (window covering installation), Brentano Fabrics, Romo, Restoration
Hardware and Serena & Lily.
EJ INTERIOR DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
ASH INTERIORS +
HEIRLOOM HOME
INTERIORS
GUEST ROOM
Ashlin Mahood of ASH Interiors and Jennifer
Glynn of Heirloom Home Interiors joined
forces to produce a room whose “color
palette was inspired by nature, fabrics were
selected to be soft and welcome, and art
is colorful and whimsical,” says Glynn. The
designers collaborated with Cecilia Lindo of
San Souci Workroom on the custom drapery,
pillows and bedding, as well as Colleen
Smith of California Wood Studios on
the custom walnut headboard. According to
Mahood, she and Glynn take great satisfaction in “knowing that we’ve created a private
and restful space for families in need so that
they can focus on what is most important:
the health and well-being of their child.”
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Eugenia Jesberg describes her designs as “a true team effort,
for a very meaningful cause. My goal was to create welcoming,
comfortable rooms that evoke the feeling of being somewhere relaxing,
rather than at a facility.” With the California coast as her inspiration,
she went for a casual and beachy environment, with soft fabrics and
“feel-good” hues, punched up with bold and whimsical accents.
Serena & Lily donated much of the furniture, rugs and accessories;
Elan Evans painted the walls; Susan Lind Chastain fabricated and installed the window coverings; and Catlin Weatherill sewed the bedding.
For textiles, Jesberg turned to a designer favorite: Osborne & Little.
KATHY BEST DESIGN
LAUNDRY ROOM
“Laundry is a task that must be done,” says Kathy Best. “We might as well
make the experience as cheerful as possible!” In a pair of laundry rooms
on the second floor, window shades made by Susan Lind Chastain depict
colorful birds roosting on a clothesline; the same fabric, Chivasso’s Birdsong, was used to wrap the acoustic panels above the sinks. Because kids
might be keeping their parents company while they do laundry, Best incorporated a children’s area in the spaces complete with toy washers, dryers
and ironing boards. “When hearing about RMHS,” she notes, “folks are
very generous with their time and money.” Pottery Barn and Jab Anstoetz
are among the vendors she worked with.
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FLORENCE WU
INTERIOR
DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
With a palette of soft grays, yellows
and golden tones—along with furniture and accessories from Robert
Allen, Romo, De Sousa Hughes,
Benjamin Moore, Polyflor and LaZ-Boy—Florence Wu assembled a
soothing retreat. “It’s a space where
families can de-stress, heal and
rest,” she says. “During the design
process, I personally witnessed kids
who have gone through a lifetime of
health struggles. Yet their courage,
strength and infectious attitude
toward life is mind-blowing and
unimaginable. To me, they are the
unsung heroes…It is truly an inspiration to experience such strength.”
“THEIR
COURAGE,
STRENGTH
AND
INFECTIOUS
ATTITUDE
TOWARD
LIFE IS MINDBLOWING AND
UNIMAGINABLE”
MELINDA MANDELL
INTERIOR DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
“The mission of RMHS hits a very personal note for me,” says
Melinda Mandell. “As a child, I was hospitalized at Lucile
Packard Children’s Hospital, with a life-changing diagnosis.
The experience turned our lives upside down—mine and
my family’s—and would have been so much more difficult if
we hadn’t lived close to the hospital. Having a safe place to
retreat and recoup is essential.” In the two bedrooms that she
designed, she opted for soothing blues and bright greens, and
referenced water, animals and nature. The furniture and fabrics
include family-friendly selections from Robert Allen, colorful
pillows in Lee Jofa textiles and bedding from Serena & Lily.
JULIANNE QUELLE DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
“The woods represent a natural sense of calm, refreshment and respite, and are juxtaposed with the wild woodland creatures,” says
Julianne Quelle Design’s Jana Magginetti of the source of her inspiration. Her bedroom consists of restful grays and taupes, but the
designer’s priorities extended beyond aesthetics: “The products
need to last—and last and last. Every detail had to be extremely
functional.” She collaborated with vendors such as Quintus, Flor,
Global Views, Bernhardt, Cowtan & Tout, Romo, Bungalow 5,
Daleno, Robert Allen, Arteriors, Restoration Hardware, Serena &
Lily and Cyan Design. Magginetti also relied on the services of
Marc Vallat (painting), R Upholstery and Dianne Kirchner (sewing).
