Experts Reveal 22 Ways to Bring a Touch of Luxury Into Your Home

by Honeycomb

KBIS 2023

Woooooweeee! We are back from KBIS and we are feeling inspired, a little tired but mostly excited for what is to come in the design world!

What is KBIS?

KBIS is North America’s largest trade show for kitchen and bath design professionals. The show brings together thousands of qualified designers, dealers, architects, showrooms, custom builders and remodelers under one roof. It also co-locates with the NAHB International Builders Show (IBS), which makes up Design & Construction Week and draws over 90,000 design & construction professionals between both events.

This year’s KBIS 2023 featured many new design solutions and products. The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) released their Design Trends research report to give designers insight into the styles, colors, product features, materials and technology that will dominate the industry over the next two to three years.

KBIS 2023 Design Trends:

If you’ve been following along our stories, you’ve probably seen the main theme this year was COLOR. And companies were not afraid of showing it!

This year, the booths did not hold back when it came to color. From jewel tones at the Cafe Appliances booth, to heritage pastel tones at the Kohler booth, color was IN. After a few years of very monochromatic looks, it was such a nice change of pace. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good monochromatic look! But it was so refreshing to see color used in such a bold and engaging way. OK, now who wants a pink kitchen?!?

Next up was lots of blue and green tones. Natural tones, particularly blues and greens, are expected to be big in kitchen and bathroom designs for 2023. They’re a reflection of how homeowners are reconnecting with the outdoors and nature-inspired lifestyles. I didn’t get a ton of pics of this but found this beautiful pedestal sink made of fusion granite that I loved!

Surfacing: Porcelain will remain the surface of choice for countertops, floors and backsplashes. It’s a durable, low-maintenance material that looks great and is easy to clean. Porcelain was EVERYWHERE and all of the big name brands are getting on board, including Caesarstone. They debuted their 21 piece collection this year and I loved everything about them! The only downside I see is that fabricators have to be trained in cutting porcelain and the fabrication costs are still pricey. Hopefully with more demand and education around it, fabrication costs will drop.

Perhaps the coolest thing I saw was Invisacook’s cooktop in action. This thing is really what James Bond dreams are made of! The cooking surface is completely covered by the porcelain slab. SO SO cool! The demonstrator said you could etch the surface slighting to show where the burners are located or use the special silicone hot plates that you can remove.

Don’t know if it’d do it in my own house, but very cool for the right client

I was also invited to the New American Home that was built in Henderson, NV. It was a stunning modern masterpiece located in the upscale luxury home market of the Ascaya subdivision. The exhibition home presents two levels with a spa, game room, private office and plenty of outdoor fire features. The views of Las Vegas at night were STUNNING. The home achieved the National Green Building Standard “Emerald” Certification, Energy star certification and net-zero status. My favorite parts was this amazing staircase with LED lighting and this super clean powder bathroom!

Aside from the Design Trends, our team had an amazing time bonding and building connections with all of our representatives! We went to a beautiful red carpet party hosted by Dura Supreme and had a blast!

I also ran into some familiar faces at the show! The ladies from Chic Interiors came to our panel talk with Design Milk and Modenus and I appreciated the support!

It was a packed house!

I also participated in a Voices From The Industry talk with the NKBA. Mine was about growing a business and mostly sharing the mistakes I made early on. It was a really nice chance to meet some new people and also help people earn CEU’s!

Lastly, I got to connect with my fellow 30 Under 30 Alumni and always love seeing them!

by Honeycomb

2023 Design Trend Predictions

Happy New Year! Isn’t it crazy that it is already 2023?

In 2023, interior design trends will focus on health and wellness. These trends will feature new and exciting decor ideas that are eco-friendly and will help homeowners reconnect with nature.

In 2021, wellness was a huge focus and we’re only seeing it continue and grow. Brands are working hard to develop and innovate new technologies for use in the bathrooms and kitchens. Steam showers continue to be a huge trend and we’ve had many clients ask for this in their remodels.

