Stylish Kids’ Bunk Beds Done The North County SD Way!

Gender-Neutral Design

A navy-and-white color scheme in this open kids’ room works for any gender. Interior designer Lauren Leonard placed two sets of bunk beds side by side for a built-in look. Simple labeled baskets underneath the beds add extra storage, and galvanized buckets hanging from thick rope bring a rustic element to the space.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Lap of Luxury

Luxurious elements fill this little girl’s room, from the purple velvet chair to the plush pink-and-zebra-print carpet tiles. The steps to the bed are drawers that hold toys and other items, and the space underneath the bed is an ideal spot for homework or play. Ambient lighting and pink velvet draperies add softness to the space. Design by JKC Designs

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

A Boy’s Palace

This entire kids’ room is fit for a king. The castle bunk bed is made with lightweight concrete and is the ultimate kids’ retreat, complete with a slide, drapes around the bed for privacy and plenty of lighting. Design by Troy Beasley

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Girly Yet Sassy

Nothing says sassy like bright hues of pink and green. The bottom part of this pink bunk bed works as a reading space and a place for overnight guests to sleep. Designer Jennifer Ellen Frank added a bold pink ottoman for extra seating. Shelving above the bed blends with the bunk bed design for a unified look.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Vintage Inspiration

Interior designer Vanessa De Vargas of Turquoise Interior Design modernized this bunk bed while still keeping its true vintage look. Wall decals and colorful patterned bedding bring a contemporary look to the space.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Hidden Bunk Bed

Placing a hidden bed above the closet allows for maximum space to play. A wooden ladder leading to the bed brings a treehouse feel to the room. A bold striped wall treatment and wall drawings add whimsy to the space. Photo courtesy of IKEA

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Loft-Style Bunk

This black-frame bunk bed is an ideal fit for the urban kid. The large desk and comfortable red leather chair provide a homework area under the loft-style, full-size bunk bed, allowing more space for other activities.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Sleeping Up High

Taking advantage of every nook is important in small rooms. Install your children’s beds in the space of a vaulted ceiling for maximum space. This castle bed by IKEA is every boy’s dream sleeping quarters. They can climb into bed using the ladder and come down on the slide.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific  North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.

 

 

San Diego Outdoor Rooms on a Budget

If you’re dreaming of an outdoor retreat but money is tight, get some great design ideas from these lovely and thrifty porches, patios, decks and gardens. Cobbcottage took this porch swing to the next level by covering it with a quilt and adding a coffee table found by a curbside. Antique jars filled with flowers and plenty of candles give this sweet space ambiance and style.

San Diego Real Estate | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

My friend Jim wanted an outdoor canopy bed but didn’t have the space. He decided to convert an existing double lounger into a canopy. The result: a custom, focal-point piece for about $50.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Rate My Space contributor DeeSigning says she loves creating rooms that are almost free. She saved money on this Victorian restoration by doing a lot of the work herself, including making cushions out of tablecloths.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Thinking outside the box can save money. For this outdoor room,  contributor mikedan1 implemented an inexpensive tarp for shade and closet doors for a decorative screen.

San Diego Real Estate | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

If you want a sense of peace and tranquility in your outdoor space, add a water feature. This lovely fountain was created using a solar water pump.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

When thinking about how to beautify outdoor spaces, don’t forget about your entryway. My friend Brent J. invested a little in his home’s curb appeal and increased his home’s value significantly.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Just because you rent doesn’t mean you can’t have a lovely outdoor space. Turn an empty apartment patio into a cottage garden using plenty of plants, accessories and linens.

San Diego Real Estate | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

What’s an easy way to save decorating dollars and help the environment? Reuse and recycle. Add character and comfort to your outdoor room with these chairs like these, which were headed to the landfill.

San Diego Homes | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific  North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.

Make the Most of your San Diego Small Backyard

For city dwellers and those who live in small spaces, creating an outdoor space that you can enjoy at home can be a challenge. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your small outdoor space.

