This San Francisco Designer Left the Tech World to Pursue Her Passion for Interiors
Inspired by art, Tineke Triggs expresses her creativity through her singular spaces.
by Laura Hine
Tineke Triggs didn’t take a traditional path to becoming a successful interior designer. Her parents came to the U.S. in the 1960s, her mother from Scotland and her father from the Netherlands, and like many first-generation Americans, Triggs felt the pressure to be financially successful. “I was always an art kid and thought about becoming a medical illustrator. But we were an immigrant family, and we didn’t have money for that,” she says. Instead, with a scholarship and a lot of hard work, she put herself through college and went into high-tech sales. “It had great financial rewards, but I was missing the creative life.”
In 1995, a move from Chicago back to California — she grew up in Redwood City — gave her the chance to buy and fix up her first apartment. Triggs combined her tech and art skills and taught herself basic drafting programs. With that newly acquired skill, she was able to pull her own permits. In design, she soon found a three-dimensional outlet for her talents. By 2002, she had enough experience renovating her own properties to found her interior design business, Tineke Triggs Artistic Designs for Living.
Known for imaginative interiors, Triggs continues to flex her creative muscles — she has participated in six San Francisco Decorator Showcases — but she loves the business and client aspects of design as well. Introspective sat down with her to learn more about her artistic side and her drive to push boundaries.
What’s your design process?
Designing a room is like composing a painting. Every project is a fresh canvas. I study my subject before I put paint to brush. It’s that approach that makes my job fun and ever changing. Once I start, then it’s all about the layering. I look at the walls, the art, the ceiling. The furniture adds texture, or pillows bring a pop of color. I’m not a minimalist. I also don’t clutter things, but I want a room to feel complete. If I have a room that doesn’t have a lot of architectural features, I find that wallpaper helps finish the room. We’re doing tons of wallpaper right now.
Where do you find inspiration for your designs?
Travel and nature are important sources. I was just thinking about the sunsets in Santa Barbara — I’m currently working on two projects there — and how incredibly colorful they are this time of year, with either bright pinks combining with dark blues or gray mixing with a rusty pink. Those are inspiring color combinations.
Who’s your favorite furniture designer?
I’m drawn to vintage Dutch and Belgian design — it’s going back to my Dutch roots. I love the minimalism. For current designers, I love Thomas Hayes’s work. I’m in awe of Hellman-Chang and how they blend together metals and woods — it’s so refined and elegant. I also love the chairs that Richard Wrightman has recently done.
Tell us about your favorite artists.
Artists who speak to me are doing things that I can’t do myself. Fares Micue is a photographer who does self-portraits with flowers — they’re so feminine and gorgeous. I’m also into digital art right now. Daniel Canogar digitizes historic paintings, then he uses a mathematical algorithm to melt them into a beautiful liquid state.
How does architecture inspire you?
San Francisco is known for its Edwardians and Victorians. What makes the city so beautiful is that people are willing to work with the architecture and either stay traditional and true to the house or completely blow it up and turn it into something contemporary. I’m a little bit old school when it comes to the value of historic architecture: If it’s holding true, I want to maintain it, even if I use furniture to blur it into something more contemporary.
You seem pretty rooted in San Francisco. Would you consider living anywhere else?
My business is doing really well, so I don’t want to change anything right now. But at some point, I will live in Europe for a year, probably France or Spain. And I would love to have a beach house in Santa Barbara.
What’s a design principle you live by?
Art makes a home feel alive. I spend a lot of time curating art for my clients. I try to find pieces that speak to where they come from and what they’re drawn to. If the art speaks to the client, then they’ll feel the value of what they’re purchasing.
How do you continue to challenge yourself?
I’m working with clients who came to the Bay Area from London, and they love bright, poppy colors. Their living room has twenty-foot ceilings, and it was dark yellow with heavy drapes. I wanted to brighten it up and make it represent them. I did a rainbow rug and bright blue curved sofa and drippy drapery. The walls are bright white, and I installed a huge vintage pink chandelier. It’s outside of my comfort zone, but it’s so fun and fresh, and it will speak to the client.
Do you have an accomplishment you’re most proud of?
Last year’s San Francisco Decorator Showcase got me a lot of attention. I did a media room that was very experiential, so it wasn’t about watching TV. I used a lot of digital artists and the forms of the Memphis movement. A showhouse is the height of creativity because I don’t have to answer to anyone else — except my budget. Another year, I used David Bowie and Iman’s love story as human beings — not as a rock star and a model — for my inspiration.
Tour a Modern California Home That Goes All In on Dazzling Light Fixtures
by LAURA HINE
“No Barcaloungers here!” declares San Francisco-based designer Tineke Triggs about the house she designed for a single guy. It’s definitely not your stereotypical bachelor pad.
“When you create a space, you want to recognize the person,” Triggs says. In this case, her client was a gentleman with excellent taste and a blue-chip art collection. He brought in Triggs shortly after he purchased the new construction house and asked her to elevate its style.
In the dining room, the buffet with its three-dimensional diamond pattern is from Hewn’s Erinn V. Collection, while the Welles chandelier, which Triggs chose for its organic shape, is by Gabriel Scott. All photos by José Manuel Alorda.
The 4,000-square-foot house is on a hill, with a flipped floorplan that takes advantage of the views of Sausalito and the water. The lower level holds the guest bedrooms and family room. The top floor, accessed via a central stairway, opens to the living room, dining area and kitchen. The top floor also includes a small library area and the primary bedroom.
“The space was very contemporary and clean, but not that interesting,” recalls Triggs, who owns her own full-service firm, Artistic Designs for Living. She likes to find her way to a home’s style by really taking time to get to know the client.
THE LIVING ROOM
Designer Tineke Triggs counters the living room’s straight lines and angles with two round vintage chairs by Dino Frigerio and a gorgeous Vladimir Kagan wingback chair. Above the fireplace is a series of black and white works by Justyn Chapman.
“Since he loves cars, I wanted it to feel masculine, but with a unique vibe,” she says. “I took inspiration from his Porsche collection, which he races, and thought a lot about classic cars when looking at materials.” She leaned into the beauty of vintage race cars by embracing their luxurious materials and flowing curves.
In the main living area, this inspiration led Triggs to design a custom rug—featuring large-scale curved shapes in blue, gray and cream—as the foundation of the room.
“I made the coffee table glass because I really wanted to see that rug,” she says. “I love the shape of the coffee table with its interlocking legs. They’re made of wood, but where they come together looks like an engine part or a gear.” To those new pieces, Triggs added a classic Vladimir Kagan wingback chair and two vintage chairs that she purchased in Paris.
Triggs designed the custom sofa with an open angle to take advantage of the fireplace, which is straight ahead, and the view of the Bay, which is to the right. The Drip Fold side table by Noble Goods is made with hand-dripped liquid resin so no two are alike.
The biggest challenge she faced in the living room was its dual focal points: the view and the fireplace.
“I custom designed the sofa to take advantage of both the fireplace, which is right in front of you, and also the view of the Bay, which is off to the right side,” she says. “I opened the sectional and made an obtuse angle, so you’re open to both views.”
