Brown Design + Development

Brown Design Begins Work on Los Angeles Boutique Hotel

Brown Design is excited to announce that work has begun on our largest commercial project to date!  We have been working alongside the owners of a Los Angeles hotel to redesign the interior spaces of the 70 room building.  Phase one includes the modernization of the ground level lounge and bar.  The updated materials that we'll be using include concrete floors, smooth stucco walls, modern millwork, and a new lighting scheme.  We will also be removing several walls to make way for a new bar.  Here are some shots of the lounge and bar during demolition.

After the lounge is completed, work will begin on a new lobby, a second floor restaurant, and the guest suites.  Our goal is to create a modern and luxurious atmosphere throughout the hotel by using a cohesive design concept.  We’re very excited about the hotel because we’re able to use our design sense and capabilities on a large-scale commercial project.  We’ll more post pictures as the project progresses.

Low Maintenance Landscaping

We recently finished a project in Franklin Canyon that was in need of some TLC in the landscape department. The property is on a hillside with some rocky terrain that we had to work around. In order to create a united look, we opted for uniformity in color and chose about five or six different plants that do not need a lot of water and fill in quickly such as bamboo, flax, and sedum ground cover.

The rocky terrain near the front steps allowed us to utilize succulents and river rock to create a zen inspired garden, inviting you to the front door.

Succulents come in a variety of shapes and colors and also do not require a lot of water.  They are slightly more expensive than other plants, but also make a dramatic visual impact.  To finish off the landscaping, we like to mimic the same look by adding potted succulents in different heights and textures, as shown in this zinc planter.

How to Pick the Perfect Paint

We all have heard that paint is the least expensive yet most effective way to change the look of a room.  Despite this, most people are too scared to take the plunge and commit to a new color.  Designers have an advantage in picking paint colors since we do it so often, but we always start the paint selection process with a strategy.  Here are some tips to ensure that you end up satisfied with your new room!

Benjamin Moore's website offers downloadable color palettes that make the early stages of color selection easy.  The company also has color sheets available that are larger than traditional paint chips, allowing consumers to get a better idea of the color on a large surface.

 

Pick out three shades of the color you like and buy sample quarts.  Don’t be afraid to pick a shade darker than what you think you want. Colors look different once they are painted on the wall and the final color depends on the light you have in the room. Our favorite paint brands are Dunn Edwards, Benjamin Moore and ICI; they have a broad range of colors in muted and bright tones.

Use the sample quarts to paint 3’x3’ squares on 2 different walls with at least 1’ separation between each color. Be sure to mark the name and number underneath the color so when the time comes, you aren’t buying the wrong paint color...believe us, it has happened. Most importantly, make sure you look at the colors at different times of the day and give yourself a few days to choose your favorite color.

Remember to choose your color wisely; lighter shades will open up a room and give the illusion of more space, while darker colors will create a warm, inviting environment.  The color palette of the master bedroom in our Valley Oak project is light, with white walls and a single accent wall in a pale sage.  We chose this color scheme to complement the low-slung, loft-like architecture of the house.

The ashy blue shade of the living room of our Beverlywood project creates depth and highlights the bright white woodwork of the mantle . 

The deep cocoa color in the dining room makes for a warm and appealing area for conversation and entertaining.  With substantial moldings in a striking white, the space feels modern yet sumptuous.  Many people worry that by painting the ceiling of a space, it "lowers" the height of the room.  This isn't the case, as painting a ceiling actually makes the area feel richer and warmer.

As a final tip for picking paint, buy the sample color you want in the finish that you intend on using.  A color in an eggshell finish will often look much different than the same color in a flat or semigloss.  Also remember that higher gloss finishes are better suited for high-traffic areas, as they are easier to wipe off.  High gloss paints should be reserved for flawless woodwork.  Happy painting!

Flipping Out Season Two Premieres Tonight!

 

For those of you who are Flipping Out fans, episode one of our second season airs on Bravo tonight at 10 p.m. Eastern, 7 p.m. Pacific time (or check Bravotv.com for listings).  Watch Ryan Brown of Brown Design team up with Jeff Lewis as they begin their second chaotic journey through the speculative real estate market of Southern California.  See you then!

Furniture and Cabinet Hardware

We’re suckers for great hardware.  Any ordinary piece of furniture can be made spectacular by this one element.  From leather-wrapped handles to polished nickel pulls, a broad range of styles and finishes are available for any project. 

Don’t be afraid to push the limits, because there are none.  Let the hardware represent your individuality.  If you have conservative taste in furniture, add some interest to pieces by incorporating unique hardware.  Overwhelmed by the amount of choices?  Most stores will allow you to buy a "memo" sample and then return if you don’t like the style. 