Include Multifunctional Pieces

It’s important to treat an outdoor space just like you would any room inside of your home. And with small outdoor spaces, that principle should be carried even further. Look for multifunctional furnishings that address all of the needs and possible uses of your outdoor room. Interior designer Matthew Lanphier advises, ‘Multifunctional pieces are important in small spaces. Tables that can also be seating, stools that can also be tables. This coffee table spins, so it’s user-friendly when the space is packed with guests.’

San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Marry Form and Function

The structure of your outdoor space can be a guide for the type of furniture and accessories you will need. Here, a dining table is nested next to a curved stair that can double as additional seating for large gatherings.

San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Less Is More

In a small outdoor space, less can definitely mean more. Even a few key choices of furniture can have a big impact when furnishing a small lounge area or patio. ‘Don’t clutter small spaces with small objects. Less is more, as always. I only accessorize and furnish outdoor spaces with a few choice, properly scaled objects. This means easier maintenance too.

San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Make Your Small Space Work Overtime

Just because your patio or terrace is small doesn’t mean that it can’t meet all your needs for outdoor living. This rooftop deck is only 11 feet by 7 feet, but it has enough room to seat six around the dining table and additional people in the adjacent lounge area. Use furniture that is slim with clean lines to accommodate a crowd without being crowded.

San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Maximize Space

Look for pieces that can help you maximize your small outdoor space. This vintage bookshelf was turned into a full-service bar on a rooftop deck. It doubles as a storage shelf for tableware and serving pieces.

San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

 

Go Vertical

No room for a traditional garden? Think up! Vertical gardens add much-needed greenery to city spaces without taking up precious square footage.

San Diego Back Yards | By San Diego Realtor Alvin Newton

Do you have specific questions about any homes in the North County San Diego real estate market? Contact Alvin Newton and the Newton3 team by email (Alvin@Newton3.com ), phone (858-876-5153), or on Facebook with your questions or to set up a viewing appointment. Our team can provide customized services, help you navigate the San Diego MLS and set up a customized email-based home search for you to track a specific  North County Home, and other San Diego properties at your leisure. Thank you for visiting the San Diego North County Real Estate blog and we look forward to serving you and your real estate needs.

Inspiring Coastal Kitchens

Things are heating up in kitchen design, and we’ve cooked up our favorite looks

  

Capitalize on Color

Paint cabinetry a cool, sea-foam green for a look that’s as tantalizing as the waves outside. The soft ocean hue pops against bright-white walls. Replace drywall with vertical boards to underscore beach cottage appeal. Don’t forget what lies above. This punched-tin ceiling offers a change of pace with an unexpected material overhead.

 

Keep It Real

Simple and understated, this look never goes out of style. Don’t go overboard―the warm tones and tactile appeal of natural wood make a big impact, especially in a tight space. In new construction, salvaged or reclaimed wood brings a sense of history and reduces the environmental impact. Finish off the look and hide utilitarian objects with a skirted curtain.

Nod to Mod

A no-frills design approach allows bold color to take center stage in this kitchen. Contemporary pendant lighting and sleek drawer pulls keep the look streamlined. Brushed-glass cabinet doors disguise what’s stored inside but etched letters serve a purpose. “I don’t know my way around the kitchen, so if I’m looking for pancake syrup, my wife Paige can say, ‘Look in cabinet C,’” says owner and architect Tim McNamara.

Twist on Tradition

A blue-and-white scheme is a classic coastal look. But designers William Diamond and Anthony Baratta turned tradition on its head in this refreshing kitchen. A coastal theme stenciled onto painted wood floors adds a playful touch, while wallpaper reminiscent of a picnic tablecloth personalizes the ceiling.

Back to Basics

California-based designer Hilde Leiaghat gave this kitchen an extra helping of cottage charm. Beaded board, marble countertops, and retro appliances set the tone for a fresh, inviting space. “White makes an interesting backdrop for vintage appliances or accessories of any color,” Hilde says. The monochromatic palette paired with glass shelving makes even the smallest kitchen feel more spacious.