THE BREAKFAST NOOK
[caption id="attachment_6243" align="aligncenter" width="768"] An Eero Saarinen round table with chairs by Arrmet Studio provide the seating in the sunny breakfast nook. A profusion of glass bubbles makes the vintage chandelier a cheerful accent for the morning space.[/caption]
With that clever solution in place, next Triggs tackled the home’s lackluster lighting.
“Light fixtures can really change the look and feel of a space, so I got rid of all the pedestrian lights,” she says. “I peppered in some midcentury finds and some newer pieces.”
The breakfast nook has one of the midcentury treasures—a bubbly creation that sets a happy tone for the morning.
THE DINING ROOM
The dining room is grounded with a custom rug from The Rug Establishment. Topping it is a Meridian table by Hellman Chang and dining chairs by Dimitry & Co.
In the dining room, Triggs wanted a visually engaging fixture that wouldn’t take away from the view. She chose a geometric chain of lights connected by brass accents; it provides plenty of interest without dominating the room.
THE ENTRYWAY
In the entryway, Triggs custom designed a narrow console to fit the space. The sculptural brass details at the footing elevate the table’s design. The artwork is part of the homeowner’s collection.
The final light fixtures of note are the bronze and satin brass sconces she designed for the entryway, which evoke light emanating from the rough texture of a cave. “This space didn’t need a lot of light, because there’s a chandelier hanging above,” she says. “We added these sconces to bring in some drama.”
THE STUDY
To give the homeowner a cozy place to watch television or read, Triggs fashioned a library with two built-in bookcases that she custom designed for the space. One hides a TV and the other holds art objects and books.
Another design challenge was providing a cozy space where the homeowner could watch television or read. Triggs created a comfortable sitting area that’s separated from the main living space by a single wall. She added custom built-in bookcases on that wall and the opposite wall, which flank a large window. One bookcase hides a television behind sliding doors. While the bookcases are stunning in their own right, Triggs added another layer of interest by lining them with a wallpaper featuring a print of a whale skeleton, a subtle nod to the home’s surroundings.
THE PRIMARY SUITE
In the primary bedroom, a tall headboard feels perfectly in proportion with the room’s 10-foot ceilings. Also emphasizing the verticality of the space are pendant lights by Vibia that have a refined, but still masculine edge.
The main bedroom, with 10-foot-high ceilings, is a serene space. “Because of the tall ceilings, I wanted to gravitate up,” Triggs says. “I love pendant lights or sconces that are off the bedside tables. And, naturally, we chose a high headboard to fill the space.” The soft blues and grays of the main living spaces flow into the bedroom.
Textural wallcovering by Phillip Jeffries adds interest to the walls of the primary bath. Sleek, built-in wooden shelves provide storage and take advantage of what would otherwise be wasted space.
When the client is the focus, Triggs finds that the spaces she creates are used and loved over time. That has certainly been the case for this house. “When you design for someone, you create a home that complements his style,” she says. “I didn’t create a trendy environment, so, that keeps it relevant.”
The Liquid Lounge and Cala Mezcal by Tineke Triggs
Intended as an entertaining and hangout space for a young couple, the Liquid Lounge and Cala Mezcal are a joyous riot of postmodern, Memphis, and Pop art influences. While imbibing is clearly meant to happen here, the installation also invites visitors to drink in digital art. One work by Liquid Canvas features a hand-animated sequence based on a painting by Lauren McIntosh, while Daniel Canogar’s Amalgama uses an algorithm that liquefies famous historical images, morphing the icons into one another.
The Liquid Lounge by Tineke Triggs is where high fashion meets art, where elements from the Memphis movement meet postmodern 1960s design. Golden hues and abstract geometric shapes dominate a lively, interactive room where you can let your imagination run wild.
The ups and downs of 2020 did not stop the 43rd Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase from opening it’s doors in the form of a thorough, virtual tour today, showcasing the work of more than 20 top interior and landscape designers who have transformed 27 distinct spaces. Guests can purchase tickets to embark on a video tour of the house and landscaped spaces; three separate self-guided 3-D interactive tours of the interior of the house, and the front and rear gardens in addition to watching designer interviews focusing on their inspirations, back-stories and highlighting a few key elements in their designs and more.
The annual Showcase is a benefit for the San Francisco University High School Financial Aid Program, which helps to bring a rich diversity of backgrounds and perspectives to the top-rated school and increases financial and cultural capacity to support every qualified student. “We are incredibly thankful to these brilliant designers, generous sponsors and supporters whose contributions help raise money for the UHS financial aid program allowing us to support students from diverse socio-economic and cultural backgrounds to enrich the UHS experience for all students,” said Shaundra Bason, University High School Director of Development. Here, we share some of our favorite highlights from the dynamic presentation of talent.
"Now with Covid, I think everybody needs a bar in their house." That's interior designer Tineke Triggs, who is clearly a very wise and sane woman with her finger on the zeitgeist.
Perhaps we are biased—we also love mezcal and Mexico, two of the San Francisco design maven's favorite things (since shelter in place, we have no qualms about shaking up a mezcal margarita when 5pm rolls around, or maybe earlier, don't judge)—but we're ready to call it for Cala Mezcal as the most inspired room in the 43rd Annual San Francisco Decorator Showcase.
Built in 1926, the 6,500-square-foot manse in the Outer Richmond's tony West Clay Park has five bedrooms and five-and-a-half baths spanning three levels. In total, 27 spaces—including a media room, reading room, and wine cellar—have gotten the midas touch from 21 Bay Area designers for the annual benefit for SF University High School's financial aid program. The showcase house will make its all-virtual debut to the public on Saturday, September 5th.
But back to Cala Mezcal. As Triggs says, when you have a house this large, "you need a space that feels like your own nightclub"—a sexy "getaway club that's very sophisticated and interesting…with the underbelly of the Latin culture." We're listening.
Photography by Christoper Stark
From the home's media room called the Liquid Lounge—an '80s-chic hangout, also designed by Triggs, with low-slung furnishings and geometric patterns galore—you'll get a tease of a view into Cala Mezcal through a gold chain curtain. Pull it back and ta-da!—your very own cocktail lounge that has the plushness of a Mexico City nightspot, the rustic hipster vibes of a San José del Cabo cantina, and floating shelves for all your artisanal Oaxacan spirits.
A mural of the Mexican desert planted with shadowy agave, by the decorative painter Caroline Lizarraga, sets a moody tone, relinquishing all the pop to a rosy velvet banquette and a one-of-a-kind, melting digital artwork by the Spaniard Daniel Canogar. In the bar portion of the space, ipe wood panels climb the wall and curve over the ceiling with the intent of hugging you in while you take your shots. Speaking of which, if you've ever thrown one back from a jug with a snake it at La Revolución, you know that the serpent is inextricable from Mexican culture and lore, both drinking and otherwise. Slithering across the table here is a mighty bejeweled reptile, also hand-painted by Lizarraga and "affectionately named Shakira."
Find more photos and details of Triggs' Cala Mezcal and Liquid Lounge in the slideshow below. When the Decorator Showcase goes live, also look out for the fabulous, art-filled living room by Applegate Tran and the luxurious Listening Room by Chad Dorsey Design.
Called the Liquid Lounge, the Tineke Triggs–designed media room takes its cue from the Memphis design movement founded in the early 1980s by the legendary Milanese designer Ettore Sottsass. The mood is light and bright with lots of texture, modern art, and geometric patterns. The room's anchors include a custom sectional sofa by Arden Home; a Jean de Merry sideboard sourced at Coup D'Etat; Birnam Wood Studio's geometric coffee table; and David Trubridge's Navicula chandelier.
