DECORATING

Designer Secrets: 14 Chic Ways to Trim YourDecorating BudgetInterior designer Katie Martinez sneaks savings into her redo of a young family’s San Francisco flat sostealthily, all we see is crisp, cool California styleBy Christine DeOrio on May 5, 2016May 5, 2016

he Victorian house in the heart of San Francisco’s sunny Noe Valley neighborhood had been well-loved overthe past 100 years—but it had also suffered from an ill-conceived remodeling project or two. So when thenew owners of the duplex’s upstairs flat began planning a redesign of their own, their strict budget had toallow for fixing past mistakes and creating a forward-thinking family-friendly design.

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A clean, spacious family room designed by Katie Martinez in San Francisco's Noe Valley. All photos by Aubrie Pick

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The couple enlisted Katie Martinez, a young San Francisco-baseddesigner known for bright, effortlessly elegant interiors. To meettheir budget without compromising on style, Martinez created afew ground rules: Stick to a simple palette of classic finishes, makeefficient use of labor and materials, choose affordable fixtures and

furnishings when possible, splurge where it really counts,and have patience. “The clients understood that therewere significant savings to be had by not rushing theproject,” Martinez says.

They began the seven-month construction process bystripping the rooms of their dated wood veneers, dark granitecounters, cheap lighting and appliances, multicolored glassbacksplash tile, and vinyl flooring. “It’s often easier to get rid ofthings and start over than to preserve little parts here and there,”Martinez explains, “so in some places we went down to the studs.”

–KATIE MARTINEZ

The two-story flat’s top floor had been divided into tiny bedrooms, so they removed the interior walls and adropped ceiling to create a large family room, then added a broad west-facing window to bring in naturallight and views toward Twin Peaks and Sutro Tower. On the main level, they reconfigured the masterbedroom, which had only allowed for the bed to be pushed into a corner, and opened up the staircase to helpconnect the kitchen and dining areas with the family room above.

To emphasize the new floorplan’s free-flowing vibe while bringing back some of the home’s originalcharacter, Martinez composed a restrained palette of Carrara marble counters, white cabinetry, unlacqueredbrass hardware, porcelain doorknobs and solid walnut finishes. Bright white walls provide a backdrop forthe homeowners’ collection of textiles, rugs, and artwork—and she also incorporated a few bursts of boldcolor and pattern, from the master bedroom’s deep blue wall to the bathroom’s graphic concrete floor tiles.

The reimagined rooms reflect Martinez’s bright and breezy signature style—but more importantly, theoriginal character of the Victorian house and the personalities of its new owners. How did Martinez achievesuch a dramatic transformation without breaking the bank? Here, she shares her secrets to this budget-conscious design—and how they can work for you:

The clients understood that there were significantsavings to be had by not rushing the project."

1. SPOTLIGHT SPECIAL DETAILS

There’s no need for lots of bells and whistles when you allow small, special details to shine. Here, Martinezcreated a “simple white kitchen” with Shaker-style cabinets, slabs of Carrara marble and a wall clad withsubway tile from Heath Ceramics. Against that pristine backdrop, unlacquered brass cabinet pulls fromRejuvenation and an unlacquered brass faucet from Waterworks can make a bold statement.

2. SHELVE IT

Instead of lining your kitchen’s walls with closed upper cabinets, incorporate some open shelving, whichmakes a small space feel larger and is typically a less expensive choice. Here, Martinez mounted simplewalnut boards atop shelf brackets from Liz's Antique Hardware. “We used brackets rather than concealedsteel supports because they felt more old-fashioned and added character,” she explains. Exposed dishes andglassware take the place of art and accessories, adding functional beauty and texture to the space.

3. CUT COUNTERTOP COSTS

If you love the look of veined white marble but don’t want to blow your budget on one slab, opt for Carrararather than rare Calacatta, as Martinez did. “I chose it because I really love the look and simplicity,” thedesigner explains, “but it is less expensive than Calacatta,” which is considered a luxury stone.

4. MAKE EVERY PIECE COUNT

“When each piece is beautiful and impactful, you need less,” Martinez says of the eclectic dining set shecreated by pairing a custom oak table with vintage Paul McCobb arm-and side-chairs in classic black. (“I

typically don’t match furniturefinishes,” she notes.) A rug

purchased via Etsy and themidcentury-style Atomiumchandelier from Lambert et Filsadd a pop of color and personalityto the room.