One of the most popular trends for 2023 is the addition of warm tones. This is because these colors can create an inviting and cozy feel. The warmth of the colors will also be reflected in the accessories and furniture that people choose to furnish their homes. We love the mixture of the stark white with the contrast of warm wood, like we did in this Kitchen reno.

Honeycomb Home Design // Photo by Lisa Maksoudian Photo

Another trend for 2023 is the use of organic materials. Natural materials like wood, sand, and metal will play a major role in the design of these spaces. They can add an eco-friendly touch and are also a perfect complement to the luxurious elements of interior design. Probably my favorite new trend is the soft arch detail! We used it at our San Miguel project and feel that it just completes the space!

Honeycomb Home Design // photo by Lisa Maksoudian Photo

Designers are predicting that homeowners will want to keep their home's furnishings as clean as possible. Clean lines will take precedence over more ornate alternatives. Moreover, these designers predict that more accent walls will be used in homes.

Another interior design trend for 2023 is to design a space that reflects a person's personality and needs. It is important to remember that these trends will be influenced by the tastes of each individual. As a result, it is crucial to consider the specific needs of the home or workplace. For example, if the space is used for business, it might be best to use more ornate materials.

Finally, a trend for 2023 is the increase in multipurpose rooms. These rooms have a range of functions and often include a bartop in the kitchen, a bookshelf in the living room, and a gym on a rooftop. Many of these rooms also come with a mix of fixtures. Adding the right decorative touches can be an easy way to bring a personalized look to your home or office.

We created this desk space in the middle of a large open floor plan to provide a nice spot to sit and work!

Honeycomb Home Design // Photo by Lisa Maksoudian Photo

When designing a space for your home or office, it's important to think about how it will make you feel. Several interior design trends for 2023 emphasize biophilic design, which is the belief that humans need to connect with nature to be healthy.

Another trend for 2023 is the return of bold colors. While these colors have been popular for a while, this year they will be even more prevalent. Colors such as Verdigris, a teal-like hue, are a great choice for interior design. Lastly, brass will continue to be popular in the year ahead. Adding brass to your home will give the space a glamorous, luxurious feel.

Honeycomb Home Design // Photo by Lisa Maksoudian Photo

What’s your favorite trend so far?

by Honeycomb

Santa Rita Hills Barn

Our Santa Rita Hills project is truly one for the books!

We were tasked with transforming an old car garage into a fully functioning one bedroom, two bathroom home.

Don’t believe us? Take a look at the Before:

Concrete floors, a lift (!!!!), garage doors, old shop cabinetry and an old shop bathroom was what we had to work with.

So, we rolled up our sleeves and got to work. There was obviously a lot of layout work needed to make sure we accommodated all of our client’s requests while working with the structure. Our client specialized in Feng Shui so we learned a lot about the orientation of the entryway, that you can not have fire and water sharing the same wall (i.e. a sink and then a range on the opposite side of the wall) and having the right balance of materials.

Our design team got to work with the layout. We wanted to have a kitchen that encouraged entertaining and multiple chefs in the kitchen at one time. We opted for putting the sink against the exterior wall and putting the range in the island with a ceiling mounted vent system.

The island also features a tiered island that has a seating area at 30” h for extra seating. Our thought was, our clients could take their dining chairs over to the island if they had extra company. Jam packed with storage and waterfall edges, this island is ready to party!

The perimeter wall features floating shelves, large pantry cabinets with roll outs and a flush fridge and freezer columns from Thermador.

In the dining room, we created a bar area that allowed for plenty of glassware storage, a beverage fridge and a bar sink. Perfect for the entertainer!

Here’s a peek at our plans. You can see the complicated structure of that loft area… which I will get into next!

Take a look at these renderings…. You’ll recognize a lot of these elements once you see the final photos!

And… just because these finish schedules take so much time, I have to show it to you. This finish schedule documents the selections we made. We try to be as organized as possible so you don’t have to!

As for finishes.. The fun part. We used Honeycomb Cabinetry for all of the cabinetry featured in the home. Rift sawn white oak and rift sawn white oak painted black set the modern tone for the kitchen. Paired with soapstone and calacatta marble, the countertops really compliment those wood tones. For the extra pop, we went with black windows and designed them to look like a storefront with full access to the front driveway from the living room. Basically, a wall of windows!