This Remodeled 1973 Airstream Is a Gorgeous Road Trip Home—or Permanent Guest Room
Brad Knipstien
From the custom tile to leather accents, everything was designed to withstand long trips on the road
Nena Farrell – January 21, 2020 | Updated May 22, 2020
Every week, Sunset publishes a new home tour featuring a gorgeous home that inspires. These amazing homes are located all around the Western United States, from modern cabins to mid-century masterpieces.
Interior designer Tineke Triggs had always dreamed of owning an Airstream—and when her guest house burned down in the 2017 California wine country fires, it felt like the right opportunity. “We thought, why not replace it with guest quarters that we can take with us when we travel?” says Triggs.
Within a month of searching, Triggs and her husband found what they were looking for—a 1973 Airstream out in Michigan that they could completely restore and redesign. Working with a project manager and technical team in Utah, the couple remotely renovated the Airstream and drove it out to California once it was complete.
“The renovation took over a year, with top-to-bottom retrofits to create the portable adventure home we envisioned—not just one that looked pretty but didn’t travel well,” says Triggs. Especially since her husband is a big camper, the Airstream, now named “Roxy,” makes for a versatile combo of guest quarters at home and mobile home
Vivacious rose and chartreuse tones, abstract geometric shapes, and elaborate patterns spark a sense of creativity and joy within the "Liquid Lounge" by Tineke Triggs. Above the rosegold sideboard (Jean De Merry), a large digital art display (Liquid Canvas) depicts a work of art by Bay Area artist Lauren McIntosh with intricate hand-animated sequences that bring the once static painting to life.
Minimalistic design meets warmth and sophistication in this contemporary cool bachelor pad, designed by San Francisco-based interior designer Tineke Triggs. The 4,000 sf residence is home to a Bay Area entrepreneur who loves adventure travel, luxury cars and Indy 500 racing - and not necessarily in that order. Favoring quality over quantity, Triggs and her team at Artistic Designs for Living designed a luxurious and sleek interior steeped in high style and masculine energy. Triggs walks us through her design process and the story on how each room came to life.
Says Triggs, "The home had absolutely wonderful views, but an unconventional layout. It challenged us to be creative as we wanted to design an intimate environment that also maximized those views. For example, the great room was large and open and we wanted to make sure the room felt welcoming and cozy, not cavernous or cold. The room also had 2 focal points--the exterior view and the fireplace--so it was important to design for both vantages while maintaining a minimalistic design aesthetic."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"The first piece we designed for the great room was the custom sofa. It has a unique shape with a 45-degree angle that allows views in multiple directions. We then continued with different accent pieces like the vintage chairs from Alex Fradin and the gorgeous Vladimir Kagan wing back chair. I chose both because they reminded me of the type of angular seating you'd see in a high end sports car. Our client loves to race cars and the wing back is his favorite piece in the room. For the artwork above the fireplace, I was looking for something clean that would bring your eyes up. When I found these striking black and white works by Justyn Chapman, I knew they'd be perfect."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
The Ondine wing back chair by Vladimir Kagan is the homeowners favorite piece in this room. The sleek lines are reminiscent of the race cars he loves to drive. A Luca drink table by Currey & Co sits beside it. Kelly Wearstler's stunning Dillion Cabinet sits just behind it.
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
Triggs designed a custom sectional with a 45-degree angle to take in multiple views in this living room. A side table by Noble Goods sits to the side. Hand-dripped with liquid resin, no two are exactly alike.
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
Triggs continues, "For the dining room we focused on linear, distinct angles that complimented each other. We wanted a mix of sleek lines and smooth shapes reminiscent of the race cars our client loved. We started with the buffet console from the Hewn showroom's Erinn V. Collection. I love this piece. Its three dimensional, angular and so incredibly elegant. Everything else was chosen to compliment the buffet."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"The Welles chandelier is another striking piece in the room. It had just been introduced in glass when I was working on this project, which was perfect as we didn't want a heavy piece that could block the views. It was also important for the fixture to be linear, not vertical, as this space is opposite a vertically hung waterfall chandelier in the entry."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
A vintage chandelier hangs over an Eero Saarinen round table and a set of Strike chairs by Arrmet Studio.
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"The shape of the entryway was a challenge - it had no depth so we had to design a narrow piece that would fit the space but also hold your interest. I designed this console using walnut and brass accents and paired it with geometric scones by Lucive. Because the chandelier in the space is light and airy, I wanted these sconces to be more architectural and sculptural. The brass accents on the inside of the sconces provide another element of interest. "
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"For the master bedroom we wanted to create a mood that was both romantic and masculine. We continued the palette of soft blues, grays and creams to create this balanced aesthetic. The ceilings were 10 feet tall with long and narrow windows, so we needed the bed to have a tall headboard to anchor the space and feel in harmony with the windows. We chose the Vibia slim pendants for the bedside lighting as they reminded me of ones you'd find in a luxurious, high end hotel end and I wanted that vibe for my client's bedroom. The pendants are masculine and refined. They're very cool but not at all overbearing."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"For the walls in the master bath, I chose a textural Phillip Jeffries wall covering from De Sousa Hughes as I wanted to soften the room and make it feel less cold. I love how the textured element warms up the space."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"Then came the library--what a fun room to design! We wanted this space to have a bit of the unexpected while still maintaining the feel of a formal library--a place you might end the day with an after dinner drink. When we found the amazing "Bruce" wallpaper by Abnormals Anonymous, we could not resist. I think we can all agree that a stripped down whale is a bit unexpected! Its such a fun design element and I loved the idea of bringing an ocean reference into the room. The space also includes a TV which we hid behind a door panel. I added brass side brackets to the built-ins draw your interest to the shelving and further the focus on the fabulous Bruce wallpaper. I always like to add a little jewelry to my cabinetry, and this was an fun way to do it."
Photo: Jose Manuel Alorda
"The result is a sleek and inviting home that works in harmony the existing architecture and surroundings. It truly reflects the homeowner's individual lifestyle and tastes and was such a fun project for us all. " --Tineke Triggs, Artistic Designs For Living
Credits:
Interior Design by Tineke Triggs, Artistic Designs for Living | @tineketriggs
Photography by José Manuel Alorda | @josemanuelalorda
Via Davis Gonthier | @davisgonthier
“I always approach each project with three questions in mind: who’s the client; how will the environment inform the design and how will the home be used?,” says interior designer Tineke Triggs. The same format applied when she tackled her own home in Kenwood, a town in Sonoma County. “We’re a family of four with a gaggle of friends that we wanted to share this home with,” she shares, “It was therefore very important that the home’s layout and designs be family friendly and work for large gatherings.”
The family had bought the home almost twenty years ago. “We’d been looking for property in the wine country forever and when we stumbled upon this one, we knew we had something special,” she remembers. “Although the home itself was in need of major renovations, the land, the views and the feel of the property were amazing. It had such a great energy about it.”