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STEVEN MILLER
DESIGN STUDIO
LOUNGE
Steven Miller conceived a “space for people to relax
outside of their rooms, do homework at a table, have
conversations with neighbors on a comfy sofa or rock
in a chair while looking out the window at the natural
wildlife,” he says. Through the Witford showroom,
Miller was able to bring in numerous Lee Jeffries elements, noting that Dianne Kirchner, J.D. Staron and
Kravet pitched in too. Showrooms such as AMA
Surfaces (Polyflor products) and De Sousa Hughes
(Romo and Pollack fabrics) were also invaluable.
KELLY HOHLA
INTERIORS
GUEST ROOM
In its four guest suites, KHI imprinted hallmarks of its
designs: “There is color and movement on the walls but
tailored and muted rugs to ground them,” explains Kelly
Holha. The art was supplied by Dolby Chadwick Gallery;
decorative painting was done by Willem Racké; and
roman shades and pillows were fabricated and installed
by Leong Interiors. J.F. Fitzgerald made the queen-sized
trundle beds that KHI designed; Hohla and her team
also devised the rugs, pillows and window treatments.
“We hope that coming back to the rooms feels
like a getaway,” she says, “not just a place to sleep,
but a place to truly escape, relax and restore.”
PENELOPE JONES DESIGN, INC.
GUEST ROOM
Inspired by the landscape, Penelope Jones introduced “softened
natural colors such as sun-bleached coral, weathered woods,
grey-beiges and faded foggy ocean blues,” she says. “All of
the elements come together to create a pared-back, quietly
embracing decor that is both familiar and fresh. It will be a space
to feel cared for and be hopeful in.” While the daybed is one of
her designs, she also selected pieces by Kathryn M. Ireland,
Serena & Lily, Macfee Design, Stark, Romo and Sister Parish
Design. “This project gave me the opportunity to pay it forward
and use my abilities to help someone else,” says Jones.
INTERIOR DESIGN FAIR
GUEST ROOM
The jumping-off point for Jaclyn Christensen’s design was the
Voysey wallpaper. “I love the cool color palette and the arts and
crafts feel,” she explains. “The soft greens and blues give the
room a calm and peaceful vibe.” During the project, Christensen
received an outpouring of support and contributions from
associates, friends, family and even strangers. “It’s been an
incredibly heartwarming experience,” she says. “Our superhero,
Alfredo Lopez, fabricated the custom bathroom vanity, built the
wall storage, painted, hung wallpaper—you name it, and he
probably had a hand in it!” Design Support Co. fabricated the
pillows and window treatments. And IDF has Anthropologie and
Schoolhouse Electric to thank for the banana-leaf chandelier
and hand-blown glass table lamp, respectively.
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DEHN BLOOM
VIDEO ROOM
“The room is dark and cozy, with vibrant, cushy
bean bags and loungers, so kids can disappear for a moment into an imaginary world,”
says Allison Dehn Bloom of her video room. The
comfy furnishings were provided by Pottery Barn
(beanbag chairs), West Elm (sofa) and Serena
& Lily (folding seat). “It provides both escapism
and familiarity for kids and teens through video
games and movies,” says Dehn Bloom.
DEHN BLOOM
TEEN LOUNGE
It’s not easy being a teenager, and this was
not lost on Allison Dehn Bloom when she
designed a lounge specifically for this age
group. “I wanted the room to connect with
teens on an emotional level, to reflect the
intensity of their inner lives, but also be a
sort of haven for them,” she explains. Dehn
Bloom brought in Zio Ziegler art, which she
describes as “humanity writ large—it’s full of
all kinds of emotions, and the gigantism
and street art ethos add edginess.”
“THE COLOR
SCHEME IS
PALE BLUE,
SOFT TAUPE
AND GRAY,
ACCENTED
BY PUNCHES
OF ORANGE,
YELLOW AND
TURQUOISE”
BRIAN DITTMAR
DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
To achieve a retreat for RMHS guests,
Brian Dittmar based his design “on
the concept of water in nature—
which many find very relaxing and
therapeutic,” he says. “The color
scheme is pale blue, soft taupe and
gray, accented by punches of orange,
yellow and turquoise.” A focal point
is an archival pigment print of an
abstract ocean donated by artist
Thea Schrack. “It captures the mood
perfectly and hangs above a Carrara marble-topped credenza with
chevron-patterned woodgrain doors,”
observes Dittmar, who outfitted the
rest of the room with pieces of his
design (including the upholstered
headboard fabricated by Cypress
Furniture and the wood-and-metal
floating nightstand constructed
by Matthews Design) and case
goods from CB2.