Think Green

Architect turned shoe designer Tinker Hatfield designed this spunky space with an emphasis on the environment. Get this: The island is a handmade surfboard crafted from recycled wine vats! Exposed shelving provides a place to display glassware and maintains an open, airy feel. Formaldehyde-free cabinetry and doors, low-VOC paints, and Energy Star–rated kitchen appliances ensure that this kitchen is just as easy on the environment as it is on the eyes. “Good architecture doesn’t try to just copy the past, but contributes to the future,” Tinker says.

North County Luxury Outdoor Rooms

Seven top outdoor room designers spill their secrets for splurging on luxurious outdoor retreats. Check out their favorite A-list accent pieces, outdoor fabrics and entertainment features to design the outdoor space of your dreams.

Outdoor Lighting
Forget typical ceiling fans and create different levels of lighting with gas sconces, chandeliers and table lamps. “Nothing flickers like real flame in a gas lantern,” says interior designer Shelly Riehl David of Riehl Designs Inc. If you’d rather stick with the convenience of a ceiling fan, consider adding misters for warm climates and radiant floor heaters for cold climates.

Christopher J. Grubb of ARCH-INTERIORS Design Group Inc. suggests a gorgeous chandelier made of iron, crystal or blown glass as a sophisticated accent piece for covered outdoor rooms.

Melted glass countertops fed with fiber optics are a signature of artist/landscaper Scott Cohen of The Green Scene in Canoga Park, Calif. At night, they illuminate cocktail glasses with color and guests with ambient light.

Fireplaces and Trellises
Outdoor fireplaces and heavy timber trellis structures turn an outdoor space into an outdoor room, says landscape architect Richard Krumwiede of Architerra Design Group in Rancho Cucamonga, Calif. Both elements also make the area usuable year-round, with the fireplace offering warmth in winter and the trellis offering shade in summer. Plus, two-sided fireplaces create a natural separation for living and dining areas.

Nothing does a better job of defining the outdoor living room than a large structure like a pergola. Designer Joan Grabel of Park Slope Design in Studio City, Calif., uses pergolas to define space and give an outdoor room a more intimate feeling. Don’t forget the art. “Any interesting art that can be outdoors is a great accent, like a wall hanging or a Balinese stone statue,” she says.

Outdoor Fabric and Accessories
Comfortable seating with luxurious fabrics and pillows blurs the lines between the indoors and outdoors. “I like the idea of creating an outdoor living room complete with treasured carpets and layered with cushions, candlesticks, chandeliers and a fireplace for ambience,” says David.

Draperies add softness and create privacy, Christopher says. Use vibrant colors and high-quality fabrics like Sunbrella or those from companies like Robert Allen or Kravet.

Outdoor Furniture
Never cut corners when buying furniture. “Cheap furniture can really destroy the look of a carefully planned room,” says designer Heather Hardcastle of Breaking Ground Landscape Designs in San Rafael, Calif.

Joan adores Brown Jordan furniture. “It’s expensive, but the designs are wonderful.” Richard uses high-quality, comfortable teak furniture with Sunbrella’s colored cushions.

Outdoor Kitchens
As one of the most common big-ticket items, outdoor kitchens are now built with a variety of features, like side burners, warming drawers, refrigerators, beer taps and beverage/cocktail centers designed for entertaining. Designer Mitch Kalamian of The Garden Design Group in Huntington Beach, Calif., says he has even designed outdoor kitchens with surround sound and drop-down plasma TV screens.

Pots and Planters
Pots can set the room’s theme and can make or break a good design, Richard says. Use only high-quality, frost-proof terra cotta from a reputable company such as Seibert & Rice because mismatched old pots will destroy the look, he says.

Joan recommends placing three large pots on an outdoor room patio or behind a chair or love seat to help define outdoor spaces.

Water Features
“My favorite pieces to splurge on in a garden room are accent pieces like water features and pottery,” says Heather. An artistic water feature or beautiful pottery placed carefully in the landscape can bring the surrounding plants and hardscape to life. “Depending on the color scheme and style of the garden, picking up one accent color used elsewhere in the design is a great way to tie in the decorative elements with the rest of the space,” she says.