Located just one hour from the family’s main home in San Francisco made it a convenient spot in which to welcome visitors. “In fact, when we purchased it, we gave all of our friends a set of keys and told them, ‘This is your home, not ours, and we want you all to enjoy it with us.’ That spirit has resulted in many wonderful memories. “There are many special stories and deep connections with family, friends, children, grandchildren, that were formed here,” she shares.
Of course when they’d originally purchased the property, a 2,500 square foot home Eichler-ish design built in 1964, they reconfigured the layout to improve the home’s flow and its connection with the outdoors, and rethought rooms, like opening up the small kitchen to the view and creating a great room where everyone could comfortably gather. They’d also added a swimming pool.
But two decades on the house was in need of a refresh. Living in the home had taught them about the space — what works, what didn’t, what needed improvement — and the furnishings were worn. “What you’re seeing now is a fresh update to the designs throughout each space in the home. Designs that reflect who we are today, how the home is used and what we’ve learned about the space after 20 years of living in it,” says Triggs.
The 2017 wine country fires had also impacted the property, coming within 5 feet of the home and grabbing two smaller structures. “We were so incredibly lucky that the house itself was spared, but it prompted us to make some important changes, such as replacing the roof with one that was more fire-resistant and installing solar panels to reduce our reliance on electricity,” Triggs says, “We even bought pumps for the swimming pool in case we needed the water to extinguish fires!”
There were other changes that they made that were just as important as these practical improvements; they were the renovations that underline this home as a place that embraces family and friends and relaxation. Triggs notes the covered patio, “where we love to relax during the golden hours – either at breakfast or as the sun sets. People come here to take in the beautiful views, read a book, or just take a quiet moment away from the crowd when we have larger gatherings. We recently added two hanging chairs to the patio that I sourced in Paris from a Danish designer. They create such a fun yet relaxing vibe.” Inside, little seating areas create areas for the intimate conversations that happen at large events.
In the refreshed design, Triggs revised the color palette and textures, drawing from the surroundings to “make the house look like the space it inhabits.” The new scheme puts people front and center.
“My kids have grown to truly appreciate the home and this was really driven home after the 2017 fires,” says Triggs. “When they realized that this special family place only narrowly escaped being consumed by the fires, it became all the more precious to them.” Here’s to twenty more.
Written by Kat McEachern | Photography by Drew Kelly
In case you aren’t keeping up with the weather in the Bay Area, it’s been raining. And that means two important things. The first – our aquafers are being replenished. And second – snow in Tahoe!
In honor of all that fresh powder, we’re showcasing a new development in Lake Tahoe called The Palisades at Squaw that puts a fresh spin on mountain chic.
Going to Tahoe is always an amazing getaway, but many places lean a little too heavy on the buffalo plaid and raw wood for us style-wise. Thanks to designer Tineke Triggs, founder of Artistic Designs for Living, this collection of homes avoids the common tropes. “We wanted plenty of textural elements to create a modern mountain feel, but nothing too dark and heavy,” according to Tineke. “So many Tahoe cabins are dark and woodsy and our designs are a much more contemporary take on Tahoe living. With that in mind, we kept everything light and bright with designs that complement rather than compete with the natural surroundings. The interior details are high end, but with a more relaxed and contemporary style of elegance.”
With the goal of being “geared for the modern mountain enthusiast,” these homes offer the weekend getaway of owning a mountain home without as much upkeep and worry about the snow getting too heavy for the roof.
“We had a clear sense of which design elements we wanted to splurge on for this demographic, and we prioritized elements like beautiful but durable surface material, ample storage (both inside and out) for sports equipment, extra large beds in the bunk rooms, and of course my love of beautiful lighting for each room.” With bunk rooms that sleep four, these homes are ready for slumber parties.
These sumptuous interiors will dare you to go dark.
by Karine Monié
Bold, powerful and elegant, black never goes out of style. Top interior designers share some of their favorite noir projects and tips for decorating with black.
Hall
“This was originally an empty staircase landing, and I wanted to breathe new life into this space and create something both beautiful and functional for the homeowners,” says Tineke Triggs of this San Francisco home. “We designed this mini library and painted it all black to create an edgy and sophisticated vibe. I added a custom leaded glass window to bring further drama to the space. Its design was inspired by a traditional Scandinavian quilt pattern and is a nod to the homeowners’ Swedish roots.”
“Decorating with black as a backdrop allows something else to stand out, like a great piece of art. And, just like the technique used in painting, black can create depth and bring a three-dimensional feel to a space.”
The Secretly Stylish Interiors of Undercover Luxury Homes
Well-heeled homeowners craving normalcy and privacy use landscaping, high walls and muted exteriors to hide luxury living in plain sight
The basic white siding and burnt-orange, louvered shutters on this Los Angeles house plainly say “American 1950s residential traditional,” says homeowner Dan Brunn, an architect.
But step inside to find a two-story living room with bleached wood floors and white walls punctuated with bold, contemporary artwork. The sleek, minimalist interiors satisfy Mr. Brunn’s modern aesthetic, while the nondescript exterior lets his home fit into the small, older Brookside neighborhood of Los Angeles. “I thought, ‘Why mess with something if it’s OK?’ ” recalls Mr. Brunn, 40, who spent about $500,000 in a yearlong renovation.
The real-estate recovery in recent years has triggered the rise of undercover luxury homes—properties with modest exteriors and opulent interiors. Owners in gentrifying urban neighborhoods, historic districts and traditional suburbs are taking a less-is-more approach to their exteriors, opting for subtlety, normalcy and privacy.
Low-Key Homes With Stylish Interiors
A look at some homes where the owners opted for muted exteriors but splurged on contemporary design and decor inside.
Architect Dan Brunn in his living room. | Photo: Michal Czerwonka for The Wall Street Journal
“It’s the end of the statement house,” says Tineke Triggs, an interior designer in San Francisco who says most of her clients now want designs that don’t flaunt their exteriors.
In Austin, Texas, Kelly and Carlos Gonzalez, didn’t want their brand new 3,000-square-foot home to stand out among the homes in the historic Bouldin Creek neighborhood. To that end, the front façade of the farmhouse features white, composite clapboards, modest-size windows and a traditional roofline. On the back of the house, however, walls of windows, a geometric deck and a third-floor master bedroom make a modern statement. Interior finishes include Carrera marble, custom-wood floors and reclaimed wood beams, she adds“I wasn’t trying to woo visitors, I just wanted to blend in with the neighborhood,” says Ms. Gonzalez, 44, a stay-at-home mom who is also an interior designer. Her husband, also 44, is a medical-device sales executive. The couple spent about $1 million on construction, with Ms. Gonzalez acting as the general contractor.
Kelly and Carlos Gonzalez wanted a traditional facade on their Austin, Texas, home to create a more modest look from the curb. | Photo: Casey Woods Maddeaux for The Wall Street Journal
The home’s kitchen area uses luxury materials such as Carrera marble and herringbone wood floors. | Photo: Casey Woods Maddeaux for The Wall Street Journal
Stick With the Basics
Curb appeal plays a significant role when listing a home for sale. But elaborate patios, fire features and swimming pools aren’t necessarily the best investments. Instead, basic yard care and improvements yield the highest returns.
New construction proves especially difficult to create a look that fits in, says architect Carina Coel, who worked with the Gonzalez family. She also suggests facades with a low profile and standard-size doors and windows. She stays away from using pricey materials that can be spotted from the curb, such exotic woods, stone, heavy steel frames or glass. “I want to use materials that are kind of classic,” she says. In the past few years, she has had several clients interested in a more pared-down look after “a lot of pushback” from neighborhood groups averse to more modern, showy construction, she adds.
