Color Trends for 2020

Every year, the Pantone Color Institute announces their Color of the Year based upon extensive deliberation not just from design professionals, but also scientists and other colorists who evaluate what palettes best reflect what’s happening in the world around us. The color of the year selection for 2020 is Classic Blue, calming and dependable. 

Both of which are traits we’d use to describe the latest palette of Kelly Wearstler and Kravet fabrics – the pearly, pastel hues are soothing and bucolic. Expect to see them integrated to soften edgy modern interiors, as well as in English garden motifs, which seem to be on the rise.

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A refined balance between luxurious construction and natural elements. #IZUCollection #InstaKravet – – – Fabric: Lotus Pond, Osode

A post shared by Kravet (@kravetinc) on Jul 25, 2019 at 6:07pm PDT

Kitchen Trends for 2020

The next wave of kitchens as the hangout center of the home is upon us! Expect to see more appliances and layouts selected based upon the customization of the family’s diet. (For example, this home we recently designed for a Vegan chef who doesn’t cook with oils forgoes a range hood). We’re also seeing people transform their lesser utilized formal dining rooms as chef’s pantries or prep kitchens in which they hide smaller appliances, in order to maximize hangout space in the primary kitchen.

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When we first started working with Brian Wendell of Forks Over Knives, we were designing his costal bachelor pad overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Santa Monica. Fast forward and now we’re designing his family home in Mar Vista for him and his live in partner is Darshana Thacker, the head chef for FOK, complete with an indoor outdoor edible garden. Understanding where our clients are at different phases of their lives greatly informs design decisions. See more on the blog at SoCalContractor.com

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Lighting Trends for 2020

Here is a super specific trend we are seeing a lot of: Modern, glass pendants over kitchen islands and in entry ways. They’re round and soft and make a subtle statement, while having a translucence to them, blending in seamlessly with the rest of the interior.

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One of the reasons to shy away from “Glam” as a style is because it can so often lead to overconsumption maximalism, but there is a way to do edited glamour. To us, that is truly luxurious. Make one big, bold design choice in your room and commit to it – That could be an oversized piece of colorful art in an otherwise monochromatic space, or lacquering a ceiling, or including a bold, textural wallpaper. More #DesignTips like this one on the blog at SoCalContractor.com (link in the bio)

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Nov 19, 2019 at 8:37am PST

We’re also seeing bold, masculine, edgy industrial sconces popping up in unexpected spaces. 2020 is going to be a year of design that keeps us surprised around every corner!

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Stone and tile wall features can elevate your home from ordinary to extraordinary! On the #BuildBlog, we're sharing some of our favorite past projects featuring stone wall features that really elevate the homes' architecture. Give it a read at SoCalContractor (link in the bio)

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Aug 21, 2019 at 10:27am PDT

Home Technology Trends for 2020

What can you control with an app? Security cameras, lights. Hidden cables and TV’s. And a backlash against tech and out dependance on it in the bedroom. Expect to see it all integrated into every nook and cranny of our homes in 2020.

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We've been asked a lot lately about smart home technology and installation so we thought we'd share a few thoughts: Since smart home systems are known to be quite finicky, even when you do spend the money, we recommend using the best system and installer/programmer you can. Installing smart home tech systems are rough and finish jobs meaning the wires will be inside your walls which will be expensive to replace later on. Wireless systems are less reliable than the hard wires and usually cost more. Buy once, cry once and enjoy for years to come! | Keep your questions coming! We're answering more like this on the #BuildBlog at SoCalContractor.com

A post shared by SoCal General Contractor (@socalcontractor) on Jun 7, 2019 at 10:56am PDT

Home Wellness Trends for 2020

Mediation rooms, yoga, clean air/water, energy efficient windows – These are the updates that are making a house a home. Installing water filters and air purifiers and sealing up any cracks to prioritize insulation were previously thought of as the unsexy home improvement projects and shoved on the back burner. But we’re happy to report a trend in homeowners prioritizing these aspects of their home! We go into more detail on these projects in this blog here. 

1.  Lori Dennis: Cornerstone Map to the Four Quadrants of Your Life

Lori’s session coincides with the release of one of her new books, “The Quadrant Life” which two lucky attendees to the seminar will win copies of! Her session focused not on design and not on social media – but on all of the important stuff in between that makes it worthwhile. Lori Dennis’ session was all about finding balance in the four most important quadrants of your life: wellness, finance, relationships, and spirituality. 

The session was a hit — the most upvoted on that day of the Designers on Social Summit, and we can see why! She put her finger on a pressure point for so many people: fulfillment. She gave us food for thought: how do we define the ‘why’ behind our work and behind posting on social media to promote it. These are not always easy questions to answer and they involve us to turn inwards to look for the answers.  Watch the replay here. 

