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DESIGN LIBRARY

BERYN HAMMIL DESIGNS BLOG

Our Design blog includes interesting design related features:
Resources We Love
Form Follows Function
Why This Room Works
It also includes information about events that relate to the
design industry such as Designer Showcase Houses.

 

DESIGN TECH TONICS

Our newst blog is about technology. It's easy to understand
and helps you get the most out of your devices and computer.

• "ELEGANT APARTMENT DESIGN"
  
• "FIREPLACE FACELIFT"
  
• "HOME OFFICE REDESIGN"
  
• "PART TIME RENTAL CONDO"
  
• "THREE WEEK KITCHEN REMODEL"
  
• "CUSTOM HOME OFFICE DESIGN"
  
• "RELOCATION MADE EASY"
  
• "SKI CABIN REMODEL"
  

 

DESIGNER BERYN HAMMIL IS A CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOR THE SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE'S "HOME & GARDEN" SECTION FEATURE ARTICLES  Click on the title to go to the article and photographs. "THREE SHEETS TO THE WIND ARE OKAY FOR WINDOW TREATMENTS" "SOPHISTICATED BASEMENTS ARE WITHIN EASY GRASP" "WASH AWAY YOUR BORING LAUNDRY ROOM WITH INNOVATIVE, MULTIPURPOSE DESIGN" "PANTRIES ADD FOOD STORAGE SPACE AND VALUE TO YOUR HOME" "TURN YOUR HOME INTO AN ELEGANT RESORT WITH A FEW SIMPLE, AND INEXPENSIVE, FINISHING TOUCHES" "ELEGANCE CAN BE EASY AND INEXPENSIVE" "THE PORCH CONVEYS THE WARMTH OF YOUR HOME" "MAKING THE GUEST ROOM A SANCTUARY - FOR YOU!" "WHAT TO DO WHEN A FAVORITE ROOM LOOKS TIRED" "CLOSET ORGANIZING MADE EASY" "ONE BATHROOM HOME? MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE AND MAKE IT WORK!" "VIRTUALLY PERFECT - Software lets homeowners preview plans from outside in" "ENTER STAGE RIGHT - Preparing your home for a quick sale through Home Staging" "CLEAR THE CLUTTER - Make the most of every move by shedding old stuff" "FINDING YOUR STYLE - Do you choose it, or does it choose you?" "ANOTHER PERSON'S TREASURES - Flea market finds make decorative sense" "RETREAT TO A READING NOOK - Create a space where you can curl up with a good book" "DESIGNING OUT OF THE MOLD - Keeping mold at bay shouldn't confine you to clinical surroundings" "COLLEGE DECORATING 101 - Tips on how to prepare college room, and lessons learned when I decorated one" "DESIGN DILEMMA" COLUMNS Every few weeks Beryn Hammil answers readers' design dilemmas, solving their interior and exterior design challenges. These dilemmas and her solutions appear in the "Home & Garden" section of the San Francisco Chronicle on Wednesdays and Saturdays.  