David Gilbert purchased a 1930s early Modernist prefabricated home for $74,000 in the working-class Prestonia neighborhood of Louisville, Ky., in 2010 with plans to rehab the investment property and sell it for a profit. By 2016, he’d changed his mind.
“I started to like the house,” Mr. Gilbert, 62, a former music executive who now owns a bar and other real estate in town.
So he added an in-ground pool, new lighting and a screened-in porch. He also moved in his art and furniture collection, which includes a piece by minimalist artist Donald Judd and vintage Le Corbusier chairs. This year he finished the basement to include a large bathroom with a soaking tub and a workout area. For the exterior, though, he simply repainted the siding and added landscaping for more privacy. “The façade was left simple and plain,” says Mr. Gilbert, 62, who estimates the renovations cost about $250,000.
David Gilbert renovated the interiors of his home in Louisville, Ky. | Photo: Ryan Kurtz for The Wall Street Journal
“The house doesn’t flaunt [the amenities] in any way,” adds Louisville architect Jeff Rawlins, who worked with Mr. Gilbert on the renovations. In the back of the home, Mr. Rawlins designed high walls to prevent onlookers from seeing the pool area in the renovated backyard from the alley. “It’s sort of like a little oasis. He has everything he needs,” says Mr. Rawlins. Adding trees helped the house blend in from the curb, he says.
The low-key facade of Mr. Gilbert’s luxury home in the Prestonia neighborhood of Louisville | Photo: Ryan Kurtz for The Wall Street Journal
The low-key look may hurt homeowners when it comes time to sell. From the street, spotting undercover gems isn’t easy for potential buyers.
Trey Phillips, real-estate agent at Moreland Properties in Austin, urges house hunters to look beyond the facade’s design and instead examine the exterior materials used. “The quality of windows and doors will tell you a lot,” says Mr. Phillips. When listing a home, Mr. Phillips highlights construction elements that may not be apparent to buyers, such as roof quality, the construction of walls and things like solid-wood versus hollow-core doors.
Still, nondescript facades risk boring potential buyers. In a survey of 6,911 real-estate agents conducted earlier this year, 94% of respondents suggested improving the home’s curb appeal before putting it up for sale, according to a the National Association of Realtors. Landscape maintenance, an overall landscape upgrade and lawn care were projects most likely to appeal to buyers and add resale value to the home.
As noted by Kimberly Rino, an agent with Core Real Estate Group in Los Angeles: “When you pull up it looks like you’re going to visit your grandma,” she says. “That can be a tough sell.”
Appeared in the August 31, 2018, print edition as 'The House With A Surprise Inside.'
When Tineke Triggs, founder of Artistic Designs for Living, was hired to transform a 6,000 sq ft San Francisco Edwardian into a home that blends California casual and contemporary sophistication, she knew the modern elements of her design would need to be carefully curated. Tineke says, “The family wanted to keep the warmth and feel of the original Edwardian, but infuse more modern designs, fixtures and furnishings throughout. We had to be careful not to go overboard on the contemporary design elements as we didn’t want anything too modern or cold. This is where layering in textures and different ethnic design elements created wonderful design juxtapositions to keep everything fresh, warm and inviting.”
Many of the art pieces had been collected by the homeowners while living in India and Asia and are quite colorful. So Tineke purposefully kept most of the spaces neutral. She says, “We wanted the backdrop to be light and calm to help showcase the art.”
While neutral, Tineke also brought in interest with creative wallpaper and treatments throughout the home. “Where we didn’t have art, we brought in as much texture as possible.” She explains, “In the dining room we worked with Elan Evans to design a custom wall treatment inspired by the couple’s travels through India. The overall design was inspired by remnants of an Indian tapestry and the mirrored inlay is a nod to the type of mirrored beading found throughout so many Indian designs.”
And in the living room, where the homeowners had originally wanted a very clean white wall to complement their light furnishings, Tineke convinced them to up the ante a bit. “We created an accent wall using a beautiful Phillip Jeffries wall covering that has almost a wood like feel, but more organic. It has wonderful light brown and blush undertones to bring out the blush accents in the room and we love how it keeps the overall design in this space from becoming too flat.”
When it comes to San Francisco history, this Jackson Square building has more than its share. It’s constructed from lumber salvaged from the ships that clogged the bay when the enterprising 49ers rushed into the city and then to the Sierras to find their fortunes. Because pre-1906 records are spotty thanks to the legendary earthquake that leveled the city that year, no one is quite sure when it was built. But its original use was as a horse stable.
Before cars were commonplace in the City by the Bay, horses were quartered in common stables—something like an equine parking garage. In an ironic twist of fate, many of the large stables were converted into actual parking garages when cars became the dominant form of transportation.
There’s some evidence that this building went down that conversion track, but history didn’t stop there in this case. It’s been through many cycles of ownership, and has served as, among other things, an antiques store and an architecture office. Today, thanks to a recent renovation that marries the past to the present, it’s home to the investment bank Scenic Advisement.
Architects at Feldman Architecture and interior designer Tineke Triggs, principal at Artistic Designs for Living, were hired by Scenic Advisement to transform the space into a unique office that has a lot of style but no stuffiness.
“The clients were looking for something more creative, cool, and hip,” says Triggs. “This was not to be a bunch of cubicles.”
In this office, the unconventional features include a rowing machine.
In lieu of cubicles, the design team took a more open approach. “From a space-planning perspective, we approached it as having be mostly open, but with enclosed areas for meetings,” says Tai Ikegami, managing partner at Feldman Architecture. “From a design perspective, we looked at it as making modern interventions within the historic space.”
The goal of the design team was to open, not divide, the space. Architects created glass conference rooms that provide privacy without blocking the light.
Those concepts manifest as a background of original brick and rough-hewn timbers with glass-enclosed conference rooms, a tea and coffee bar, a gym (not shown), and a long work table defined by a rectangular light fixture.
“We wanted to open the space, not subdivide it. The glass boxes create pavilions for private meetings, but make a minimal visual division,” says Ikegami. “The office now exists in a long, open space, and the pavilions are almost light apertures that let the light through.”
For the foreground, Triggs worked her particular brand of magic. As she puts it, “We brought the funk. This is not your typical office, and we didn’t want to do the typical office thing.”
It starts at the front door, with a relaxed lounge area. “The entry is inviting,” says Triggs. “It’s a place where employees and visitors are welcomed to come in and have a seat. This is a place where brainstorming often happens.”
Throughout, Triggs installed compelling art. In the lobby it’s a piece composed of used spray paint cans, the work of Ian Ross, a local graffiti artist.
A bathroom is decorated with stripes of graffiti by Elan Evens.
It’s not the only graffiti reference in the space. In one of the bathrooms, decorative artist Elan Evans painted the walls in brightly colored street-art style. “I like commercial bathrooms to be more than utilitarian,” says Triggs. “I love walking into a bathroom that gives you something surprising and unexpected. The graffiti also speaks to the street culture of San Francisco.”
The long work table is an exercise in workplace democracy. “This is a place where they all come to work together,” says Triggs. “There’s no hierarchy or power spot.”
