A ground-up spec home in Eagle Rock is anything but ordinary thanks to an effortlessly layered design by Kirsten Blazek.
“We chose a large pendant that had an airy architectural element to it in order to highlight the high ceilings but didn’t block the natural light,” says Blazek of the living room lighting. “The ceilings were clad in white oak to match the flooring.”
THE PROJECT
“This house started as a tiny baby,” says designer Kirsten Blazek of the small Eagle Rock bungalow she reimagined and rebuilt with developer Walreed Delawari. To maximize the home’s potential, the duo set out to transform the petite abode into a much larger Japandi-style spec home. “We really wanted to lean into the clean, architectural lines of the home while making it feel warm, layered and inviting,” Blazek says. In addition to the main home, the team planned to build a large ADU behind it, complete with a large kitchen, living room, dining room and bedroom.
The large ADU was finished to the same standard of the main home.
THE PLAN
Although significant changes were planned, it was important that the home still fit into the neighborhood of singles-tory bungalow Craftsmens. “We made sure it was clad with wood and painted in dark green, so everything was cohesive,” says Blazek, who adds that they originally painted the exterior in a light color, then changed it after seeing how much it stood out. The team planned to build a second floor at the front to house the primary suite and incorporate pitched ceilings in the back. “We wanted to create a house that felt modern but not expected for a new build,” she says of the style direction.
Handcrafted details abound throughout the home.
THE PALETTE
Blazek incorporated an earthy color palette throughout, with plenty of contrast to make things pop. Mullican Hardwood’s Castillion Collection flooring in pale shade Monroe Bisque runs throughout, with millwork in a slightly darker color. “We didn’t match the kitchen or any of the millwork to the floor color,” she shares. “We made it a little deeper and richer, so it complimented it but didn’t match.” For the stone, Blazek stuck to softer shades. “All the bathrooms had their own color palette, but they were aligned—soft pink, terra cotta... everything is muted and soft, and there are no patterns.” Throughout, there’s an attention to texture instead—and plenty of unexpected touches.
The dining room’s tile and cabinetry flows seamlessly from the adjacent kitchen.
THE DETAILS
Featuring Azul Rose stone from Stone Mart, cabinetry by Portal Bella Design and appliances from Snyder Diamond, the kitchen illustrates Blazek’s deft use of contrast, both in color and shape.
“The home was quite linear overall and felt a little hard to me,” she says. “I wanted to make sure there were soft elements in the space, which led to the design of the semi-circle-shaped island. The ribbed detail on this is another way to add layering and dimension to a new build.” The darker island also helped to separate the dining room in the open-plan space.
The fully custom-designed kitchen contains different shades of wood and a grooved, curved island in black.
Since all of the main living spaces flowed into each other, Blazek chose a prominent light fixture for the living room that was architectural and interesting, but didn’t block the view out to the adjacent covered patio. “The ceilings were tall and pitched,” she explains. “So I wanted to make sure I put something there that anchored the space without being visually overwhelming.”
To offset the home’s linear nature, Blazek incorporated curvy shapes via the kitchen island, the lighting and circular windows.
THE HIGHLIGHTS
“My favorite room is the powder room,” says Blazek, who also calls out the kitchen. “I love the color in there and the texture of the tile. Also, opening the front door and seeing the view down the hall as you walk in is a great moment.”
Both of the home’s light-filled guest rooms include thoughtful details like built-in desks and wooden shelving.
THE OUTCOME
“When we finished, it felt like a tranquil and peaceful haven with great light and warmth from all of the wood throughout,” Blazek shares. “It felt exactly as we imagined it would and sold quickly for $600,000 over the list price. I was so proud of my team for their execution of the design and am incredibly grateful to everyone who worked so hard on the project.”
The home’s three-and-a-half bathrooms are all slightly different. “Each bathroom has its own color palette, but all have soft muted colors that work well together,” says Blazek.
DESIGN DETAILS
TYPE
Single-family home
LOCATION
Eagle Rock
INTERIOR DESIGN
Kirsten Blazek, A 1000 X Better
a1000xbetter.com
FURNISHINGS
Annie Carolin, Pride of Place Design
prideofplacedesign.com
BUILDER
Waleed Delawari, Delawari Investment Group
delawari.com
MILLWORK
Gary Culotti, Porta Bella Design
portabelladesign.com
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT
Sarita Jaccard Design
saritajaccarddesign.com
The home’s three-and-a-half bathrooms are all slightly different. “Each bathroom has its own color palette, but all have soft muted colors that work well together,” says Blazek.
RESOURCES
BENJAMIN MOORE
Paint throughout
benjamin-moore.com
CRATE & BARREL
Living room credenza, dining room table
crateandbarrel.com
HOUSE OF LEON
Dining room chairs
house-of-leon-furniture.com
MULLICAN HARDWOOD FLOORING
Flooring throughout
mullicanflooring.com
SNYDER DIAMOND
Kitchen appliances
snyderdiamond.com
STONE MART
Kitchen stone surfaces
stonemart.com
