A Modern Home Renovation with Margarita Bravo

A MODERN HOME RENOVATION WITH MARGARITA BRAVO

Design by MARGARITA BRAVO|Photography by TAHVORY BUNTING

Q: What were the needs of your clients and how did you consider them when designing this space?

A: The family needed to make this a functional home because they have three kids and a dog. We wanted to accomplish their desired aesthetic, which was more of a farmhouse style, while at the same time taking advantage of elements and architectural features of the home that could be reused and repurposed.

Q: There’s a lot of beautiful artwork, vintage fixtures, and handcrafted pieces throughout the home. Is there a story behind this and how did it inspire the spaces you created?

A: Many of these elements were brought from the clients’ West Coast home, and our job was to add home décor and a few furniture pieces to make the spaces look finished and reflect their personalities at the same time.

Q: What are some things to keep in mind when designing an inviting, yet functional, entryway?

A: We wanted to open up the space as much as possible and create focal points with the use of light fixtures, interesting railings for the stairs, home décor accessories, and art. Make sure that you are adding elements that will work for the client’s lifestyle, like entry consoles and closets for coats, purses, and hats.

Q: What was the inspiration behind the color palette of warm neutrals and dark finishes throughout the house?

A: The inspiration was a farmhouse with aging elements and creating that contrast with bright walls and darker elements.

Q: What made you choose these gorgeous golden-toned wood floors that are installed throughout the house?

A: We kept the existing hardwood floor that had a medium to dark traditional stain. We all agreed that the floors were in good shape, keeping in mind that we wanted to reuse as many existing elements as possible.

Q: Talk to us a little bit about the idea of playing with texture and shapes in the living room.

A: Originally the room had a lackluster fireplace, and we wanted to add dimension by bumping the fireplace out with framing and drywall from floor to ceiling. We tiled around with white brick and built a mantle on-site. For this client, this formal living room functioned better as a formal living and dining room, so by adding the halfspear pendants to the dining area we created the definition between the two spaces.

Q: The bathroom is stunning from the natural slate tile floors to the black metal finish details. Talk us through your process of designing a spa-like bathroom.

A: In my mind, a master bathroom always needs to have that spa-like feeling, so with the dark tile, we reflected the edgy personality that our clients have in the sense of a modern-looking bathroom, but at the same time having those organic-looking tiles. We evoked the spa-like feeling with the oversized shower that has two shower heads that function independently and also the freestanding tub with the wood elements that bring organic warmth into the space.

Q: We love the way you play with natural light and different kinds of lighting in the home, especially in the open-concept kitchen and living room. What are your top tips when it comes to selecting lighting for your design?

A: For me, lighting is the cherry on top, the final touch that elevates the space. Sometimes lighting gets neglected when I think it should be the other way around—take the time to find the focal piece on the horizontal plane. That doesn’t mean it has to be the more expensive piece, but it has to be a well-thought-out and intentional piece.

Q: This home renovation features a lot of natural wood finishes from the dining room chairs to custom shelving and a built-in oven hood in the kitchen. How do you strike a balance between different wood finishes to tie a place together?

A: It’s important to have wood finishes but also have other neutrals throughout so you are not overwhelming the space with wood. The balance between woods, metals, stones, and tiles and how you find that perfect balance to create a well-rounded space—that is unique. So, using wood the right way elevates the space and brings that warmth and organic feeling into the home.