The articles are organized by subject so browse around and enjoy! Just click on the title to read the article. OVERALL ROOM DESIGN: Including Furniture Arranging and Room Layouts "BALANCING MODERNISM, MINIMALISM IN LOFT" "BREAKING FREE FROM THE RULES OF DESIGN" "SORTING OUT OPTIONS FOR YOUR 'LOOK'" - Creating a design "roadmap" "SQUEEZE IN MORE WITHOUT CLUTTER" "LIVING ROOM TRAFFIC NEEDS TO YIELD FOR FIREPLACE" "MAKE LIVING ROOM A PLACE TO TALK IN, NOT TALK ABOUT" "ASIAN THEME CREATES SERENE SETTING" "TURN LONG HALLWAY INTO FLEXIBLE EXHIBIT SPACE FOR DISPLAYING ART" "BRING OUTDOORS INSIDE WITH THIS GARDEN ROOM" "BUILT-IN BOOKCASES BALANCE BIG LIVING ROOM" "BEYOND FUNCTION IN HOME'S ENTRY" "DECOR HELPS DEFINE AREAS IN LONG ROOM" "HO-HUM ENTRY GETS A MAKEOVER" "LIVING IN A 'TREE HOUSE'" - Arranging furniture in a room with lots of windows "EVEN A BELOVED ROOM MAY NEED A FRESH LOOK" "BRINGING ORDER TO HIGH TRAFFIC LIVING ROOMS" "PRY FAMILY ROOM OUT OF THE PAST "CHANGING SPACES - Smaller can be better" "CREATING A HARMONIOUS ROOM - Diagonal furniture placement unifies room with harpsichord" "CARVING OUT A DINING ROOM WITHOUT ADDING A WALL - Cures for separation anxiety" "LIVING ROOM WORKS FOR BUSY FAMILY" "OPEN ROOMS MAKE SMALL HOUSE FEEL BIGGER" "DRESSING A ROOM WITH A VIEW" "AWKWARD OBSTACLE COMPLICATES ARRANGEMENT IN CONDO" "LONG LIVING ROOM COMES UP SHORT ON INTIMACY" "A WORLD OF POSSIBILITIES BEHIND CLOSET DOOR" - Better use of floor space with the closet moved "OPEN STAIRCASE PROVIDES NIFTY DESIGN OPPORTUNITIES" "TAKING THE LONG VIEW TO DECORATING" - Music and windows create focus "OUTFITTING LONG, NARROW ROOMS" - Including space for a treadmill "A SIMPLE PLAN MAKES ROOM FOR KIDS AND GROWN UPS" - Convert little used space into play area "WIDEN HORIZON OF LONG, NARROW ROOM" "FURNITURE FOR SMALL SPACES SHOULD DO DOUBLE DUTY" "FAMILY ROOM BLOOMS WITH INFUSION OF COLOR, LIGHT" - Wood paneling needs an update "ORIENTAL RUG DRIVES DESIGN THEME, INCLUDING COLOR" "MOVING UP MEANS DOWNSIZING" - flexible design for small space "TIPS TO MAKE THE MOST OF A SMALL ROOM" "MUSIC LOVERS TRANSPOSE AN AWKWARD LIVING ROOM" "CREATING SAFE, FUN SPACE WHERE GRANDCHILDREN CAN ROMP" - Upholstered ottoman makes versatile, kid-friendly coffee table "BRIGHT IDEAS FOR LIGHT FILLED ROOM" "MEDIA ROOM OFFERS PLEASANT ESCAPE" "ENHANCING MUSIC IN A SUNNY ROOM" "TRANSFORM LIVING ROOM FROM 'UGLY' TO LOVELY" - 3 different floor plans for the same room, plus fireplace redesign ideas "FAMILY STARTS OVER AFTER HURRICANE" "UNIFY LIVING ROOM WITH WALL UNIT" "ENJOY PANORAMIC VIEW AND THE FIREPLACE" "REMOVE CORNER STOVE TO MAKE THIS FAMILY ROOM SIZZLE" "MINIMIZE FURNITURE, MAXIMIZE VIEW" "KNOCK OUT WALLS FOR A KNOCKOUT LIVING SPACE" "LIVING - DINING ROOM NEEDS SOME HELP" "COMPROMISE CAN GO THE LONG WAY" "FURNITURE FOR SMALL SPACES CAN DO WONDERS" "FOR COZIER LIVING ROOM, SCALE DOWN THE FURNITURE" "DRAMA, DRAMA INDEED" - Create a stage for home dinner theatre "STUDY SPACE SITUATION BEFORE YOU GO SHOPPING" "ARRANGE FAMILY ROOM FOR COMFORT" "REMODELING A BEDROOM WITH SINKS" "USE FURNITURE TO MAKE A LIVING ROOM FUNCTIOINAL AND FUN" "PROPERLY SCALED FURNITURE KEEPS ROOM INVITING" PAINT, WALLPAPER, AND COLOR "SUBDUED COLORS WILL LET ANTIQUES