Author Archives: paulaberg

Stylish Media Room Designs

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Better technology means that we have access to more sophisticated entertainment options in the home than ever before. For this reason, media rooms have grown in popularity. When designing these media rooms for mountain style homes, I stayed true to the contemporary rustic flavor, while providing space for the best new technology. Here is an example of how a well-designed media room combines style with function.

A media room need not be hidden away in a basement or spare room. In this open plan home shown below, it connects with an adjacent bar and dining area.

I chose seating with both comfort and beauty in mind and arranged them in a semi-circle to stimulate conversation when the large screen television is off. Extra throw pillows add a colorful and fun touch.

In keeping with the media room theme and mountain style, I used a customized entertainment center with a warm wood finish. The television is placed naturally at the center and at a comfortable eye level. Illuminated compartments surrounding the television provide perfect spaces for displaying valued art, which adds important visual interest to the room when it’s not used for viewing media. The closed cabinetry at the bottom serves as a storage area for the sound system, DVDs, television guides and other related items.

The angle shown below accentuates how roomy this media room really is. Nevertheless, it still retains a sense of intimacy and separateness from the dining area. While the spaces are clearly differentiated, I maintained design cohesion by making sure the wood finishes and furniture styles blended harmoniously.

A scenic view offered by the windows enhances the expansive feeling, while the furniture arrangement and use of natural colors keep everything cozy.

Even in an open plan when the dining area is close by, surfaces to place snacks and beverages are important in a room designed for entertainment. I included a large wood coffee table and an end table for this purpose.

Let us bring you the best in media room design to match your lifestyle. Contact Paula Berg Design Associates today to learn more.

Create a Cozy Bedroom Seating Area

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Cozy seating areas give master bedrooms a suite-like, cozy ambience similar to a five-star retreat. Even if the seating area is rarely used, it softens the space and creates a more relaxing atmosphere. Here are a few examples of how I’ve used simple seating arrangements to enhance bedroom designs.

A fireplace makes any room extra cozy. Adding chairs enhances this warm, cozy feeling even more. Here, I placed a stuffed chair with an ottoman in front of the fireplace, making sure not to obstruct the view from the bed. This chair offers a place for relaxing with a good book before retiring for the evening.

In this room, we added an over-sized chair and ottoman and angled them towards the bed rather than the fire. The fireplace is still in view from the chair, but this arrangement allows easy conversation between someone seated and someone relaxing on the bed. This arrangement also creates a graceful curve, increasing the room’s aesthetic appeal.

I used a small but comfortable chair to add a flexible seating option to this small space. The pale yellow-green upholstery connects with the bedding and curtain to create a balanced design. A padded bench at the foot of the bed provides elegance, as well as additional seating for slipping into shoes or slippers in the morning.

This room’s scenic view entices its occupants to linger. In the corner opposite the bed, I created a small conversation area using two stuffed chairs and an oversized decorative lamp. The resulting area is perfect for enjoying a beverage, having a quiet conversation, or spending some time reading and enjoying the view.

This built-in window seat is like a pillow-laden nest, ideal for taking breaks away from a busy modern life. I placed a chair in a corner space, illuminated by a larger lamp, to provide an extra place for reading or conversing. This arrangement is space saving and keeps the rest of the room open.

If your bedroom or entire home needs a fresh new style, let my interior design firm in Park City, UT and Scottsdale, AZ help you achieve your dream space. Contact us at Paula Berg Design Associates today for more information.

Host a Dinner to Remember

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Sharing a delicious meal and warm conversations can create fond memories to last a lifetime. This is only one of the reasons why dinner parties are so popular and why attention is paid to hosting the perfect one. The right kitchen and dining room design is essential for such events, which is why I’ve combined both aesthetic and functional appeal in these designs to facilitate the best experience for hosts and guests.

An ideal kitchen bar has ample space for creating cocktails and convenient storage for all related supplies, including glassware. I designed this one with those features in mind and made sure that it was accessible, yet separate from other kitchen and dining areas. This layout permits drink preparation to be unhindered by other kitchen activities. The absence of doors is practical, as it’s difficult to navigate a door when carrying drinks to a dining area. Plus, this layout promotes a seamless feeling to the design.