5. KEEP IT SIMPLE

For a nursery, choose simple furnishings you won’t mind parting with in a few years to create a cleanbackdrop for the personal artwork, objects and textiles you’ll keep for a lifetime. Here, streamlined furnitureand walls painted Farrow & Ball’s soothing Borrowed Light hue allow the eye to drift up to the ceiling, wherea local artist hand-painted a view of the night sky at the exact time of the little boy’s birth.

6. CREATE A HIGH-LOW MIX

Martinez trimmed her clients’ furnishings budget by having a craftsman make a built-in headboard wall andmatching side tables, but not the bed base. For that, she simply pushed an inexpensive base from CB2 againstthe wall. To cut material and labor costs, she had the bedroom furnishings, office desk, and kitchen shelvesall made at once from the same lot of wood, and requested walnut with visible knots and lighter sapwoodportions. “It’s more cost effective than pristine boards and I love the character,” she explains.

7. INCORPORATE OLD FAVORITES

“Don’t underestimate the power of a personal collection,” Martinez advises. “My clients’ little textile at thefoot of the bed makes a huge impact—in fact, I think it makes the room.” Beneath it, a hand-embroideredMexican Otomi coverlet from L'Aviva Home emphasizes the bedroom’s soothing blue mood.

8. CHOOSE FUNCTIONAL “ART”

There’s no need to spend on paintings and sculpture when your furnishings and accessories pack a punch.This bedroom’s dramatic built-in walnut headboard, walls painted Farrow & Ball’s bold Hague Blue, andbrass Isaac sconces by Schoolhouse Electric “provide so much color, texture and visual interest that youdon’t need to hang a thing on the wall,” Martinez says.

9. RETHINK THE DESK

Traditional desks can be bulky and pricey. Martinez saved money—and precious square footage in the smallhome office—by having a furniture-maker build a “desk” that’s really just a smooth walnut board supportedby both side walls. The design may be “super simple,” but it provides a large workspace that easilyaccommodates the couple on days when they both work from home. A wall clad with inexpensive corkprovides a look Martinez loves—plus plenty of pin-up space.

10. CHOOSE A COZY RUG

What’s the secret to maximizing seating without spending a fortune? “A very soft rug!” Martinez says.“Everyone is always lounging on the carpet.” What style and size is best? “I love larger antique rugs if youcan afford them,” she says. “If not, I suggest keeping it simple with a rug like this one below (fromRestoration Hardware) and adding a small antique

throw rug or pillows on top, or foregoing a big rugaltogether and using small throw rugs.”

11. FIND FLEXIBLE FURNISHINGS

Smaller, portable furnishings typically cost less thanheftier ones, and they’re often more useful around thehouse too. Rather than pairing the family room’sslipcovered Eilersen sofa with one large coffee table,Martinez chose a pouf from Serena & Lily and a duo ofacacia wood side tables from Blu Dot. “They can easilybe pushed aside to create seating or play space on thefloor,” she explains.

12. TREAT YOURSELF

They say the most successful diets allow room for asplurge here and there, and the same principle appliesto cost-conscious design. “I think the splurges arewhat make a project,” Martinez says, “so make sure topreserve a few places in your budget for them.” One ofthis family’s favorite big purchases is an EamesLounge Chair from Design Within Reach. “It’sbeautiful and well-designed, as well as verycomfortable,” Martinez says.

13. SKIP THE CURTAINS

Keeping windows bare eliminates pricey blinds anddraperies from the budget with another added benefit:

The simple, unfussy look helps create a continuous, light-filled space—and preserves the view.

14. SHOP AROUND

It’s easy to spend a fortune on tile but certainly not necessary. Martinez discovered handmade encausticcement tiles from Cement Tile Shop that make a major statement at a cost of $6.90 per piece. A new cast-iron-and-porcelain clawfoot tub from Rejuvenation looks like an antique, but offers the modern-dayimprovement of a deck-mounted faucet, while a streamlined vanity from Rejuvenation saves precious space.

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