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Jennifer Messina Interiors
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Sponsoreret indhold
Pro Spotlight: How to Remake a Fixer Into Your Dream Home
A Mill Valley designer shares ways to take spaces from so-so to stunning
Sponsoreret indhold
Who: Jennifer Messina of Dreamlife Design
Where: Mill Valley, California
In her own words: “At the end of the day, I want people to feel like I’ve taken care of them. I want them to look around their homes and think, ‘Wow, it’s really an expression of who I am.’ ”
Sometimes a home is in your ideal location, but the interiors are a bit forlorn. Other times you adore the overall character of an older space, yet the details have been neglected for years. Instead of simply walking away from a purchase, consider these overlooked spaces as new opportunities. “Start fresh and think about how you really want to live,” Mill Valley-based designer Jennifer Messina says. “Just go into a fixer with a clean mind and a plan. Be excited, but be realistic.”
Where: Mill Valley, California
In her own words: “At the end of the day, I want people to feel like I’ve taken care of them. I want them to look around their homes and think, ‘Wow, it’s really an expression of who I am.’ ”
Sometimes a home is in your ideal location, but the interiors are a bit forlorn. Other times you adore the overall character of an older space, yet the details have been neglected for years. Instead of simply walking away from a purchase, consider these overlooked spaces as new opportunities. “Start fresh and think about how you really want to live,” Mill Valley-based designer Jennifer Messina says. “Just go into a fixer with a clean mind and a plan. Be excited, but be realistic.”
Starting small. As a child, Messina was entranced by interior design and her prized possession was a homemade dollhouse. “Everyone in my family contributed. It gave me precious time with my father, sitting side-by-side, building a house for me,” she says. “My mother, grandmother and uncle made the bedding, wallpaper and miniature paintings for it. The gift of their time, attention and resources was the hallmark of my childhood.”
A passion for transformation. Messina bought an Edwardian-style duplex in the Bernal Heights neighborhood of San Francisco when she was 28, taking the space back to its glory days — with a fresh touch. “I added flea market furniture, vintage light fixtures, new tile, then sold it for a really good price,” she says. That was the start of what Messina calls her fixer obsession: “I see potential everywhere I go,” she says.
Ready to give your home its own happily ever after? Messina shares her tips below.
Ready to give your home its own happily ever after? Messina shares her tips below.
1. Consider Your Feelings
Decide how you want your space to affect you, Messina says. “Think about how you want to feel when you walk in the door.”
This 1970s house in Mill Valley used to be decorated with dark wood, carpet and tiny windows. The new owner wanted it to feel romantic, inviting and bohemian. Opening up the back wall to the deck with a glass folding door immediately expanded the space and let in light. A hammock hangs indoors as a bit of whimsy. Wide-plank white oak floors, white walls and a Belgian linen couch enhance the sense of airy serenity.
See more of this project
Decide how you want your space to affect you, Messina says. “Think about how you want to feel when you walk in the door.”
This 1970s house in Mill Valley used to be decorated with dark wood, carpet and tiny windows. The new owner wanted it to feel romantic, inviting and bohemian. Opening up the back wall to the deck with a glass folding door immediately expanded the space and let in light. A hammock hangs indoors as a bit of whimsy. Wide-plank white oak floors, white walls and a Belgian linen couch enhance the sense of airy serenity.
See more of this project
2. Decide on Function
Do you want to sit and read, have dance parties or host family dinners at your home? “Think about what you want to do there,” Messina says.
The owners of this Mill Valley home wanted a place where they could cook and have friends over, but their kitchen was a cavernous space without any sense of purpose. To make it the hub of the home, Messina anchored the galley kitchen with a large island, seen here. She added a double oven, range, fridge and sink for ease of use, then deepened cabinets for additional storage.
See more of this project
Do you want to sit and read, have dance parties or host family dinners at your home? “Think about what you want to do there,” Messina says.
The owners of this Mill Valley home wanted a place where they could cook and have friends over, but their kitchen was a cavernous space without any sense of purpose. To make it the hub of the home, Messina anchored the galley kitchen with a large island, seen here. She added a double oven, range, fridge and sink for ease of use, then deepened cabinets for additional storage.
See more of this project
3. Create a Harmonious Look
Come up with an overall design concept, Messina says. “Colors, materials, finishes, hardware — they should all relate to each other and have a common thread.”
A young family with four kids moved into this poorly maintained 1897 Victorian home in Mill Valley and wanted it to appear sophisticated, but with a nod to the past. Messina’s team refinished the floors in ebony, then painted all the walls white. The wife’s collection of vintage Parisian lights is scattered throughout. Materials are era-appropriate but entirely modern, such as silk rugs, leather chairs and a mohair sofa.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Jennifer Messina and examples of her work, visit Dreamlife Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Come up with an overall design concept, Messina says. “Colors, materials, finishes, hardware — they should all relate to each other and have a common thread.”
A young family with four kids moved into this poorly maintained 1897 Victorian home in Mill Valley and wanted it to appear sophisticated, but with a nod to the past. Messina’s team refinished the floors in ebony, then painted all the walls white. The wife’s collection of vintage Parisian lights is scattered throughout. Materials are era-appropriate but entirely modern, such as silk rugs, leather chairs and a mohair sofa.
See more of this project
More: For more information on Jennifer Messina and examples of her work, visit Dreamlife Design’s Houzz profile.
This story was written by the Houzz Sponsored Content team.
Jenn resides in Marin County, where she developed her design studio after personally remodeling and building 14... Læs mere
Anmeldelse fra Susanne Lambert:
Working with Jennifer Messina Interiors was a delightful experience from start to finish. Their attention to detail and commitment to excellence are truly commendable.