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GEOFFREY DE SOUSA
INTERIOR DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
Once he heard the stories of RMHS families, Geoffrey De Sousa was immediately on board—not just to
design guest rooms but to co-chair the massive design
endeavor with Beth Martin. According to De Sousa, the
project made him “realize even more how unbelievably
fortunate my family has been and how fulfilling it is to
be involved in something that will hopefully help thousands of families in the future. I also saw the incredible
generosity of our local design community—from interior
designers, contractors, fabricators and suppliers. It
was overwhelming to see how many people without
question jumped in to say, ‘What can we do to help?’”
APARTMENT 46
GUEST ROOM
After her daughter had emergency heart surgery at
Stanford’s Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, Melisa
Bleasdale was “eternally grateful for the wonderful
staff and the comfort they offered during such a difficult time,” she recalls. “By doing this room, I hope
to provide families with a sense of warmth and calm.”
Bleasdale adds that she has been humbled by the
support for the project, including from companies
who donated to her effort: Coyuchi (luxury linens),
Loloi (area rug), Land of Nod (children’s goods and
storage), Crossville (porcelain tiles) and Kohler (bathroom fixtures and accessories). Timorous Beasties
stunning wallpaper graces the office nook.
SAGRERABRAZIL
GUEST ROOM
For SagreraBrazil, the RMHS project
represented an opportunity to “give back
to a larger community,” says George
Brazil, who is clearly moved by the fact
that he and Cecilia Sagrera-Hill created
“sacred spaces for families in crisis.”
To complete a trio of suites, the firm was
the recipient of generous donations from
a number of vendors: Walters provided
the Mira Flora fabrics; Aesthete Painting
& Wall Covering handled the painting
and installed wallpaper; David Rosenberg of Closet Factory contributed and
installed the closets; and San Francisco
PaintSource provided the Benjamin
Moore paint.
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MELINDA
MANDELL
INTERIOR DESIGN
SITTING ROOM
“Outside, through a large expanse of
glass, is a gorgeous view of California
oak trees, while inside, the walls are
covered in a custom teal watercolor
mural, making you feel like you are in a
painting,” Melinda Mandell enthuses of
the Black Crow Studios work. “Rust pillows add a colorful counterpoint to the
blue walls, picking up the hues in the
large, moody floral photographs” by artist Kari Herer. Mandell further appointed
the sitting room with pierced sheer
drapery and a Serena & Lily raffia.
JULIANNE QUELLE
DESIGN
SITTING ROOM
“When I think of strength and comfort, humor
and resiliency, the image that comes to mind
is of a man’s tailored suit,” says Jana Magginetti, explaining the moniker for her sitting
room (“Tailored to Suit You”). “I have visions
of a little girl running up to her dad to get
a hug and to feel wrapped up in his strong
arms. And I can see the father with a grin on
his face and wink in his eye.” The retreat that
she summoned into existence—with the help
of companies such as Lee Industries, Phillip
Jeffries, McGuire and Made Goods—includes comfortable seating, a whimsical rug
and baskets to store toys and books.
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NICOLE SARRAILLE
HOME
GUEST ROOM
“My mom has been involved with the
house for more than 30 years,” says
Nicole Sarraille, who composed a room
that includes products from Serena & Lily,
Flor and Robert Allen. When the interior
designer imagined sharing a room every
night with her own three sons, she knew
that durability was key and, hence, chose
a coated wallpaper and Sunbrella fabrics.
She continues: “The whole organization
inspires me. The parents inspire me. But
the most inspiring thing about visiting the
house is seeing the children in action—
laughing, running and playing—sometimes with masks on their faces or tubes
in their arms, but as if they don’t have a
care in the world. That’s how childhood
should be.”
SAGRERABRAZIL
SITTING ROOM
“We gave our rooms the code
name ‘Oasis,’” says SagreraHill, who together with Brazil,
undertook a sitting room and
three guest suites. “We envisioned our rooms as a place
where families of critically ill
children could find interludes
of tranquility, comfort and
energy amid life-changing experiences.” It was important
for the pair to make sure the
families “aren’t surrounded
by institutional settings,” she
continues. To that end, they
incorporated their own custom furniture; the pieces were
designed by SagreraBrazil
and fabricated by Arturo
Fabian, with upholstery by
Eduardo Ledesma.
