ALL ABOUT BALANCE

Designer: Kelly Martin Interiors

Photography: Meghan Beierle-O'Brien

Text: Andrea Danelak

Balance was the name of the game when renovating this gorgeous craftsman-style home. Kelly Martin Interiors took on the challenge of balancing new design features and the home’s original architectural style, along with the homeowners’ distinct preferences. The result: a bold, clean vibe with charming accents.

When Kelly Martin first met with the homeowner couple, they had been living in the small craftsmanstyle home for about a year. Their collaboration started out modestly, with an initial plan to redesign the kitchen—which needed a substantial makeover. “The original kitchen was falling apart; it was in terrible shape, including the appliances,” says Martin. “It all needed to be ripped out.”

Located in a West Hollywood neighborhood in Los Angeles, the home sits alongside others also steeped in history and character. “It’s now a fun, trendy, walkable area with great restaurants and shopping. It’s urban but still has that quaint neighborhood feeling,” says Martin, who originally started out on the build side of the design industry before opening Kelly Martin Interiors in 2014.

Though the kitchen remained the biggest priority, the project soon expanded into the rest of the home. Martin looked to marry the couple’s distinct tastes while keeping the design elements true to the house’s architectural style. “One person was a bit more classic in what they liked and the other was a bit more industrial in their style,” she says. “Some of the classic, clean elements [represent] half of the couple, while a lot of the iron, more masculine features catered to the other half.”

Because of the nature of the construction and craftsman style, the rooms were starkly divided. The only living space was a tiny living room at the front of the house, with a guest bedroom right beside it. To create a larger living area, they decided to tear down the wall between the two rooms. “They lost a guest room but essentially gained a more casual living space, including a cozy reading nook next to the fireplace,” says Martin.

The overall tone of the project’s design came from an unexpected place: a colorful ceramic dish set. “When we were talking about the design, the couple said, ‘We have these beautiful dishes from our wedding.’ That kind of set the tone because we wanted the design to feel a little bit earthy but also a little bit classic. That was one of the things that inspired me.”

As part of the creative process, Martin looked for ways to improve upon some of the home’s stunning original features. “Generally, I like to take a walk through the house to see what they already have. I tell [the client] to point out what they really love and what they’re embarrassed about,” she says. “From there, I can get a sense of their personality

While backsplash tile remains neutral and timeless, the cabinet color adds a dash of drama. A complementary cookbook nook adds interest as well as a place for favorite recipes and easy-to-find cutting boards.