Things we are
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A curated look at what's inspiring us this month — from design ideas to objects worth owning.

"The movement between rooms is as important as the rooms themselves; and its arrangement has as much effect on social interaction in the rooms, as the interior of the rooms."

A Pattern Language · Christopher Alexander

I've been working on a lot of space planning right now for various projects and it reminded me of how important this beginning, but vital phase of the design project truly is. It is the actual design foundation for how a home feels and functions, so getting it right is a must.

We start by listening to how our client will live in the space and what their needs are for the functional aspects of their lives. We also think about the house itself, the setting and placement on the land, and what the overarching goal of the project aesthetics is. Is there more or less separation between spaces, how many spaces are necessary and to what scale.

Photography — Stephanie Russo

Here are five things to consider when space planning for a home:

01

Cascade of Spaces

Rooms should flow, not radiate from a corridor. Spaces should connect to each other in a cascade with corridors reduced to as little as possible. Hallways are dead space and direct room-to-room connection creates flow and life.
02

Intimacy Gradient

Always move from public to private. The layout should sequence rooms from most public at the entry to the more private at the back or upper floor. Every transition should feel like moving deeper into shelter.
03

Common Areas at the center, bedroom at the perimeter

Gathering spaces belong at the heart of the plan, where movement and energy naturally flow. Bedrooms and private rooms belong at the edges, where they get quiet, controlled light and separation from household activities.
04

Outdoor Spaces should be integrated and not leftover

The outside spaces should be designed as rooms, shaped on at least three sides, directly accessible from the main living area and sized for actual use.
05

Every room needs a focal point and an outlook

Each room in the plan should have two things: an internal focal point (a fireplace, a built-in seat, a generous window sill) that anchors the space, and an outlook – a view to something beyond.

I love these simple yet profound rules for creating comfortable, grounded and human spaces.

Behind the Scenes: Design in Progress

Our renovation project in Ukiah was wrapped up and photographed at the beginning of the year.

This project was particularly interesting, as our clients had purchased a 2006 tract home and sought to customize it for their young family. Originally a four-bedroom, three-bathroom home spanning 2,892 square feet, the house was reimagined with an additional bedroom added within the void above the family room. Builder-grade finishes were replaced with layers of color, texture, and character.

Our clients purchased the home to be closer to the local school and activities, with the intention of creating a space that supported the next phase of family life. The goal was to maximize every square foot while creating warm, inviting areas for both everyday living and entertaining.

The primary challenge centered on furniture planning—balancing generous, functional seating for a family of five with well-considered traffic patterns.

The biggest impact came from reconfiguring the kitchen. What began as a small kitchen with a modest eat-in area was transformed by infilling the eat-in with cabinetry to create a dedicated buffet and storage zone.

We added a large island with seating to expand the kitchen’s footprint and functionality. By incorporating the family room into the kitchen and introducing a generous bar area, the space was grounded and unified—creating one cohesive environment designed for gathering and entertaining.

The reaction that stayed with us most was from the three kids. Giving them a voice in their individual rooms and then witnessing their response once the spaces were complete, was incredibly rewarding and affirmed that we had achieved what we set out to do.

See more of the Bartlett Residence Project

Design News

We’ve been wrapping up and installing projects that have been underway for some time, which means I’ve been spending a good amount of time shopping our inventory to accessorize and style. Here are a few shots of some of the goodies we have been collecting.