Floating shelves and glass-front cabinetry provide a place to display fine drink ware, while closed cabinetry below provide sufficient storage for blenders, bottles and other similar items. Installing lights beneath the top cabinetry helps illuminate the countertop, offering plenty of lighting where it’s needed.

The dining area should be easy to access from the kitchen bar, and it should be as comfortable as it is beautiful. While I add unique elements to each space, I make sure to maintain design continuity and stay true to the home’s style.

Large windows in this dining area provide a breathtaking view and ample light during the day. For extra illumination – vital for evening events – I used a rustic chandelier and candles, as well as lamps and other supplemental lighting.

The solid wood table comfortably sits 10 people, and the wood design fits in with the interior’s mountain style. Good seating invites guests to savor the meal and helps stimulate conversation. I also left a generous amount of open space around the table for easy navigation.

For the best in mountain home interiors, contact Paula Berg Design Associates in Park City, UT or Scottsdale, AZ today. We can help you achieve a kitchen and dining room design that will allow you to easily host dinner parties your guests’ won’t forget.

Prepping Your Powder Room

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Sometimes, a powder room is treated only in terms of its function as an extra bathroom. However, since guests often frequent this space, aesthetic appeal is very important. I always keep this in mind when designing these hidden jewels.

Powder rooms in mountain homes can easily reflect a warm, inviting style. Here, a stonewall offers rustic luxury that’s enhanced by a wood vanity. A touch of greenery atop the vanity brings a splash of color, while a mirror flanked by two decorative lights makes the room feel open and airy.

Although a powder room may be small, lavish design elements used inside and out can make a big statement. For this mountain home’s powder room, I added an ornately carved doorframe to draw the eye and add the right amount of rustic appeal. Upon opening the door, the elegant vanity, mirror and fixtures are immediately revealed.

One way to make a small powder room feel more welcoming is to add decor that represents nature. Earth tones, leaf and branch patterns can easily fit into a mountain home’s signature look. These, combined with natural wood finishes, bring the rich aesthetic of mountain landscapes indoors.

While earth tone palettes are used in many rustic style powder rooms, no two rooms look alike. The combination of colors and this vanity style has a tremendous impact on the room’s appearance. Since the vanity is the most prominent feature in the powder room, I choose them carefully. This one has clean lines that fit seamlessly into the powder room’s corner. Despite its position, the vanity’s style and colors remain interesting, while the mirror and candelabra enhance the mountain aesthetic.

Often, small rooms lack space for many decorative elements. Here, we chose a vanity that makes a design statement on its own. Heavy wood keeps the vanity grounded, while the mirror above enlarges the space. The rustic candelabrum above maintains the room’s design flow.

If you’re looking for personalized, professional interior designs, turn to Paula Berg Design Associates, or contact us today with your needs and questions.

Making Room for Guests

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A well-appointed guest room offers visitors comfort and beautiful style during their stay. These surprisingly important areas can even make an overall impression about your home. With this in mind, I design guest bedrooms with the same amount of care as other areas in the home.

Colors have an immediate impact on the eye, so I make sure every palette evokes good feelings and reflects the home’s style. In this ample, airy interior, deep blue duvets and warm wood bed frames lend soothing luxuriant energy, while multicolored pillows add vibrancy. To pull the design together, I made sure the beds’ colors were represented in the throw rug and the seating in the adjoining room. Fresh flowers are always a popular touch as they show guests you care.

A mountain style home lends itself to lodge-themed bedrooms. In this case, I included a bed with a rustic wood frame to set the stage with complementing nightstands. Gold bedding and decorative accents brighten the room, while setting a warm and inviting tone. Interesting lamps add character to the space, while small, practical details, such as the wine and glass holder and the box of tissues, add to a guest’s comfort.

Too often, a guest bedroom is treated as an afterthought. However, if you want your guests to feel like royalty, let your respect for them be reflected in your design. With exposed beams on the ceiling, a hand carved door, majestic bed and storage chest, this room seems fit for a king. We placed the bed in the center to emphasize the main attraction and to keep the room from feeling too large and empty. Colorful bouquets and lamps enliven the room, bringing cheer.