2. Rachel Moriarty: Blue Ocean Stories

Rachel Moriarty is a colorful person — both literally and figuratively. Her clothing and her design portfolio are reflections of her vibrance. So it was only suiting that her session title also evoke strong colorful imagery: Her session focused on defining your “Blue Ocean Story.” What does that mean? Simply put, it’s what sets you apart. Her conversation with Bobby Tsui found natural tangents involving Cirque du Soleil and DryBar references, that always made their way back to the central theme: think about your industry in a different way.  Watch the replay here.

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No, I’m not ginormous! 🤣 This is actually the cutest lil’ custom kitchenette ever! @sandiegocustomcabinets nailed this adorable-ness for HGTV’s short term rental show My House Is Your House. Aqua glass tile sponsored by @elegantmosaics #winditbackwednesday

A post shared by Rachel Moriarty (@rachelmoriartyinteriors) on Nov 13, 2019 at 8:38am PST

3. Kathy Kuo: Design Entrepreneurship  

Kathy Kuo is a headstrong, inspiring design visionary with a big-picture approach. Listening to her process is a great way of expanding the way you think about your own business, whether it’s in the interior design vertical or not. Kathy Kuo is relatively new on the scene and her brand exploded quickly. There is so much to garner from the way she discusses her thoughts and hiring process and shares her vulnerabilities. Being the face of the brand doesn’t come naturally to her, as she’d prefer to hide behind the scenes, but is always receptive to the feedback of her team as they nudge her further in front of the camera. Watch the replay here. 

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Our Black Friday sale event starts today!! 🖤 With Thanksgiving less than 2 weeks away its crunch mode time 💪🏼We made getting the home ready for holidays easier by curating all the perfect pieces for your dining room, guest rooms, living area and more! Not a last minute procrastinator like me 🙈? Get a head start on holiday gifting – we have it all and with up 25% OFF SITEWIDE ✨ | Design: @kathykuohome | . . . #kathykuohome #lovewhereyoulive #diningroom #diningroomdesign #diningroomdecor #diningroomstyle #classicdining #interiors #interiordesign #interiorstyle #interiordecor #home #homedecor #homeinspo #homedesign #instahome #ighome #homegoals #diningroomgoals #housebeautiful #instalove #homelove #glam #hollywoodglam #glamdiningroom

A post shared by Kathy Kuo (@kathykuohome) on Nov 18, 2019 at 6:47am PST

4. Sandra Funk: Video Marketing

Sandra Funk is the gal you want to gab with over a glass of wine, as made evident by the constant glass-clinking and cork-popping on her firm’s youtube page. Her suggestion on finding what makes you most comfortable and starting small and casual is a great jumping off point if you’re planning for dipping your toes into video marketing!  Watch the replay here. 

5. Kate O’Hara: Scaling Your Small Biz

Kate O’Hara offers advice on scaling your small biz when you start thinking about hiring more people to your team. She gives some wonderful, quick tips on taking baby steps and insight into what her process is like. We liked her digestible approach to hiring, including the way she suggests framing interview questions: Make it clear you don’t know everything and don’t expect perfection! There’s going to be a trial and error process. Watch the replay here. 

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HEY, It’s Kate here! Starting my morning off right with a great cup of coffee ☕️ Anyone else feel me? If you didn’t know, I’m the voice behind our Insta and absolutely adore representing all our amazing designers here at MOI! If you want to learn more about me, check out my interview with @casaza (link in profile) …and while you’re at it, drop a line below about yourself! ⬇️ Tell me, anything! What’s your favorite food, activity, home accessory…whatever! Let’s be friends! I wanna know more about you too! 🤗 #OHmystyledlife . . . 📷: @ericaloeksphotography

A post shared by O'Hara Interiors (@oharainteriorsofficial) on Nov 5, 2019 at 6:48am PST

What Sets Our Beach House Style Apart?

Manhattan Beach is one of the most inspiring places to work because of it’s eclectic architectural aesthetics and indoor-outdoor lifestyle. We love the mixture of modern residences, bohemian coffee shops, and sense of community that beach towns like Manhattan Beach cultivate. Here are some of the features we love to include in our beach houses that set us apart:

1. Seamless Indoor-Outdoor Design

Large windows and doors, flooring and natural, textural materials that carry through the spaces, indoors and out. We like to do everything we can to emphasize indoor-outdoor living, which gives our projects a modern, airy feel and makes them great spaces for entertaining. (More on that in a minute!)

