Before and after...ugghhh.

I was talking with another designer friend about before and after photos. If a designer has a large before and after photo on their web homepage, or if they have one as their portfolio feature...not good. A before and after photo can say: "Yes I know the room is not that great, but look how it was before I worked on it". A good after shot speaks for itself. But the truth is, people like to see them, and I have no before and after photos on my website, so here goes. This is one of a few of these posts I will do, but I will space them over time.


Here is the original room. This home is in Talega / San Clemente, CA. The client was a young family, looking for a funky but sophisticated space that reflected their interests and style. He is an art director for a major surf/apparel company, and she, a mother with her hands full, both needed a unique but low maintenance space.

Custom upholstery, metallic grasscloth wallcovering, and a mix of leather, stone, and stainless steel make the room.

Thanks to my client for helping with, and deciding to go for these wing chairs.

The next project is a beach condo in Huntington Beach, with an amazing front row view of the pier. This room was for a retired couple, who was ready to simplify, and bring in a sense of the coast with materials and color. This is the conceptual rendering was done by my design assistant Maile, and myself before getting started.

Living room before:

Living room after:

We kept a number of pieces from their antique and artwork collection. The existing carrera marble flooring was a huge plus.