For beautiful guest bedroom designs, as well as everything else, count on us at Paula Berg Design Associates to make your dream home a reality. Contact us today to learn more.

Bunk Up in Your Mountain Home

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Bunk beds are hard to beat when you’re trying to save space and increase functionality. While they’re particularly suitable for children’s bedrooms, the right design can also enhance guest rooms in contemporary mountain homes. When I incorporate bunks beds into room designs, I do so with both aesthetic appeal and practical needs in mind.

Custom bunk beds give this children’s room a fun, summer camp feel. In this room, I added several matching bunk beds in rustic blue and brown finishes to provide the perfect sleeping area for young cowboys and mountain rangers. A lot of play space is spared with under-bed storage and bunks instead of standard twin beds.

For a couple’s guest room, a double or king-sized bed is more suitable than a twin-sized one. In this room, I incorporated custom bunks that have larger-sized beds on the bottom and twin beds at the top to offer versatility for families. In addition, the retreat-like feel of bunk beds fits right in with the home’s mountain style.

We chose a light wood finish to maintain a spacious feeling in this room. Additionally, practical features, such as built-in shelves and under bed storage, give guests a designated space to keep their belongings. These beds also boast reading lamps for an extra boost of functionality.

Adding connected, built-in bunk beds in this room transformed the space into a functional retreat that can sleep up to six people. Colorful floral bedding adds a feminine touch, the look of the room could be changed significantly by switching out the bedding.

The scalloping on these bed frames adds style, but it also promotes the feeling that each bed is a private sanctuary. By using bunk beds, the room can comfortably accommodate twice as many visitors than if we used standard beds.

When you want to update your mountain home bedroom, look to us at Paula Berg Design Associates. Contact us today to learn more about our design services.

Unique Credenzas Add Interest to Formal Dining Areas

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Is there a room in your home that could use an interesting focal point? Adding a smart, multi-functional piece like a credenza can add not only style and function, but also extra storage just where you need it most.

Contrary to popular belief, a credenza isn’t the same thing as a buffet. It’s a rather wide set of cabinets that sit low to the floor on slim legs, sometimes with sliding doors. Here’s just one way a credenza can complete the look and feel of your rustic mountain home.

This room is ideal on so many levels. The dining room strikes a happy medium with handsome, strong furniture and wood finishes adorned by a simple floral arrangement and two pretty landscapes scenes on the wall and, of course, on the surface of the credenza.

If you focus on just the credenza, you’ll begin to realize just how powerful this one piece of furniture is. As a strong focal point, it doesn’t overwhelm the room. It fits perfectly up against the wall as if it was built specifically for this spot. It’s rare to find a piece that sits so snugly!

From dinner parties to holiday gatherings, the surface of this credenza is a convenient extra tabletop for everything from hors d’oeuvres to drinks and condiments. For families that prefer mealtime with no distractions, everyone can sit their smartphones and tablets on the credenza until the meal is complete.

This credenza is also the perfect conversation starter. Because of its unique face, guests will surely ask about this one-of-a-kind piece, making for lively conversation at the table. How delightful! When the party’s over, it can store platters and other silverware you may not want on display.

If you’re unsure how unique pieces of furniture can blend into your home, Paula Berg Design Associates can help. Contact our experienced teams in Park City, UT or Scottsdale, AZ to discuss how our expertise can be of service to you!

Rustic Refinement with Natural Stone

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When applied to mountain home design, natural stone packs a powerful punch, even in places where you least expect it. Adding texture, drama and warmth, you can easily achieve a multi-faceted space with this one feature.

It may not be fall right now, but this entryway would be quite the dream to walk into on a crisp, cold October day. It’s quite mesmerizing in a unique way. Just think of the complexity involved to perfect each piece of stone in this unified design. If you truly admire architecture and its flexibility, a stone feature in your home will represent so much more than just something pretty to look at.