My favorite element in the kitchen is the chicago reclaimed brick. It is actual reclaimed brick from brick salvage. Super great customer service too!

Ok, enough blabbering. Here are some photos!

There was a beautiful spiral staircase that led to an upstairs loft with the most amazing light. We knew this space had potential and was tasked with making it into a bedroom and bathroom.

Sounds easy, right?

Why am I showing a pic of the water heater? Well, this is where we put the toilet! Plumbing up here was EXTREMELY difficult as you could imagine. So, this made the most sense for the toilet drain and placement. Now that that was solved… what to do about the rest of the space?

Well, we got to work and we went a little out of the box on this one!

It all fit just like a little puzzle! But we had a lot of challenges with plumbing and had to get really creative. We’re super pleased with the final result!

And that’s a wrap! What did you think about this one?

by Honeycomb

The Top 3 Ways to Update A Dated Home

What makes a home dated you ask?

Well, if I can spot tiled countertops, 80’s brass fixtures, pink carpet in the bathrooms, golden oak raised panel cabinets…. I’m sorry honey but that means dated in my book!

A Before pic from one of our past projects!

So…. how do you fix that? Well, I understand how overwhelming it could be to want to update EVERYTHING… and eventually, you’ll probably have to update it all.

But starting on these key areas is going to be the most important.

Flooring:

Updating the flooring throughout a home is no-doubt the best way to transform a space. Most dated homes have different types of flooring in one room (as seen in the image above). Sometimes you have a mix of vinyl, carpet, and cheap builder grade tile all in one space. We encourage clients to have the same type of flooring throughout the home, except for the bathrooms and laundry rooms, where we will install tile. One flooring throughout the home will not only make it feel larger, it will make it uniform, easier to keep clean and instantly level up your home.

Honeycomb Home Design - Marcel Alain Photography

Paint

You’ve heard it time and time again; paint is the least expensive way to transform a space. It is soooo true! I can’t tell you how many homes I’ve been in with a bazillion accent colors and all the wrong shades of burgundy and yellow. It’s time to kiss those shades goodbye and introduce a softer palette throughout the home that allows your art, furniture and accessories to really stand out.

Don’t get me wrong - I love a good dramatic accent wall here and there, but the whole house doesn’t need to be that way!

If you need some inspiration, check out our blog post here.

Honeycomb Home Design - Marcel Alain Photography

Cabinetry

As you noticed in the before picture we shared, the golden oak cabinets instantly scream 1980’s. Most dated homes have these cabinets and while some of them may be in good condition, you may actually spend more than it’s worth trying to update them with paint and new hardware. In addition, the kitchens of the 70’s and 80’s do not take into account modern appliances, codes and accessibility factors. By code, you should have at least 18” of space between the bottom of the upper cabinet and the countertop, and in older kitchens, you’ll see this as low as 15” sometimes! No wonder the Ninja or Vitamix can’t fit there! Also, if your kitchen has an island, often times the distance between he perimeter countertop and the island is less than 36” which is the minimum industry standard.

These reasons and more are why sometimes it’s better to upgrade your kitchen with entirely new cabinets. Plus, it allows you to make great functional updates to the layout as well.

Remember the kitchen in the Before photo? Well here is the After!

We were able to not only open up the kitchen to the adjoining rooms, we were able to design a much more functional layout for our clients who love to cook!

by Honeycomb

How to Pick the Perfect Paint Color For A Room

Paint is the least expensive way to transform a room yet it can be one of the most challenging things to select.

How many times have you picked a color off of a 2”x2” paper swatch only to find out it is certainly NOT what you thought it’d look like? So then you go back to the paint store to pick another one… and again… and again.

Yeah, we’ve been there too!

Even as a design professional, paint can be challenging and complex. Through a lot of trial and error, I found quickly what worked and what didn’t work when it came to certain paint colors.

I built upon that knowledge by earning my True Color Expert certification through Maria Killam’s course.