2. Well-Edited Interiors

When you build at the beach, it’s impossible to forget about the beautiful landscape. We seek to emphasize that as much as possible by not distracting from the beautiful ocean views with ocean artwork, for example. We keep the interiors clean and let the understated, but upscale interior architecture do the talking.

3. Party Pads!

Many of our clients, especially by the beach, are single men looking to glam up their bachelor pads and transform them into fabulous entertaining spaces. That’s why we’re fans of an open floor plan with great flow. We like to make the kitchen, pool, or lounges central focal points in the home.

Welcome to Bond at the Beach

Our designer Lori Dennis gives a talk-through of one of our favorite beach projects in this video. It’s come to be known as “James Bond at the Beach” and is full of clean lines, and well-crafted monochromatic custom furnishings. Just an absolute dream! Watch now:

Roofs

As the saying goes, we’re all lucky and grateful to have a roof over our heads – but have you been putting off maintenance or repairs for that roof? Some homeowners put off this renovation in order to move along to more fun projects, but you don’t want to neglect that slow leak! It could cost you a lot more both financially and in your health in the long run. 

Window Replacement

Drafty, dated windows? Window replacement is one of the most highly rated home improvement projects in consumer satisfaction. It’s incredible what a difference a quick window replacement can make in your daily life. Better insulation keeps you happier and cozier and keeps heating and cooling costs down. Click here for information on window replacement in the Los Angeles area. 

Security Systems for Peace of Mind

Installing a security system used to be quite an investment, but the technology has come a long way! Now, smart security systems like the Ring Doorbell camera conveniently syncs with your smartphone and costs a fraction of security services from a decade ago. Another great security technology we love is a keypad entry – no more carrying around keys! And you can change the codes remotely, making this a great feature for AirBnb hosts looking to manage their properties remotely. 

Water and Air Filters

Not to sound like an afterschool special, but: Do you know what’s in your home’s air or water? Installing filters to purify both and will bring with it much peace of mind. From pitcher filters that cost around $20 to full home filter systems installed for a few thousand, there’s no reason not to invest a little bit more in your home and your future.

Curb Appeal

Create a house you’re happy to come home to. Taking some time to repaint your door a happy color, or refresh with a clean coat of white paint, or replace it entirely along with new house numbers… Putting some care into your home’s entryway can do wonders to enhance your mood whenever you’re coming or going.  For more home improvement projects like this, check out this post from celebrity interior designer Lori Dennis on 7 High Vibe Home Improvement Projects.

Now all six episodes are available on Lamps Plus’ youtube channel. Read all about it in Home Accents Today.

Watch the complete season below:

Episode I: Marina Del Rey House Tour

Welcome to our Big Green Monster: When my wife and I purchased this single family house with the plan to convert it into three separate rental units, it took a lot of trust! Initially, I couldn’t see past just how ugly the house was. But something beautiful existed in Lori’s imagination and I was there to help bring it to life. Watch the first episode here: 

Episode II: Kitchen Remodel Start to Finish

There was no ventilation in the extremely dated bathrooms so we were definitely going to need to take care of that. They also smelled horrible and had awful tile and we discovered some extra construction issues. Oy vey! This is where our allotted contingency for emergency construction came in. The kitchen, while dated and dark it was, was in great condition. We knew we could keep the countertops, brighten up with a lighter tile and Lori worked her lighting magic!

Episode III: Bath, Stairs, and Bedroom Remodel

When you first walked into the home: You saw the dated carpet and a dingy stairwell front and center. We had to do something about that! We painted it all white and created some drama moments with lighting! The master bedroom was in good condition. We didn’t need to do much to it – but it wasn’t all smooth sailing: The master bath needed some updates. Watch:

Episode IV: Apartment Makeover, Small Space Solutions!

When working with a small space, we used the casual coastal theme to give the space its indoor-outdoor feel. We wanted to go all out on the patio spaces to continue the vacation rental experience in the great outdoors! The two-bedroom apartment was previously connected to the rest of the house, but that needed to be sectioned off. New baseboards, new fans for ventilation, painting everything white, and adding coastal colors and textures updated this space!

Episode V: Apartment Tour and Makeover

Now for the studio… the smallest space, but the biggest challenge! The studio needed a bath and kitchen added to a space where there previously wasn’t plumbing. This resulted in so many delays, especially as we kept discovering new little things that needed fixing. Watch as craziness ensues:

Episode VI: Outdoor Updates: Backyard and Balcony Makeovers

For me, the biggest challenge was not tearing down the house and starting completely from scratch. But Lori Dennis had a vision: From green nightmare to coastal dream, we had big plans for the outdoor space. We wanted to create a beautiful trellis-like backyard. The yard was full of concrete and dead grass. We added low-maintenance plants and pathways and used recycled brick found in the backyard. Repurposing for the win! 