BLUGLOSS
GUEST ROOM
BluGloss’ chief designer, Matt O’Dorisio, led the design of
the firm’s space, which he wanted to “look thoughtful and
warm, without feeling too stuffy or decorated,” he says.
“My goal was to create a comfortable guest bedroom in a
home, rather than a sterile hotel room.” Among the donated
elements that helped him accomplish this was a white chest
with blue tassels donated by Oomph; Peter Dunham fabric
used for the window treatment and headboard, which were
fabricated by Valley Drapery (“The fabric makes the room!”);
desk, lounge chairs and ottoman from Design Within Reach;
lamps from Circa Lighting; mirror and towels in the en suite
bathroom from Waterworks; and artwork from Minted.
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SALT + BONES
GUEST ROOM
Not a day goes by that Carissa Duncan
doesn’t reflect on how fortunate she has
been to pursue her passion: interior design.
“There is nothing more satisfying or meaningful than being able to share your passion to
help those who will truly benefit from it and
support a cause that you truly believe in,”
she says of her participation in the RMHS
expansion. In her bedroom, the bedding
and linens were provided by Matteo Home.
And custom touches came in the form of Ian
Trevor James Fine Woodworking furnishings,
as well as Duncan’s own hardware designs.
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GREEN COUCH
GREEN COUCH
“A project like this keeps us grounded and
grateful,” says Green Couch’s principal designer Jeff Schlarb. “We realize when we peel back
the day-to-day fun times, that others are hurting. We realize that the suffering for some can
be softened.” And others apparently felt the
same way, as Robert Allen (fabrics), Osborne
& Little (wallpaper), Blu Dot (furniture), Pacific
Views (window treatments), Richard Andronico
(upholstery) and Conor McClorey (wallpaper installation and painting) contributed to
Schlarb’s room. “We were focused on creating
a healing, happy place with a tempered palette
and bursts of playful color,” he says.
Sharing a bathroom space can get messy—ask anyone with siblings—but Jeff Schlarb seemed to have
a combatant for this issue in mind. “Our Jack & Jill
bathroom was designed to evoke a bit of humor and
happiness,” says Jeff. “We loved the playful contrast
of colorful robots on the walls layered with elephants
and sunshine in the artwork and thought this could
be the perfect jewel box of a space to prompt a few
smiles.” And with artwork such as Sunny Rain by
Guacho Works and These Friends by Kinga Subject, it’s easy to see this shared space becoming a
place of friendship rather than argumentation. Conor
McClorey installed the robot-themed wallpaper by
WallCandy; the mirror is from HD Buttercup; and the
shower curtain from Pottery Barn.
GUEST ROOM
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BATHROOM
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SINDHU PERURI
GUEST ROOM
ALDEN MILLER
INTERIORS
LAUNDRY ROOM
“Often times, utilitarian spaces, like laundry
rooms or garages, are given minimal attention during the design process and material
selection,” says Alden Miller. “Yet we live a lot
of our lives in these mundane spaces, so why
not make them a little more inviting and a little
more fun?” With the laundry room, she “saw an
opportunity to bring enjoyment to a chore-filled
location.” While one wall is lined with stacked
washers and dryers, ample counter space and
even a drying line, she infused the space with
energy using bold hues such as red, orange
and citron. There’s also a magnet wall to keep
kids entertained, as well as a seating area that
encourages conversation.
In Sindhu Peruri’s bedroom, art takes center stage,
including an abstract landscape mural by San
Francisco’s Willem Racké; New York City artist Pam
Smilow also donated giclee prints of whimsical animals. The animal theme appears again in the roman
shade fabric, with its charming elephant pattern.
In the adjacent bathroom, the tiles were courtesy
of Da Vinci Marble, while the closet system was
installed by California Closets in San Jose. Peruri is
also grateful for the discounted rates she received
from Bend Goods and Organic Modernism, both of
which supplied the midcentury modern furniture.
Additionally, Robert Allen and Osborne & Little reduced their pricing on fabrics, and there are pieces
in the room from Bungalow 5, Arteriors, Serena &
Lily and Stark Carpet.
JAIMIE BELEW
INTERIOR DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
“When I have visited the facility and attended
events, I have seen and heard from patients
firsthand what they have been through at
such a young age,” says Jaimie Belew. “And
it inspires me that they can go through such
life-threatening situations and still remain full
of life—thankful and positive.” With the help
of vendors such as WCD (wallpaper installation), DK Designs (drapery fabrication), R
Upholstery (headboard, chair), CB2, Visual
Comfort & Co., Room & Board and West Elm,
Belew drummed up two bedrooms as places
“for the families to rest their head at night, so
that they are ready to take on the next day.”