Will you be an expert after this blog post? No way jose. It takes lots of practice (and mistakes) to become an expert! What I will share with you are my tips and tricks on how to even start the process of picking a paint color.

Before you can pick the perfect color, you’ll need to know some basics when it comes to color:

Light Reflectance Value (LRV)

• Knowing the LRV of a paint color is very important during the selection process. LRV refers to the percentage of light a paint color reflects. The higher the number, the lighter it is.
• Most white paint colors will start at a 80 LRV and go up from there
• If you have a lack of natural lighting in your room, you’ll want to go with a color that has a higher LRV

Artificial lighting:

• We’ve all seen those super blue tinged LED lights and how they can totally throw a color off. To prevent this, you’ll want to change your lighting temperature to 2700-3000K. Some recessed cans have an option to adjust the temperature, so keep an eye out for those.

The Color Wheel:

We all remember this from grade school, right?? A quick reminder that the three primary colors are: red, yellow and blue. These colors are purest in form and by combining these colors, you create the secondary and tertiary colors. Secondary colors include: violet, orange and green. Tertiary colors include: blue violet, red orange, yellow orange, red violet, blue green, yellow green.

We categorize paint undertones into two categories: warm and cool tones. A warm white is a white that has a yellow undertone. A cool white is a white that has a blue undertone. Every neutral color has an undertone. Understanding this will help you make decisions quickly when you are comparing different colors together in a room.

Let’s look at this principle in real life situations. Here are two examples of “white” kitchens with two totally different colors and feels. Yes, they are both “white” but here are the differences:

An example of a white with a warm undertone:

This is from our Cuyama beach house project. The cabinetry color is Simply White by Benjamin Moore. It’s one of my favorite whites (see our other white favorites here)

Why did we pick this white out of the bajliion other whites?

Well, the floors here are very warm, meaning they have a very yellow undertone. A white with a blue undertone would have totally clashed. Sometimes white that has a blue undertone looks like primer - no bueno.

OK, what about a white with a blue undertone? Here is a good example:

This is from a Honeycomb Cabinetry project. The paint color on the cabinetry is Chantilly Lace by Benjamin Moore.

Why did we go with a cool tone here? Well, the island is a navy blue, the flooring has a cooler undertone and the ceilings were a bright white. If we had done a warm white here, it would have totally clashed.

Even though we’ve done this exercise with whites, you can apply this principle towards any color in the fan deck - cool vs. warm undertone.

Now to understand how to select a paint color for a room:

• First, identify which items are fixed and which items are moveable. (i.e. your kitchen cabinets, flooring, countertops etc.. are fixed. Your barstools, area rugs and drapery panels are moveable) This is really important to consider first because the fixed elements will set the starting point.
• Are those fixed elements collectively cool or warm tones?
  • HINT: Flooring is really the biggest tell-all when it comes to color. Many homes we’re starting to remodel are still in the “tuscan” phase where the flooring is tumbled Noce travertine. Noce Travertine naturally has a warm undertone to it. Pairing this warm flooring with a cool gray paint color would be a huge no-no. An example of this travertine is below:

Ok, so what color WOULD work well with this? Well you’d want a color that would complement the warm undertones of the flooring.

I’ve used Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige in the past and it has worked out great because it’s a beige that has a warm undertone to it.

• Now what about a flooring with a cool or gray undertone? Let’s check it out.

These are examples from our Hurley Ranch project.

The flooring is a dark brown with gray accents throughout. While brown is considered a warm color, the gray undertones in the flooring are pretty pronounced.

So, we kept the walls a bright true white, like Chantilly Lace, and also kept the furniture with cooler tones with blue accents. You can also see that our accent color in the Dining room is a bright blue. No yellow tones for these walls!

Key Takeaways:

• Understand the difference between a cool color and a warm color.
• Identify which items in your room are fixed and which are moveable.
• Complement the fixed items with their corresponding color temperature.
• Decor can go a long way. If you’re still not loving the paint color you selected, pull out some complementary colors with your area rugs, pillows, and artwork. You’ll be amazing at how quickly that can make a difference.

Be sure to check out our previous blog posts about our favorite white colors from Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore.