Behind the Scenes of Renovation Inspiration Season II

This season of Renovation inspiration was focused on our personal project! It was just as fun, but super different from the first season —  catch up on Renovation Inspiration Season I here. Last season we renovated a celebrity’s Bel Air Road mansion. Looking forward to bringing you more design TV! 

Photo by D Ramey Logan

Tract homes also have some obvious downsides. They can feel cookie-cutter. Their genericism can be isolating. Paradoxically, they don’t often cultivate a sense of warmth and community that the proximity to close-by neighbors suggests. Today on the Build Blog, we’re exploring the best ways to elevate a typical tract homes with premium designer style so that they deliver on those promises. Mix and match these designer tips to design a house you’re happy to call home.   

Architectural Elements Used to Elevate Ordinary Suburban Tract Homes

Of course, when you’re working on any home improvement project, you want to make sure any work done is in scale, both literally, and tonally, with the size and style of your home (otherwise, it’s not really an improvement). We’ve all seen the tract home with the overwhelmingly large winding staircase better suited for the Palace of Versailles – this is not a home improvement, this is an ego-driven vanity project. Instead, look at the ways of optimizing what you have. Many of the tips we suggest have to do with reestablishing a relationship between your home’s interior and exterior. For example: 

Stone Features

Throughout this Tahoe home, we used Eldorado Stone to give the space its organic, unique texture. Eldorado Stone helps homeowners and trade professionals select products that embody the rich color, texture and character of the landscapes surrounding them, which makes them perfect inspiration for any Green Interior Design.

The bedroom, by interior designer Lori Dennis, even won the Southern Accents Green Design Interior award! Eldorado Stone is also a cost effective way to integrate stone textures into a project because it weighs less than natural stone and doesn’t typically require significant structural adjustments. 

Ceramic Tile — Everywhere!

One of the best things you can do when you move into a home is rip out any carpet. We’re huge fans of ceramic tile as a replacement because of how much customization and creativity you have with color, pattern, and style.

Not to mention it is much healthier, easier to maintain, and looks much cleaner. The same goes for backsplashes or other places you can tile for decoration. For this home’s entryway, we used a Villa Lagoon tile for a colorful statement and matched the motif throughout the home. 

Windows & Doors

When it comes to window, the majority of cost is accounted for by 1. The product material and 2. The installation. Worry more about #2. You want to look first for a reputable window source with excellent customer service. See, what many people don’t realize is that a vinyl window would do the job just as well (if not better) than a wooden window, when it comes to installation and energy-efficiency. The major difference is that the design features and colors might be less customizable.

A reputable window company with team members who have build experience, like our partners at Lion Windows & Doors, here in Los Angeles, are not going to be incentivized to up-sell you on the wood windows, if they’re not right for your home. That is architectural integrity! It’s not about the ‘objective’ best or fanciest, it’s about the right choice for the architectural style of the home. 

Click to Shop Windows & Doors

Kitchen Appliances & Upgrades

More and more the kitchen is becoming an investment center of the home – it’s where families are spending all of their time, together and separately, it’s where people are entertaining. A major attitude shift in consumer buying behavior has been unfolding for a while now, and that is the realization that something doesn’t have to be ‘fancy’ to be nice and that you’re best off investing more in the things you actually do use everyday. So here is the permission if you needed it: buy the better refrigerator or dishwasher.

Buy the Better Fridge…

Gone are the days of investing in formal living and dining rooms – aka the spaces noone uses but once or twice a year — it’s all about maximizing the spaces and buying the best of the items you actually do use. Be realistic about how long you plan to stay in a home. You don’t necessarily have to resort to renovating just to sell unless you plan on doing that soon, otherwise you’re trend predicting based on… what? HGTV shows? Take it from the professionals: we saw beige carpet and granite countertops come on strong and leave just as quickly. 

Lighting in Layers

We write a lot about lighting because it is one of the most misunderstood parts of designing a home and yet, it is one of the most efficient and effective upgrades you can do. Before you decide that a room is too dark and start cutting holes in walls for windows, consider installing some light features (Then add the window ; ) ). It is rare that you can have too much lighting.

Creative Lighting Ideas

More likely, you have the wrong type of bulbs, or maybe you need better tinted shades. Lighting in layers is essential for encouraging one to spend more time in a room, day-to-night. We go where the light touches. If you have the option to easily turn on a reading light over a chair in the living room, maybe you’ll spend evenings reading a book in that chair from now on. You can really get creative with lighting. This is an excellent place to start!

