Welcome to Amplified Apartments Star, a special edition of ForRent’s Amplified Apartments series, featuring all-star bloggers with trained eyes and wise words. No questions asked.
In four short years, blogger Cristin Bisbee Priest has made a place holder of a site into a popular blog of inspiration and creative effort. Its name: Simplified Bee. She’s also an interior designer whose creations fleck the North California coast she calls home. Priest’s spaces are a combination of function and vivid, charming design.
In San Mateo, one client room speaks volumes of Bisbee Priest’s hallmark organization and color ingenuity. With a layering of geometric patterns and prints, Cristin was able to fade two functions into one. Her task: creating a guest room and play room in one 140 square foot space. Designing for two demographics requires aesthetic precision and a good eye. With the right tactics, and the latter skills in tow, Cristin found multipurpose success.
Take a peek inside the brains behind Simplified Bee. Here, Cristin describes her tips to achieving a fully-realized room, no matter the scale.
If you could describe the room’s design concept using 5 words what would they be?
Contemporary, fresh, playful, multi-functional, and colorful.
What’s your process like when creating a design concept?
It’s a combination of my client’s needs, vision and style. I start by creating a floor plan to determine furniture scale and placement – so important for any space, but smaller spaces in particular. Then I recommend fabrics and paint colors that are in line with the rest of the home, functional for this space, and are within budget. The design process typically flows from there.
Do you have an overarching design philosophy?
A room needs to be inviting, functional, and visually balanced, all while reflecting my client’s style.
As an interior designer, you’ve honed the ability to decorate rooms and homes that both fit their owners and represent them. What’s the key to understanding someone’s personality and design style?
Thank you! It’s not always easy to do. To get to know new clients better, I ask them to answer a detailed questionnaire and tear or pin images of spaces, furnishing, and home décor items they love. Pinterest has been an amazing place, where I can collaborate with both local and virtual clients.
In smaller spaces, it seems almost counter intuitive to use so many patterns, but they work together so beautifully here. How were you able to use so many geometric prints without having them clash?
The one’s in this room also coordinate nicely because the colors are all pulled from the same palette of blues and lime green.
“Mixing patterns can be tricky. Staggering their scale and shape is key.”(Tweet This)
Are there any guidelines you follow when designing in tighter confines?
When designing small spaces, I seek furnishing that can multi-task. The daybed in this room does that. It serves as a sofa for the kids and a bed for guests. I had a custom cover designed in a durable Sunrbella fabric that’s kid-friendly. The contrasting white piping gives it a tailored look that adults love.
How do you toe the line between clutter and decor?
There is a fine line. Avoid a lot of knick knacks scattered throughout a space. It’s more visually pleasing to display collections in grouping.
“Only display what you love or use on a regular basis. “(Tweet This)
What are your go to stores for home furnishings and decor?
There are so many stores on my go-to list when sourcing for clients, including: San Francisco Design Center, Serena & Lily, West Elm, Layla Grayce, Shop Ten 25, Lulu & Georgia, HomeGoods, One Kings Lane, Etsy, the list goes on!
What’s your number one tip for solving the small space problem?
Think vertically. Storage is always a challenge in small spaces and adding vertical shelving helps in two ways: it provides needed storage and its height balances the room visually.
Simplified Bee is dedicated to home organization and design solutions. What’s the single greatest design solution you’ve created for yourself or a client?
I am most proud of some of the custom built-in units I’ve designed for clients. They are really a balance of form and function that’s unique to the needs of my client and the space. It’s always rewarding to see the finished product!
You’ve spent over four years at the helm of your blog covering interior design. Who or where do you look to for that constant design inspiration?
That’s easy. The work of textile, furniture, fine artists and fashion designers I admire.
For more interior design ingenuity from Cristin Bisbee Priest, see the star bloggers site, here.
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