An open kitchen, coffee, and tea bar is topped by a kid’s bike once used by one of the principals.
The tea and coffee bar is topped by a bicycle. “These clients like to add a little playfulness in their professional space and lives,” Triggs says. “The bike belongs to one of the partners—it was his childhood bike. I think it makes him happy to look at it here.”
Another whimsical touch: An old school rowing machine holds a prominent place near the workspace. “If you need a break, you can sit down and have a few rows. They also have some small bikes they ride through office,” says Triggs. “Consider it a break from the stale office environment.”
In this office, everyone works at one long table.
Despite all the new features, the past still shines. “The team worked really well together, and we were all in agreement that we wanted to leave the original purity of the building intact,” says Triggs. “We left most of the original details in place—including what appears to be horse bites in some of the beams.”
“The design for this bathroom at the San Francisco Decorator Showcase was inspired by the July 1966 cover of Vogue — a quintessential moment in American history that broke the mold for women in the ’60s,” says Tineke Triggs. “I love designing bathrooms full of luxurious elements to inspire and elevate your senses. They should energize and pamper the soul. Sumptuous materials combined with something unexpected are the keys to creating a spa-like bathroom.”
For most of us, there are certain sights and sounds that instantly evoke memories of our childhood homes. The crunch of leaves underfoot on a cool fall afternoon or smoke rising from a grill at a family gathering are all it takes to instantly transport many people right into their old backyards. For one couple with roots in the South, it was likely recollections of a screen door slamming or sipping ice-cold lemonade on a porch swing on a hot summer night that drove the decision to build a home that evoked the spirit of their childhood domiciles. “They wanted to create a house for their children that had the feel and the character of where they both grew up,” says designer Tineke Triggs. “That meant including things like the wraparound porches you’d find on a beautiful old plantation house.”
A coveted 1-acre flag lot in Atherton offered up the perfect backdrop. After scraping a 1950s ranch-style structure, Los Angeles-based architect Tim Barber and senior project manager Kirk Snyder crafted a classically proportioned Georgian-style home with clapboard siding and a cedar shake roof to take its place. The house stretches five bays wide and is marked by a timeless gable over the front door. “There are enough big porches and screen doors to capture the outdoor living feel reminiscent of their youth,” Snyder says. “And fortunately, that idea translates well to Northern California.”
House Details
Style: Traditional
Photography: Laura Hull
Home Builder: Erik Hughes, Hughes Construction, Inc.
Architecture: Tim Barber and Kirk Snyder, Tim Barber Ltd.
Interior Design: Tineke Triggs, Artistic Design for Living
Landscape Architecture: John Dalrymple, John Dalrymple Landscape Architecture
When it came to furnishings, Triggs saw it as her mission to respect the architecture while still being mindful of the youthfulness of her clients. “I wanted to work with traditional pieces, but not things that felt stuffy or like your grandmother’s house,” says the designer, who utilized transitional fabrics to support that concept.
But if there’s any question about the home’s overall intent, the sight of the swing suspended by ropes on the back porch is a reminder that it’s time to slow down and go looking for that pitcher of lemonade.
Interior designer Tineke Triggs put warm accents in front of a deep blue wall in a dining room. "It’s such a beautiful statement color that is both bold and elegant,” she says. “By selecting the right textures and lighting to compliment it, you can create a truly stunning space."
This San Francisco Victorian needed an update to make it suit the life of a busy modern family. But the last thing the owners wanted to do was lose any of the home’s original historic charm. “This is an early-1900s Victorian with unbelievable details like handmade spindles on the stairway, beautiful fireplaces and ornate millwork — it all absolutely had to stay,” interior designer Tineke Triggs says. At the same time, she needed to make it comfortable and welcoming for the couple and their three young daughters. Carrying colors, textures and loose motifs throughout the house created the easy flow and comfort they were craving.
Houzz at a Glance Who lives here: A couple with three young children Location: San Francisco Size: 3,500 square feet (325 square meters); six bedrooms, 4½ bathrooms Designer: Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living
When you walk up to original doors like these, you expect to enter a home that has respected and preserved its spectacular Victorian-era architecture. Once inside, visitors are met with an ornate staircase and a view into the living room.
When Triggs took the job, her clients had no furniture in the living or dining rooms; they had been living at the back of the first floor in the small kitchen and a family room. To create cohesion throughout the house, Triggs repeated certain elements. The homeowners’ favorite color, blue, carries through many of the rooms, as do mixed metals that include glints of warm brass.
A sometimes blurred, sometimes brushed painterly quality shows up here and there, whether in exaggerated drips, watercolor-like patterns or ombré. For example, Triggs added the blue to an inexpensive painting to create this artwork. You can also see the painterly quality in the pattern on the rug and on some of the throw pillows.
She custom designed this sofa. Note how the curves on the back nod to the original moldings around the adjacent bay.
Wing chair: Caracole, upholstered in Royal silk/mohair by Corragio; iron and stone coffee table: Global Views; sofa: custom, upholstered in Barkcloth by Brentano; Roman shade fabric: Dejeuner Sur L’Herbe, Casamance
Knowing that the homeowners loved blue, Triggs went for a dramatic, deep hue on the walls in the dining room. “We offset the blue by bringing in this persimmon chair fabric from the opposite end of the color spectrum,” she says. A large aged brass metallic chandelier makes a dazzling statement and stands up to the 12-foot ceilings. Metallic thread in the medallion pattern on the chairs, dynamic artwork and a buffet with pearlized doors complete the fashionable space.
Wall paint: In the Midnight Hour, Benjamin Moore; Keegan chandelier in Antique Brass: Arteriors; Adagio buffet: Bernhardt
In and around the first floor powder room we get a close look at some of the original details and the way Triggs honored the Victorian era via the lights, sink and wallpaper.
Creating a kitchen that could serve as the family hub and the heart of the home was a major part of the job and required the most extensive remodel. This space used to be the family room, and the space we’ll see next was the adjacent dated, inefficient and uninviting kitchen.
While the former kitchen was small, the family had loved eating together at a small table just outside the space and wanted to keep something like it for casual family meals. So Triggs designed a long, removable, free-standing bench that resembles a banquette and a new Carrara marble top for an industrial table base that’s long and narrow enough to fit the space.
Wall paint: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; bistro table: custom; Beatrix side chairs: Mr. Brown; banquette fabric: Gato vinyl, Kravet, with welt in Rodeo-Dijon, Arc Com
The homeowners were worried that the patterned tile seen above the range would appear too busy if used all over the room, so Triggs used glass brick tiles behind the sink. She designed the island to have enough seats for the three girls, who are all younger than 10. Brass and gold tones reappear in the pendants, which have era-appropriate flair.
Island color: In the Midnight Hour, Benjamin Moore; range: Wolf; pendants: Mr. Brown (no longer available)
On the back of the house, this sunporch space had served as the kitchen. After taking over the family room for the kitchen, Triggs transformed this room into a cozy den. Because the two rooms are open to each other, she used the same blue and cream fabric on the Roman shades in both. She also brought in more blue via paint behind the shelves and in the chunky, sweater-like rug.
“We had the height here to make the room feel bigger,” Triggs says. Built-ins that extend all the way to the ceiling emphasize the height. Wherever she added built-ins, cabinets and other architectural details, she emulated the style of the original millwork but in a slightly less ornate, more streamlined way to freshen up the look.
