Burlingame, CA is a highly sought-after neighborhood twenty minutes south of San Francisco. It’s the perfect place to raise a family—in fact, when a young family outgrew their space, they decided to move only a couple of blocks away. “The home has a rich history, beautiful bones, and a stunning street presence. So much so, that it was a home the client had her eye on for years, as she passed by it on her daily walks, so it was rather serendipitous when the home went on the market,” designer Jenny Judge tells us. Jenny was tasked with updating the home’s dated formal living room into an organic, modern oasis.
“The couple loves to host and entertain, always welcoming friends, family and neighbors into their home and providing a beautiful venue for school fundraisers and family events,” Jenny says. “The goal was to create a space where they could leave any clutter behind to enjoy a hot cup of coffee by the morning light or a glass of wine by the fire at night. It also needed a warm feminine vibe, to contrast the newly renovated man-cave in another area of the home.”
The first order of business was replacing the fireplace. “We refaced an orange marble surround with Matte Glazed Thin Brick from Fireclay Tile in the White Mountains + Black Hills colorways for a fresh look,” Jenny says. They also removed a heavy built-in cabinet and added wainscotting to wrap the room, painted in White Dove by Benjamin Moore. To further the streamlined look, heavy window coverings came down and top down + bottom-up roman shades from The Shade Store added privacy without compromising natural light. Along the windows, a neutral indoor/outdoor performance fabric from Tonic Living provides additional seating for guests.
Next, it was time for Jenny to flex her creativity. “We incorporated a beautiful soft but moody wallpaper throughout the room by Emma Hayes Textiles that makes you feel wrapped in a cloud upon entrance,” she says. “We also worked with ceramic artist Emerson Ceramics to create a custom wall hanging above the fireplace.” For furnishings, Restoration Hardware’s Cloud sofa is upholstered in a nubby Italian boucle. Jenny also brought in a leather and white oak ottoman from Maiden Home, matching armchairs from Lulu + Georgia, and black cane and wood sideboard from Burke Decor.
“Every inch of the space was intentionally curated to create a relaxed, yet refined space layered in texture and dressed with soft calming neutrals to provide the utmost comfort and relaxing vibe,” Jenny explains. And while it took about six months from start to finish, the designer says it was worth the wait. “The client was so happy with the room’s transformation into a calm, peaceful and a relaxing retreat.”
