Brown Design + Development

Los Angeles Boutique Hotel Progress

As promised, we are offering our blog readers an exclusive update on the renovation and design of our Los Angeles Boutique Hotel project.  In June, we posted some images during demolition.  The hotel is starting to come together and we are very pleased with the progress. 

The images below were recently taken in the lounge and bar area.

As you can see in the photo below, the light fixtures have been installed.  The bar is 20 ft. long, designed with a wood slated panel with a plexiglass backlit lightbox.  It also has a marble countertop and a plasma TV will be mounted on the wall at the end of the bar.    

The lounge offers plenty of seating, which can be easily moved aside to create space for a bar atmosphere in the evenings. 

The lounge connects with three private VIP dining rooms. 

Next up is the lobby so check back soon for more updates on our progress! 

Break the Rules

When it comes to interior design, "rules" are meant to be broken.  Think outside of the box to come up with fresh ideas to create unique spaces.  However, keep in mind that less is usually more. 

Rather than folding a throw and draping it over a chair or sofa in your living room, try the creative approach below.  The throw not only looks like a stripe on a the chair, but is a clean way of displaying it and makes the room look fresh and sophisticated. 

When selecting seating, whether it be around a dining room table or in a living room, mix the chair types. In the image below, two different chairs are being used around a single dining room table.  It's unexpected and really creates a space that feels new and inspired. 

Designing a Chic Children's Room

When designing for children, it is important for the room to be fun, vibrant, and functional, but that doesn't mean you have to depart from good style.  

The bedroom below was a part of a traditional home in the Los Feliz Oaks for a two year old girl who loves pink and green. The draperies were custom made for this room.  The pink and green stripe maintained the continuity of the core accent colors, while allowing this room to remain very chic.  The room wasn't complete without this over-sized rocking chair from DucDuc. 

Every kid needs space for their toys and books.  This storage unit also doubled as a changing station to increase functionality and save space.  We also stumbled on this vintage multi-colored chandelier that is stunning in this room. 

In a different home, we had the challenge of designing a bright pink room to please a young client.  It's features included a custom window seat and bookcase offering lots of storage, bright fabrics, soft pink walls, and a pink rug.  The space is clearly designed for a kid, yet is able to maintain good style and clean design. 

 

Designing to Bring the Outdoors In

At Brown Design, we like to think of ourselves as trend setters, often trying to incorporate new elements into our designs rather than repeating the same thing over and over. Here are some simple design ideas of how to bring outdoor elements indoors to create a casual and warm, yet still modern and sophisticated approach to design.

One of Ryan and Josh's favorite outdoor elements is an oar. The oars used in a kitchen nook at Ryan's traditional home created a warm, casual and comfortable vibe. This was important to Ryan, as he wanted his kitchen space to feel inviting and conducive to entertaining.

Elements from the sea are an easy way to warm up a space. Sea shells do not have to be limited to beach style cottages. In the home below, the shells were used in the dining room of an elegant, traditional Spanish style home. Blending vintage pieces with elements of nature maintain the overall style of the home while creating a soft, serene atmosphere.

In a contrasting perspective, elements from the sea can also be used in modern, minimalist spaces. Coral adorns this coffee table, which makes this modern living room feel warm and inviting.

A pagoda, typically used outdoors, was brought indoors, transforming this bathroom into a peaceful sanctuary.