HART
HOWERTON
SITTING ROOM
Emma Feeney’s inspiration for her
sitting room stemmed directly from the
RMHS philosophy. “We were inspired to
provide hospitality to families from all
backgrounds who are faced with perilous events,” says Feeney. In that spirit,
she decorated the wall with a worldmap mural from Murals Your Way, the
colors of which also helped determine
the palette for the room. “We hope our
design inspires conversation between
families and new friends.” A number of
design companies helped her carry out
her vision, including custom furniture
manufacturer Coast to Coast and FLOR.
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“CALIFORNIA
MAKES ME
THINK OF
NATURAL
AND MANMADE BEAUTY,
PROSPERITY—
AND WHERE
DREAMS ARE
ACHIEVED”
STAPRANS DESIGN
LAUNDRY ROOM
DAVID HANSEN
DESIGN
GUEST ROOM
David Hansen notes that “California
makes me think of natural and manmade beauty, prosperity—and where
dreams are achieved. In other words,
the ultimate ‘happy place.’ I felt like
this was a perfect jumping-off point
to inspire the families staying in the
space.” The salon-style art display
above the desk, for example, is an
homage to Northern California, with
a variety of local artists represented.
The greatest challenge for Hansen
was accounting for an entire family’s
needs in the room. He was able to
maximize functionality in part because of the custom cabinetry from
Segale Bros. Wood Products, who
provided closet systems, casework
and support for other pieces—all
designed by Hansen.
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In devising the laundry room, Lisa Staprans recognized that
more than just clothes-washing happens in the space. So she
carved out a kids’ corner, complete with cubbies and bright C2
paint colors, where a child could play, read or do homework.
Baskets from Artisan Connect and Serena & Lily offer additional
storage, while a David Trubridge drop pendant injects a hint of
whimsy. Staprans’ overall aesthetic vision includes “subtle and
calming materials and warm and light colors.” For example, a
Phillip Jeffries grass cloth in shades of green and gray washed
oak cabinets with a white Dekton countertop. Staprans also
hung photographs by Steven Goldband and Ellen Konar, both
of whom are based in nearby Portola Valley.
SALT + BONES
SITTING ROOM
The design for Carissa Duncan’s sitting room takes its
cues from the game “Rock, paper, scissors.” Rocks served as
the inspiration for the colors and textures and “hopefully reminds guests just how strong they are,” she says. Paper also
influenced her palette and materials. “The burden that these
children and families bear is heavy, so the goal is to provide an
environment that feels calm, soothing and as weightless as a
sheet of paper.” And the scissors? “Scissors are something we
use to cut through a material, and are used when working in
most crafts. Not only are they a metaphor for getting through
something tough, they are referenced as an object used in the
crafting of things that have been handmade for this space.”
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MONOGRAM
DECOR
GUEST ROOM
For his suite, designer Courtney Lake
went well beyond scouring stores
and showrooms; he consulted with
pediatric nurses and family therapists.
“The key takeaway was that the families don’t come to the house because
they want to be here—they have to be
here,” he says. “So how do we create
a space for a family who would rather
be anywhere else?” Lake started with
a soft and neutral palette, featuring
shades of green, and was restrained
in his design—letting the family inject
personal touches for familiarity and
comfort (for instance, adding photos
on a special bulletin board). He worked
with the Arc on a custom art installation, and Guildery modified its existing
fabrics to create colors that worked
best with Lake’s scheme.
MARTIN GROUP
RECREATION ROOM
“This is the fun room in the house—where movie night happens,
birthday parties are thrown or maybe a dance class takes place,”
says Beth Martin. “We wanted it to have a wonderful energy.”
Flor was responsible for the carpet tiles, which are arranged in
a “colorful pixelated design that tips its hat to Silicon Valley and
technology.” Arana Craftsman Painters took care of the paint
as well as the painting, while the textiles for the custom blockprinted Stargazer drapery came courtesy of Michelle Pereira.
(Their fabrication by Nancy Bramwell was also donated.) Martin
swathed the walls in drapery panels to create softness in essentially a giant box. “We love the idea of including stars in the
fabric design,” she adds, noting the association between stars
and dreams, good luck and hope.
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“WE WANTED IT TO
HAVE A WONDERFUL
ENERGY”