Wall paint: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore; cabinet paint: Revere Pewter, Benjamin Moore; Roman shades: custom in Venice cotton print, Stark Fabrics
The master bedroom has another beautiful original chandelier. The mantel is original as well, but Triggs added a new tile surround in a pattern appropriate to the era. The old one was orange-brown and cracked.
The fabric on the chaise longue was the jumping-off point for the bedroom’s color palette. Triggs designed the chaise, which recalls a Victorian fainting couch. Ombré window treatments continue that painterly quailty we saw downstairs.
Wall paint: Silver Fox, Benjamin Moore; chest of drawers: Hickory Chair; chaise: custom, upholstered in Cerney Floral Whisper, Stroheim; fireplace surround tile: custom colored and hand-painted, Fireclay
The tall headboard stands up to the high ceilings in the master. “The headboard is upholstered in a wool-polyester blend that is so fabulous,” Triggs says. Soft colors and symmetry lend a restful and calm feeling.
Headboard and nightstands: Hickory Chair; shams: custom in Elves Moorland by Villa Nova
The details on the cabinet panels and mirror frames again nod to the silhouettes in the home’s original architectural moldings. Carrera marble and seafoam green also befit the home’s history.
So is this arch that cozies up her daybed. Typical of a home of this era, the closets are small. Triggs designed the daybed arch to be removable so that when the girls are older and move to a teenager’s paradise on the third floor, their parents will have the option of transforming this room into a large master closet.
Wall paint: Decorator’s White, Benjamin Moore; Bayview daybed: Palu
The twin girls’ room shows off a favorite move of the designer’s. “I’m not a fan of loud colors or kiddie wallpaper in children’s bedrooms,” Triggs says. “One trick I like to use instead is to draw interest by creating contrast on the ceiling.”
Wall paint: Collingwood, Benjamin Moore; ceiling paint: Prom Dress, Benjamin Moore
Up on the third floor, the rooms currently serve as a guest bedroom, a home office and this playroom. The painterly effect carries through up here with another ombré, this time on the walls. Triggs directed the housepainter to give the artistic assignment a whirl, telling him to “just break up the blues every few feet,” and it worked out beautifully. “Doing it any other way probably would have cost 10 times as much!” she says with a laugh.
One thing to remember when you have a narrow staircase: Make sure the furniture will fit through it. Triggs chose a sectional that came in small pieces that would make it up the stairs.
The home is now a place where the family will thrive, with thoughtful touches for both today and those future teenage years. And while its look is freshened up, the spirit of the original architecture remains alive and well.
Designer: Tineke Triggs of Artistic Designs for Living Location: Mill Valley, California Sizes: 204 square feet (18.9 square meters); 12 by 17 feet (3.6 by 5.1 meters)
Homeowners’ request: A sophisticated, edgy and inviting space in which to reconnect as a couple and entertain friends. “Think Lenny Kravitz meets Mill Valley family life,” designer Tineke Triggs says.
Fireplace focal point: Triggs felt that with a fireplace surround of waxed leather extending all the way to the high ceiling, she had few options for anything that could compete with it as a focal point. Instead, she played it up even more by creating a clear path to it, flanked by two custom sofas. A barely there coffee table also keeps the visual weight on the fireplace, while a satin brass chandelier accentuates its height.
Designer secret: “Adding texture to a square space adds so much interest and dimension,” Triggs says. “The puzzle lamps, waxed leather fireplace, the lamb fur on the stools — all of these textures and various shapes bring some much-needed depth to the overall design.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “Space planning was a challenge here, as we wanted to have two large sofas with large tufted arms that felt grand and inviting, but we didn’t have a lot of room to work with and we didn’t want to block the fireplace views in any way,” Triggs says. “We realized that standard-size sofas would have been too large, but just shortening the sofa length would have resulted in large tufted arms that were out of proportion with everything else. The solution was to have the sofas custom made, which allowed us to pare down the size of both the arms and the length so that everything stayed in proportion with each other and the room. Getting the scale right is everything.”
Also on the team: Chambers + Chambers (architect); Christopher Stark (photographer)
The musical La La Land, which follows the romance between a jazz musician and an aspiring actress, got 14 Oscar nominations today. It’s a visually gorgeous film, and no matter how it does on awards night Feb. 26, it’s a feast for the eyes.
We’ve written about finding inspiration for room palettes on the runway, in nature and in your closet. Movies also can be a wonderful place to discover rich blends of colors you can apply to home decor. Take a peek at these scenes from La La Land paired with rooms that have a similar palette.
Look at the attention to detail in this shot: The ocher color of Gosling’s tie reflects the color of the lamppost behind him, while Stone’s coral dress repeats the pink in the twilight sky. Gray also forms a major part of the palette, in the dark of the road and the lighter color of the fence on the left.
Charcoal-colored painted cabinetry grounds this kitchen in much the same way that the road provides a gray anchor in the movie shot. Pops of coral parallel the color of Stone’s dress, while the wood floor approximates — yes, it’s not 100 percent — the ocher of Gosling’s tie. The dark wood door at the back of the room imitates Gosling’s hair; the paint color in that niche echoes the concrete balusters in the movie shot’s lower left.
Interior designer Tineke Triggs pours a drink at the bar cart she arranged with a clean, uncluttered look in a client’s home.
The holidays are fast approaching, and along with it, the entertaining season. For many hosts, the libations are as carefully considered as the food. So we asked local tastemakers to weigh in on the components of a good bar setup — from must-have tools and ingredients to go-to resources and decorative accents.
Photo: Gabrielle Lurie, Special To The Chronicle
Interior designer Tineke Triggs pours a drink at the bar cart she arranged with a clean, uncluttered look in a client’s home.
Tineke Triggs is an interior designer by trade, but she also has a knack for making cocktails: At California Home + Design magazine’s mix-off competition at the Palace Hotel in September, her Alpine Mist took top honors. Perhaps the skill runs in the family, since Triggs recalls that her grandmother made the best Manhattans and would let her have one of the cherries from the drink. “I thought they were the best cherries I’d ever tasted,” Triggs adds. As a designer, Triggs is often tasked with incorporating a cocktail station for clients. The bar shown here resides in a home that “is neat and organized, so the thought of mismatched bottles out on display would not work,” says Triggs, who decanted the liquor for “a clean, uncluttered look.” The round decanters are from Anthem on Sacramento Street, while the square one is from Tiffany & Co.
Essential tools: “The glass cocktail shaker is key. The metal ones always seem to stick and the strainers drip. Other important tools include a double jigger, strainer, toothpicks and ice tongs.”
Always on hand: Vodka and bourbon — they are both versatile. One of my client’s mothers is from the South and apparently uses vodka to get rid of poison ivy and ear infections, and bourbon for sore throats. How’s that for versatility!”
Art matters: “The art above the cart is ‘Reflections with Raft’ by Catherine Mackey. The clients were drawn to the piece as it reflects the urban environment where they live. When you pour a cocktail and look up at the painting, you discover something unexpected that you hadn’t seen before. It’s a great distraction from the hustle and bustle of the day.”