Entertainment
Surround-sound rock speakers throughout the garden are a favorite of Scott. Always use multiple speakers so that sound volume can be kept lower and more ambient. The biggest mistake people make is putting speakers at the back of the house over the main patio. People can’t hear themselves talk, he says.

For movie watchers, Sunbrite makes an outdoor plasma screen TV. It looks great and works with the outdoor sound system, Scott says.

Mitch installs other must-haves for the budget-free client like custom-made fountains at all levels of grandeur and sports courts.

10 Easy Summer Upgrades For Outdoor Living

 

1. Add Color and Comfort to Seating

Use pillows and cushions made from outdoor fabric to spice up your space. Bend the rules―mix stripes and polka dots with punchy animal, geometric, and botanical prints.

2. Hang Bright, Patterned Draperies

Closed, they lend privacy and offer respite from the sun. Open, they frame the space and soften the scene. Avoid natural fabrics, which are prone to fading and mildew. Look for synthetic blends that will weather the elements.

3. Rearrange Chairs and Tables

Moving furniture around makes a small (and free!) change with a big payoff. Feng shui experts recommend moving 27 objects to give a room good luck. Scavenge other rooms―when a painting, chair, or eye-catching accessory moves outdoors for a while, you’ll see it in a new light.

4. Paint It

Color deck railings and arbors in a rainbow of hues to rival any blooming garden. Bonus: No watering required!

5. Hang a Whimsical Wall Sculpture

Look for pieces made with weather-resistant materials such as galvanized metal, glass, or stone. On covered patios or porches, hang canvas oil paintings; they’ll be fine outdoors as long as they’re not in direct sunlight.

6. Use Mirrors to Reflect Views

Strategically place mirrors they’ll reflect a striking image. Typically a smaller investment than outdoor art, mirrors create the illusion of more space.

7. Give New Life to Tired Furniture

A hole cut into the seat of an old rattan or wooden chair makes the perfect stage for a flowerpot. Creative and functional, the chair ensures proper drainage.

8. Arrange Beach Finds

In a clear fishbowl, nestle a candle into a bed of pale sea glass and white shells. It’s a great place to drop off treasures when you return from a walk on the beach, and it makes an instant centerpiece for entertaining on the fly. Experiment with scale when grouping your display―consider size, color, and texture.

9. Rejuvenate Your Front Door

Find a paint color in your favorite sea-inspired shade. The effort is minimal, but the effect is instant.

10. Disguise Flaws

Ready-made loose-fitting slipcovers brighten even the shabbiest furniture. They’re salt- and sand-resistant, and can easily be washed, replaced, or switched out seasonally.

Time To Design Your Coastal Home?

Fairbanks Interiors

Her style is classic, and craftsmanship, her trademark. Her taste is simply flawless and her quality, among the finest; of this, her clientele would overwhelmingly agree. Sue Kelly of Fairbanks Interiors shares her passion for good design, honing more than three decades of expertise. And with an overflowing portfolio of custom and model home designs, she is quick to offer a detailed narrative – relaying her approach and partnership with her clientele.

Based in Solana Beach, Fairbanks Interiors embraces the challenge of creating custom-tailored environments for their clients, fitting their individual personalities and lifestyles accordingly to encompass both their living and entertaining needs. And with a more European-style approach to design, the end result, as Kelly notes, is a reflection of a personal style of living – speaking to the emotional nature and connection with a home.

In seeking balance in design, she stresses the opportunity to embrace classic  and timeless styles; being trendy is too often fleeting, not to mention the ease of duplication for a non-custom look and feel. Being “ahead of the curve,” as Kelly words it, is about being “unique” and fresh while holding longevity; natural elements of wood, stone and iron, along with natural lighting and overall flow are utilized to explore this difference in design. In the end, it is the unexpected details that complete the narrative of a home, giving her clients the pleasure of living well in a space that truly reflects who they are.