Here are some of our top picks from one of our preferred hardware providers, Details Hardware. 

These simple brushed nickel pulls are clean and continue the linear look of this long, low cabinet.

 

Leather-wrapped handles and tabs combine the sleek look of metal with the organic look and supple texture of leather.  The leather softens the starkness of the metal while still looking clean and modern.

 

These graphite metal edge pulls are low profile, not distracting, and allow the eye to follow the continuous lines of the wood grain on these zebrawood cabinets.

As hardware fanatics, much of the furniture we use in projects features distinctive hardware that complements the overall design and atmosphere of the space. 

This is a home office cabinet from one of our Hollywood Hills projects.  The antique bronze pendant pulls lend a lot of character to this otherwise contemporary piece. 

In a Hollywood Hills home, we incorporated a simple hutch, decorated with ornate metal work that spreads onto the cabinet doors.

We designed and built these floor to ceiling for our project in Nichols Canyon. The jet black iron hardware and large backplates make a bold contrast when placed against the white cabinetry.

Floating Vanities

When it comes to designing a modern bathroom, we love to create a minimalist look with a floating vanity. There are many options at different price points and lead times.

A higher end option would be from Duravit. Duravit’s vanities are very well made, and great built-in storage units to make the most out of your space.  These units are made to fit perfectly with Duravit’s line of wall mounted sinks and typically take 6-8 weeks from time of order.

Recently we were introduced to a line of bathroom sink cabinets from Tonusa.  They come in a variety of finishes, have coordinating mirrors and storage cabinets and most versions are in stock and the prices are very reasonable.

Sometimes we do not have the luxury of six weeks to wait for a cabinet or just wish to build something that will fit perfectly in the space we are designing. That’s when custom cabinetry comes in.

At a recent project on Valley Oak Drive in Franklin Canyon, we designed and commissioned our cabinet maker to build three bathroom vanities. The cost of custom vanities depends on the species of wood used and how intricate the design is.  For the powder room we opted for a long floating cabinet with the sink set on top of the wood counter. 

The guest bathroom required we build a larger cabinet to fit below the sink we purchased, allowing more storage space. When building a custom floating cabinet, it is important to leave at least 9” from the floor to the bottom of the cabinet to achieve the look.  Your cabinetmaker must also take into consideration the height at which the plumbing and drain fall at to ensure they are covered by the cabinetry.

 

The master bathroom vanity shown below was custom made to fit this particular bathroom.  The countertop was fabricated out of Blizzard Caesarstone and we undermounted a 36” trough sink instead of using two separate sinks.

Drapery Tips & Tricks

Designers love draperies because they are the element that make a room feel complete – if you do it right. We have compiled designer drapery tips that will work in any house no matter the style.

First and foremost, a pet peeve of designers are draperies that are too short – think high-water pants. If you wouldn’t wear it, neither should your window! Always make sure your draperies touch the floor.  In fact, they look more elegant when they have a 1” (or more) puddle onto the floor.

Another drapery DO is to mount the rods and brackets high and wide. We tend to mount the draperies 12” beyond the sides of the window casing to allow the draperies to stack on the sides, letting more window to show. Similarly, the draperies should not be mounted right above the window frame. The higher you mount the draperies, the taller the ceilings feel. There is no set height since all windows are different, but we tend to mount half way between the top of the window and the ceiling. Aim high, if you have 20' high ceilings in the living room, don’t be afraid to make a bold statement with a set of high mounted draperies.

Grey Floors

Keeping up with trends and starting new ones is one of the most exciting parts of being a designer. Recently we were tiring of espresso wood floors and began a search for a new flooring color. Note, if you are remodeling and are considering espresso wood floors, take into consideration that while they are very sexy, every speck of dust shows so they may not be the most practical option. 

In our effort to move away from the espresso finish, we tried everything from traditional oak to exotic Pilang Walnut.  Finally, a lightbulb went on...grey oak!  Grey oak has been a trend with furniture and is a classic color that works in both modern and traditional applications.  The images below show floors that were refinished with a grey stain at a current project in West Hollywood, CA. 

 

When choosing to refinish existing hardwood floors to a new stain color, have your refinisher prepare three different samples, light to dark, on the existing wood floor. Different species of wood take the stain differently - maple stains differently than oak, oak stains different than walnut, etc.  So it is important to test the stain on your existing flooring. 

For those of you who are installing new floors, there are a number of prefinished options.  Below are some of our favorites from Mirage in Red Oak Charcoal and Maple Charcoal.  Prefinished floors come in different plank sizes and even distressed versions, so options are endless to create the look you want.