Six tips from the interior designer, with before and after views
For Alex Siroky and Genevieve Daniels’ renovation of a 1926 house, designer Lara Sachs-Fishman found ways to create kid-friendly, high-style interiors. Here are her strategies, with photographs of what areas looked like before paired with the updates: Choose durable textiles In the living room, SachsFishman chose fabrics that can be cleaned easily: a washable print fabric on the ottoman coffee table, faux shagreen ottomans that are used to store toys, and decorative pillow covers that can be removed and washed. In the kitchen, mohair serves as a durable seating solution on the window seat and banquette, while a dark, patterned vintage Persian rug grounds the space.
Be bold with art
Vibrant Aboriginal paintings, photographs by Texas artist Irby Pace, delicate garden etchings and abstract artworks add a sophisticated feel to the casual interiors.
Play with scale
Large-scale artworks and oversized lighting can make ordinary interiors seem extraordinary. “The photograph over the banquette gives the kitchen a sense of whimsy so the room doesn’t feel too serious,” SachsFishman says. “Overscale furnishings makes things fun. It offsets what would otherwise be traditional.”
Establish continuity
Complementary materials for window treatments unify the living room, dining room and kitchen. “The window treatments serve as a backdrop,” says Sachs-Fishman. “Being the same fabric it gives it continuity, especially because one room leads to the next. Too much disparity is jarring. In a small house you want to keep things familiar.”
Create places to gather
“We wanted to take advantage of the front yard,” says Daniels. “Now it is usable space. We spend a lot of time out there and it maximizes the property.”
Make the most of the outdoors
A redwood pergola and sunken dining room extends the footprint of the home. An outdoor barbecue and refrigerator provides the couple, who like to cook, with extra entertaining options. A deck near the play area means the busy parents can juggle cooking and guests while overseeing their children.