It takes some practice but understanding undertones and how to select a paint color for your room can be achieved!

And if you are still running into issues - we are here to help!

Contact us to book your paint consultation!

by Honeycomb

San Luis Obispo’s Own Wallpaper! “SLO Toile”

Once dubbed the “Happiest Town in America,” San Luis Obispo is truly a remarkable little town. Having grown up here, it took living away from SLO to really appreciate the beauty, the small town vibe, and the people that make it so wonderful. I moved back after I finished college and really love calling this place my home.

If you haven’t heard about San Luis Obispo, it is a town nestled between San Francisco and Los Angeles and features mountain peaks, green valleys, a historic mission, an amazing college, Cal Poly, and a super cute downtown that is always buzzing on the weekends. About ten minutes from SLO is Morro Bay, perfect for kayaking and fresh fish, and then fifteen minutes south of SLO is Arroyo Grande, where Honeycomb Home Design is headquartered, and home to its own charming “village.”

When my friend, food and drink journalist, Jaime Lewis, said she was creating a wallpaper featuring all of SLO’s hallmarks, I was so excited to see what it was going to look like! She teamed up with illustrator, Anna Takahashi, to create “SLO Toile” and feature hallmarks, important people and places of San Luis Obispo.

Even better - ALL proceeds of “SLO Toile” will benefit children’s art education in San Luis Obispo. How cool is that?

Now for a look at the four colorways and designs!

How cute is that?!

And yes, that’s Weird Al Yankovic! He graduated from Cal Poly SLO!

The pattern features: Phyllis Madonna, Rick Martel, Dr. Rene Bravo, Damon Castillo, Paul Kwong, Jerry Reiss, Sara and Jon Peterson, Maxine Lewis, Jordan Hasay, Heidi Harmon, Dorn Pyramid, Ah Louis Store, jennifer Street Bridge, Mission Plaza, High Street Deli, Sunny Acres Orphanage, Firestone Tri Tip Sandwich, The Holiday House, and Madonna Inn Cake!

Some of my favorite features are the Sunset Drive In, Bishop’s Peak, and of course, Julia Morgan, the famous Architect that was responsible for designing Hearst Castle!

Another fun Easter Egg: Jaime loves old Al Hirschfield cartoons, where he hid his daughter's name in the drawings, so Anna put her kids’ names in, too. Look at the water in the Mission image, and the sidewalk on the Jennifer Street Bridge image.

To purchase your very own bit of SLO, click here.

Thank you to Jaime and Anna for such a wonderful tribute to our beautiful little town!

by Honeycomb

The Best White Paint Colors - Benjamin Moore

If I had a nickel for every time we are asked, “What is the best white paint color?” I'd be rolling in the dough!

White seems like it would be the easiest color to pick but all it takes is one trip to the paint store to realize how many bazillion shades of white there are! Once you start comparing the whites to one another, you start to realize that some whites have a blue tint to them and others have a yellow tint to them.

Even as a design professional, it is easy to get overwhelmed. I recently completed Maria Killam’s True Colour Expert Certification Course and am now armed with so much more knowledge about paint.

A few of our favorite whites - although some have a blue undertone and others have a yellow undertone.

You may also notice that some whites are darker than others. The way to measure this is called a color’s Light Reflectance Value (LRV). This refers to how light or how dark a color is from a scale of 0 (black) to 100 (white). The higher the number, the lighter it is.

I know what you’re thinking… why does this matter?? Just tell me the colors already!

Well, knowing the LRV of a color is very important because it can help make decisions easier for you when picking out colors. You won’t want to do a color with a low LRV in a dark room.

Dark color (Low LRV) + Dark Room - Natural or Artificial Light = Sad Room :(

LRV is important to be aware of but it will not “save” a dark color in a dark room if you do not have natural or artificial light. Just something to keep in mind.

OK, I’ll save the LRV talk for a lengthier post about paint.

For now - let’s get back to the white colors!

(Before you get too far - be sure to check out our Sherwin Williams favorites here!)

Here’s our list of the Best White Paint Colors by Benjamin Moore:

I’ll focus on our very top three choices and why they work so well.

