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la buena vida
Casa
Favorite SPACES
Reinventing the feel of your home can be as
easy as updating just three rooms.
When refreshing a home, experts suggest taking a close
look at the best-loved rooms in the house: the bedroom, kitchen
and living room. Inspired by that advice, we asked renowned interior
designer Lorena Gaxiola what she looks for in a top design, her
rules to design by and her philosophy for a great space.
Gaxiola, who is based in San Diego, grew up in a household with
an eye for design. Today, she has not only opened her own design
studio, Kuatro Designs, but has also developed a furniture line,
Kuatro Living. With several years and hundreds of rooms under her
belt, she has devised some steps for evaluating a room and figuring
out a strategy for a redesign.
THE BEDROOM
Lorena’s Guidelines:
1. The bed needs to be your focal point. Spend 40 to 50 percent
of the budget on the bed including the mattress, headboard and footboard.
2. The next stage of design includes selecting your lamps, bedding
and nightstands.
3. The final stage is the artwork, which should reflect your personality.
A Rustic
Wood Mirror
A nice size wood frame mirror adds warmth to a room.
$229
www.westelm.com
THE KITCHEN
Lorena’s Guidelines:
1. Keep kitchens looking modern with streamlined appliances.
2. Push for sustainability with energy-efficient appliances and
sustainable materials such as ceasar’s stone and corian in
place of granite on countertops.
Sleek Dishware
Items like these from Macy’s The Cellar Line stay in line
with the modern theme.
www.macys.com
THE LIVING/ DINING ROOM
Lorena’s Guidelines:
1. In any room, one piece should be the focal point. Splurge on
your sofa.
2. Display beautiful artwork that captures your lifestyle and family.
3.If your house has a strong architectural feature, such as a brick
wall, show it off.
Wall Art
Framed
pictures or screens reflect personality and complete
a room.
$19
www.westelm.com
LORENA’S TIPS
1. Color: “It’s really important to listen
to color,” she says. From walls to floors, look first to your
palette when deciding on a change.
2. Shape and Texture: Preferences for shape and texture can help
determine the direction of the room. If a client wants clean lines
and leather, Gaxiola says, they they’ll want something fast
and modern.
3. Accessories: This is the last step in tying a room together.
Think of home accessories as you would when dressing yourself: accessories
give the last personal touch.
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