It’s not every day that stacked stone is seen inside the home. Often accentuating pools and landscapes, this bathroom pulls a lot inspiration from the outdoors. If there was ever a place to add an unexpected touch at home, natural stone in this private space is no doubt in a league of its own. Character and charm proudly lead the way here. If anything, this bathroom should serve as inspiration. Stone can live anywhere in the home!

In both images, you’ll notice how these designs are great examples of incorporating stacked stone in a random, natural pattern. There’s no need for grout or any type of epoxy to make the stones perfectly symmetrical.  In both cases, stones are arranged much like how you’d find them in their natural habitat. This is what makes natural stone in mountain homes so realistic and authentic. Another feature you may not have noticed is that each floor also incorporates more rugged stone.

Think beyond your typical fireplace with a stone surround and stone incorporated into landscapes. Could your bedroom, bathroom or any other space use a touch of mountain flair? Natural stone might be what the doctor ordered. Paula Berg Design Associates would love to help you achieve the mountain style home you want and deserve. Contact one of our showrooms in Park City or Scottsdale for more information about letting us spearhead your project.

Fresh Floral Arrangements Bring Fresh Style

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In the world of interior design, trends come and go all the time. From bold color blocking and shades of gray to Pantone’s Color of the Year, there’s always a new fad that eventually has to make way for something new.

And then there’s florals.

No matter the space, the fresh presence of flowers breathes life into the atmosphere. Whether it’s live blooms in a vase or tucked neatly in a basket, the elegance of classic flowers never goes out of style.

Anyone who opposes the idea of fresh flowers as decor is probably thinking a bit too hard about what can and should be a very simple concept. Sometimes, all it takes is a hint of floral essence to top off a well-designed space. Clean, understated arrangements can help create a surprisingly modern look and feel. Allow some of our projects to demonstrate what this means.

Should you add florals in an unexpected space? Absolutely! This very handsome bar nook is characterized by dark chocolate wood finishes and a neutral color scheme. However, touch of femininity can always make even the most macho of spaces a little more interesting.

This thin sculpture of a floral arrangement makes a huge statement. Notice how the white bloom contrasts so nicely with the floral painting in the background.

Oftentimes, floral arrangements are so distinct that less really is more. This clean, zen-like bathroom only needs a hint of natural flair.

Another way to use florals in decor is to make them the statement piece in a sea of neutral, earthy tones. The eye is naturally drawn to this coffee table where the only impression of color is the greenery.

This small yet bold floral arrangement is the perfect contrast to what lies just outside the window — the hard coldness of concrete. Here, a space heavily defined by straight lines is slightly softened with florals.

Let Paula Berg Design Associates help enhance the aesthetic of your mountain home with florals and other natural elements. Contact one of our design teams in Park City, UT or Scottsdale, AZ today!

Bold Floral Prints for Your Luxury Home

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Spring is on the horizon and that can only mean one thing — floral prints! Many homeowners cringe at the thought of florals in the home, but these prints don’t have to be present in every nook and cranny of every room. In fact, we’d advise against that. However, there are many modern ways to bring the energy of florals into your home without making your design look dated.

This blue and white room screams coastal, nautical New England. It smartly showcases a fresh design technique that’s not easily approached, like mixing and matching floral prints. Although the colors are identical, there are a few different floral patterns co-mingling in this single space. The trick here is careful coordination, not outright duplication. Lastly, this seaside inspired space is proof that you can have a mountain style home with influence from other regions!

Here is a more understated example of how you can still pay homage to the floral patterns you so desperately crave. The window treatments, pillows and chairs all share the same print, but it’s not overwhelming given the totality of this large breakfast nook. If you’re worried about overpowering a room with too much color or pattern, err on the side of caution by using florals to accessorize here and there.

There are lots of other ways to incorporate bold floral patterns that’ll bring wonderful energy and vibrant colors to any space. Flower power can be achieved with everything from wallpaper, China and dinnerware to artwork, table linens and other accessories.

So, what’s your flower obsession? From romantic roses and tulips to funky sunflowers and dainty daisies, Paula Berg Design Associates can bring life, color and interest to your luxury mountain home. Contact one of our offices in Park City, UT or Scottsdale, AZ to speak with our team about your home’s design needs!