Our Top Three White Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore:

• Simply White
• Chantilly Lace
• Cloud White

Let’s start with Benjamin Moore - “Simply White”

This really is one of our favorites! We have used this numerous times for ceilings, millwork, cabinetry or as our main white wall color.

You can see here how beautiful it looks on millwork for this custom wainscot paneling we did:

Why it works:

Simply White - OC 117 - (LRV 91.7)

Simply White has a slightly warm undertone to it, making it a white that plays well in the sandbox. But, it is not ideal when paired with cooler finishes, such as carrara marble. That’s where our next pick comes into play.

Next Up: Benjamin Moore “Chantilly Lace”

This is a fan favorite for cabinetry, ceilings and millwork.

We used Chantilly Lace in this kitchen remodel project as the color for the cabinetry and ceilings:

(This project also features cabinetry from one of our lines! To learn more about them, click here.)

Why it works:

Chantilly Lace - OC 65 - (LRV - 92.2)

Chantilly Lace is what I call a “control white.” It’s the white you can use to compare other white paint colors against it, because it is a true “white.” It’s been one of our staples for cabinetry, ceilings, millwork etc.

Lastly, Benjamin Moore’s White Dove:

This is a classic warm white with a beige undertone. It’s a beautiful color for walls that get a nice dose of natural light.

White Dove made for a beautiful backdrop in this Primary bath we completed a couple years ago:

Why it works:

White Dove - OC -17 - (LRV 85.38)

It’s a warm white without getting too dark or too creamy. If you’re looking for a subtle white with a beige undertone, this is the perfect one!

Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re looking for additional help selecting the right paint color, contact us to get a paint consultation scheduled!

by Honeycomb

The Best White Paint Colors - Sherwin Williams

White paint colors can be the most challenging to select! (Before you read on, be sure to check out our Best White Paint picks from Benjamin Moore!)

Luckily for you, we’ve been through the trial and error process of finding the best white paint colors. We’ll share our favorites below, but it is important to note a few things about paint:

• Pay attention to the LRV (Light Reflectance Value) of a color. The higher the color, the lighter it is.
• Also pay attention to how much natural and artificial light your room gets. You’d be surprised how easily a color can be transformed with lighting. If natural lighting is an issue, bring in lamps!
• If a color does not look good in one of your rooms, likely it is the wrong color. Lightening the color by adding white to it will not save it most of the time. It’s better to go back to the drawing board.

I’ll do a longer post about paint very soon. For now, let’s get to the good stuff!

Here’s our list of the Best White Paint Colors by Sherwin Williams:

I’ll focus on our very top three choices and why they work so well.

Our Top Three White Paint Colors from Sherwin Williams:

• Pure White
• Extra White
• Snowbound

Let’s start with Sherwin Williams “Pure White”

This has been a great color for an exterior of a home if you’re doing siding and are going for the “farmhouse” or “coastal” look.

We used here it on a beach house:

Why it works:

Pure White - SW 7005 - (LRV - 84)

It’s a great white without getting too bright or too blue. I’ve found that it’s a little too bright for interior use, but have loved using it on exterior siding.

Next Up: Sherwin Williams - Extra White

Extra white is a true white with a blue undertone, making it a great compliment to carrara tile or countertops. Here in one of our projects, the shiplap is painted Extra White.

Why it works:

Sherwin Williams - Extra White SW 7006 - (LRV 86)

A true white with a blue undertone, this is a great pick when pairing with carrera marble or other blue tones. It can be a little harsh on walls if paired with earthier materials and can look like primer!

Lastly, Sherwin Williams Snowbound:

Snowbound is a great off-white that plays well with others. We used Snowbound for our cabinetry in this project:

Why it works:

Sherwin Williams - Snowbound SW 7004 - (LRV - 83)

Snowbound is a great off-white that works well with a white quartz countertop. It is not too creamy or too blue and can work well with both warmer and cooler tones. It’s a fan favorite for cabinetry and millwork.

Have you tried any of these? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re looking for additional help selecting the right paint color, contact us to get a paint consultation scheduled!

by Honeycomb