SHINE" "USE COLOR TO PAINT VARIATIONS ON THEME" "PAINT TECHNIQUES CAN TRANSFORM CABINETS" "TONE ON TONE CAN BE TERRIFIC" - Effectively using the same color throughout a room" "ALIGN ELEMENTS TO CREATE LOVELY KITCHEN" "BRING COLOR SCHEME TOGETHER" "TONAL COLOR SCHEME BRINGS CONDO TOGETHER" "PLANNING AN ESCAPE FROM WHITE WALLS" "DARK WALLPAPER NEEDN'T OVERWHELM ROOM - Partially covering walls, using colors as theme" "GRAY WALLS NEEDN'T BE DREARY - Variations of hue can convey warm ambience or be coolly modern" "THINGS ARE LOOKING UP FOR A DRAB BASEMENT CEILING - Stylish tricks handle unsightly pipes and wires" HOME OFFICE SOLUTIONS "GETTING THE MOST FROM HOME OFFICE - Yes, small room can be used for work & play" "BANISH THE BOREDOM IN HOME OFFICE" "COMBO OFFICE/CLOSET WORKS WELL WITH FENG SHUI" "OFFICE DOUBLES AS GUEST ROOM" MAINTAINING WHAT YOU HAVE "MANY FEET WILL BEAT UP FLIMSY CARPET" "GIVE DARK KITCHEN ELECTRICAL UPGRADE "IT'S TIME FOR SOME SERIOUS ORGANIZING- Creating storage space in a small bedroom" PREPARING YOUR HOME FOR SALE "DON'T DISMISS SELLING POWER OF 'CURB APPEAL'" "SELLERS STRIVE FOR "MAGAZINE" LOOK - Everyday signs of living can turn buyers off." LANDSCAPING & EXTERIOR "TURN YOUR GARDEN INTO A SANCTUARY" "GARDEN COURTYARD SETS STAGE FOR ENTIRE HOME" INTERESTING SOLUTIONS TO SPECIFIC PROBLEMS "EVEN FAKE FIREPLACES ADD WARMTH" "FLOOR REFINISHING WITH FURNITURE IN PLACE" "SKYLIGHTS OFTEN DON'T SUIT OLDER HOMES" "GET THE SLANT ON STAIRWELL CLOSETS "ATTENTION FOR SCULPTURE" "MAKE THE MOST OF CENTER POST" "TOO MUCH MIRROR, MIRROR ON THE WALL" "PLIGHT OF THE ONE BATHROOM HOUSE" "THE LOOK OF COMFORT WITHOUT THE HASSLE" - Arranging bed pillows so they're beautiful and sumptuous "ENLIGHTENING IDEAS FOR CHANDELIERS - Figuring out style, placement for best effect "LET DINING TABLE TAKE CENTER STAGE - Should the chandelier be in the center of the room? "UNIFYING FLOORS THROUGHOUT HOUSE" "UPDATING RANCH HOUSE WITH NEW FLOORS AND LIGHTING" "BLOCKING OUT THE SUN WITHOUT LOSING THE VIEW " - Create an effect that looks great, maintains visibility, reduces glare" 'REMODELING A FIREPLACE CAN TRANSFORM A LIVING ROOM" "FLAT SCREEN TV FITS INTO DECOR" - Furniture placement is one part of the puzzle; how the sceen looks when blank is another "USING ONE WALL TO THE FULLEST" - Designing a wall unit "ARRANGING FAMILY PHOTOS, STEP BY STEP" "FABRIC TRANSFORMS MIRRORED DOORS" "TAKE A TRIP DOWN THE HALL" - Interesting design for long hallway & mirrored closet doors in small rooms "A DESIGNER'S LOOK AT KITCHEN COUNTER TOPS FROM GRANITE TO GLASS" "WHAT ABOUT THE JUICE? WHEN LAMPS AREN'T NEAR OUTLETS" "PRIVACY FILM OR ROLLER SHADE CAN UPDATE A FRENCH WINDOW" "RESCUE A LONG HALLWAY FROM TUNNEL VISION" "MIX WINDOW TREATMENTS TO STAY WARM" "ONE BATHROOM HOME? MAKE IT ATTRACTIVE AND MAKE IT WORK!" BACK TO TOP

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