A “Blue Valentine “ doesn’t have to be synonymous with “lonely." I grew up in a Dutch family where Valentine’s Day was a time to honor friendship and companionship more than anything else. The color blue symbolizes loyalty and trust, and a Blue Valentine-themed gathering is a great excuse to spend quality time with loved ones and celebrate your closest relationships - be it friends, family or significant others, let your love shine through this Valentines Day.
Vintage Aston Martin
I can’t think of a better way to kick off a Blue Valentine’s Day than taking a loved one for a spin in this gorgeous blue Aston Martin. Destination unknown - it’s definitely all about the journey here!
Archery Tacks
These archery tacks are cast representations of arrow tails with a modern twist. Out of the ordinary and adorable. Pin these to any of those Valentines notes worth saving.
Hermes Tableware, Bleu d’Ailleurs
After touring around in the vintage beauty, head home for a special meal and pull out all the stops with this gorgeous Hermes tableware. Its bold colors and exotic patterns are influenced by both European and Asian travels - a subtle way to bring different cultures together through beautiful design.
Ballar Tea Glasses
No need to buy jewlery this Valentine’s when you have these Moroccan tea glasses that are like jewels themselves. Their gold etched details and dazzling colored glass make a beautiful statement for everything from cocktails to candleholders - even a traditional Moroccan mint tea.
Gold Flatware
Good design doesn’t have to cost a fortune. This gold flatware from West Elm is elegant and festive and set a beautiful table.
Custom Tablecloth, Fabric by Guildery
I love this Loom pattern from Guildrey and had it made into a gorgeous tablecloth - perfect for a Blue Valentine’s celebration!
Tom Dixon “Steampunk” Candlestick Holders These brass candlesticks make great conversation pieces with an industrial vibe that still manages to feel delicate. The unusual design and solid material give these “sticks” major staying power.
Cards Against Humanity
Good food, great friends, and a little too much wine…the perfect setting for an after dinner game of Cards Against Humanity. Edgy, outlandish and occasionally absurd - be prepared to laugh!
Blue Graphic Desert Plates, Collector’s Edition
These adorable dessert plates are perfect for after dinner treats, and are a welcome reminder of how sweet life is…
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Blueberries
A decadent Valentines treat that’s meant to be shared! Fluffy red velvet topped with luscious cream cheese frosting and just enough blueberries to count as a fruit…right?
Red Velvet Cupcakes with Blueberries
¾ cup butter, softened
1½ cups sugar
3 large eggs
1(1-oz.) bottle red liquid food coloring
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2½ cups all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup buttermilk
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1 teaspoon baking soda
Preheat oven to 350°
Beat butter at medium speed with an electric mixer until fluffy; Gradually add sugar, beating well; Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating until blended
Stir in food coloring and vanilla until blended
In a separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, and salt In a 4-cup bowl, stir together buttermilk, vinegar, and baking soda liquid (mixture will bubble.)
Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Beat at low speed until blended after each addition. Spoon batter into muffin cups, filling three-fourths full.
Bake at 350° for 18 to 20 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in centers comes out clean. Remove cupcakes from pans to wire racks, and let cool completely (about 45 minutes). Then add the icing.
Cream Cheese Frosting
1 pound cream cheese, softened
2 sticks butter, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
4 cups sifted confectioners' sugar
fresh blueberries, for garnish
In a large mixing bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and vanilla together until smooth. On low speed, add sugar until blended. Increase the speed to high and mix until very light and fluffy.
Garnish with fresh blueberries
For more ideas from Tineke Triggs, check out these links:
Tineke Triggs founded Artistic Designs For Living (or ADL) over a decade ago after undertaking a huge project that became a major career change. She was in the midst of building her dream home in Wine Country and decided to leave a job in tech sales to pursue interior design - and we are so glad she did. Tineke has called color her muse, and when looking through examples of her work, you can tell how much she adores, and respects, the power of bright hues. She lets vibrant color be the star of the show, and supports hot pinks, fiery oranges, and lemon yellows with classic shapes and clean lines. We appreciate how Tineke's designs are bright but never gaudy and are especially drawn to her bathroom designs. Whether vast white-on-white spaces or tiny jewel-box sized powder rooms, they all feel like works of art.
Big thanks to Tineke for sharing her answers to our Designer Crush Q&A!
1. Where do you currently live in CA and what's special about how you've designed your personal space?
I live in San Francisco. My personal space is like my personality - half Bohemian and half Ralph Lauren/Hermes. Growing up in Woodside, California, I'm a horse girl at heart but adore living in the city. In my own home I love pops of color and text with little elements of surprise and culture. My home has elements of my travels to Southeast Asia, and antiques from Europe and Africa too.
2. What's your dream design project? Who would it be for (dead or alive)?
I'm dying to do a modern beach house overlooking Malibu, Santa Barbara, Bali, Mexico, or the Hamptons. Something, clean, fresh, and bright, but contemporary. Of course a project in Paris or London would be amazing too.
3. In real life, what's your favorite design project you've completed to date?
This is hard. I have two favorites right now. One modern, rustic home in Tahoe with reclaimed ceilings, metal, and stone. The other is a historic home in black-and-white with navy and orange accents, high ceilings, lots of light, and really cool intricate molding. The projects are very, very different from each other but extremely fun to work on with amazing clients. Both have elements of surprise that you wouldn't normally see in these types of homes - which is part of my signature look.
4. You've been gifted a fabulously furnished dream home but can only bring one item from your current space. What would it be?
5. What's your creative process when designing a space?
Every time I start a project I imagine living in the space myself, then I pretend I am my client. How do they live and who are they? I think of what I can offer them that they wouldn't think of themselves. I think that is why I design a lot of my own furniture; I'm always coming up with things I want that I can't find...so I make it.
6. Where do you score prized interior design items? Any shopping tips?
1stdibs is one of the best places to shop for unique one of a kind items. My best tip is to pay attention to scale and color. No matter how much you like a piece, make sure it can fit and look good in your space. I can't tell you how many times I have seen a client purchase something they love but doesn't work in a room. It's such a waste! And if you are buying online, make sure you know the quality of the company you are buying from and the return policies.
7. Ever had an epic DIY disaster? What project would you never take on again yourself?
Of course- you can't be in the business this long and not have a couple great war stories. But I think my worst is when I first got started and I thought I could be a general contractor and hang crown molding myself. It looks so easy when you see them do it on TV! It was a disaster. I have such respect for my contractors and craftsman - I will never do that again.
8. What new design trend are you excited to integrate into your next project?
My new thing is custom hardware, including fun cabinet pulls I designed myself and some unique one-of-a-kind objects that I turned into pulls for furniture and cabinetry. It really makes furniture stand out!
9. Lightning round!
Beach or mountains?
Beach.
Twitter or Facebook?
Facebook.
Architectural Digest or Wallpaper?
Wallpaper.
Should you spend money on a fabulous bathroom or kitchen?
Depends on if you love entertaining and cooking more then spas and tubs. I'm a spa girl and my husband is a book cook. He would say kitchen and I would say bath!
Would you rather shop new or vintage?
Both.
Great view or perfect pool?
Great view.
SF or LA?
San Francisco. Go Giants!!!
10. What's one tip you wish someone had told you when first starting out in the design world?
Understand budgeting and learn how to use a spreadsheet. Design and budgeting go hand in hand. They don't teach that in school and they really should!
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