Landscaping & Outdoor Spaces

Use a combination of the above tips, with slight amendments, to design your outdoor spaces with as much gusto as the interior, especially here in Southern California with all of our warmer months! Lighting your outdoors – uplights on trees, string lights or lanterns over patios, and lights lining pathways and driveways are inviting ways to encourage the outdoor dinner party to continue. Tile flooring that continues from indoors to out is another excellent way to extend your home into the surroundings outside the walls of the physical home. Large-scale windows and patio doors that completely open up to the outdoors are another way or smoothing out the transition from indoors to out.

Landscaping for Your Tract Home

And lastly, a specific tip on landscaping: That grass lawn may be the cheapest and easiest landscaping option to install–BUT it is actually among the priciest to maintain overtime, both in terms of time and finances. So our pro designer tip is this: Tear out the lawn. Install a garden, some pavers, carve out space for a water feature or a bistro table and chairs instead. Get creative. It may cost more up front, but overtime will pay for itself and you’ll be much happier with all the time you spend outside. 

Renovation Inspiration: Outdoor Living in Marina Del Rey

The patio and outdoor space on our latest Renovation Inspiration project needed a lot of TLC! Watch the episode here to see how we took this fixer upper and turned it into a vacation destination by creating outdoor lounges on multiple levels:

Inspiration Images to Renovate Your Patio

Desert Meets Beach

Desert meets beach in these properties along the SoCal coast. Their outdoor areas are sustainable with low-maintenance pavers and gravel. And they keep things bright and breezy with colorful lounge furniture and throw pillows.

• The key here is to make things manageable by using nature and the existing environment to your advantage – Let nature dictate your palette and when it comes to desert meets beach, bring in those sandy tones wherever you can!

Dining Al Fresco

Planning to throw the whole dinner party outside? Why not? These spaces function as full dining rooms and kitchens under the stars!

• The key here is to simulate some sort of structure that has a swaddling effect and mimics the ‘safe’ feeling of being indoors, whether that’s with a cabana or pergola or if it’s as simple and thin as umbrellas overhead.

This patio takes up nearly the entire backyard and the design allows for enough circulation for different sections of the backyard: Grilling, Dinning, Cabanas.

Lounging Poolside

If you plan to get your tan on by the pool this Summer, do it in style! These poolside lounges took inspiration from upscale hotels and spas into the residential space. With advancements in how outdoor furniture is manufactured, upscale outdoor furniture is finally worth the sticker price because it’s so durable. So now you can have that five-star resort look at home.

• The key here: Invest in good outdoor furniture! It’s worth it, we swear.

Build to take advantage of the beautiful view of the Hills, this deck wraps around this Los Angeles home and is fenced in by black modern hand rails.

Rooftop Lounges

Maybe you prefer the thrill of being elevated above it all so a rooftop lounge is more your speed. These lounges were designed to take advantage of their panoramic views of Los Angeles.

• The key here is to do less: do as little to distract from the views and the environment as possible and know that you are always working with the color blue because the sky is going to take up so much of what you see in these spaces:

Indoor Outdoor Architectural

Our favorite thing to do is to design a home that seamlessly blends the indoor with the exterior and there are a number of ways to do that: Large scale windows and bi-folding doors, for example, flooring that continues indoors and out, and by installing architectural features outdoors that exhibit deliberate attention to the details outdoors.

• The key here is to not compartmentalize indoors and outdoors separately. Think more fluidly! Here are some great examples:

indoor

Luggage and Carry-On’s

You get one carry-on bag and a personal item and we think the Nautica Rolling Carry On Suitcase and the Berluti Lace Up Leather Backpack make the perfect pairing!

Things get lost in transport all the time, but a stylish Airpod Leather Traveling Case will keep dad’s easiest-to-lose item easily secure.

And if Dad travels internationally often, get him a Leather Passport Cover to match.

Enriching the Experience

Get Dad a compact Sony Point & Shoot Camera to document his travels! This is a great prosumer camera that shoots amazingly and is really intuitive to use to the photography novice.

This is the best gift for the worldly foodie. No matter where you are in the world, go Where Chefs Eat.

Gifts for Staying Organized and Connected

Going on an extended trip? From Uncommon Goods, this Men’s Travel Organizing Set is a must for keeping things organized on the go.

Keep Dad connected with a Portable Phone Charger.

Gifts for Traveling Comfortably

Up Dad’s style on a long flight with an understated but street stylish sneaker like the Rising Star Adidas Sneaker.

The Ursa Major Travel Skincare Set is perfect for the minimalist who appreciates luxury but still likes to travel light. Dad never has to rely on the hotel-provided travel samples again!

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