An Updated Open-Concept Family Room

Family – who needs ’em! Just kidding! The family room is the gathering space for – well – everything. So it is a very high maintenance, needy space. I love to tackle a family room for that reason – it takes thought and hard work to do it right.

This family room update was soup to nuts – new everything – lighting, furniture, media center, area rugs and on and on. It’s a family room in an open concept home with high ceilings – and it’s contemporary. So how do you make that “cozy” when there’s nothing but space around you?

My top 6 tips to update your family right now!

1. Large, Plush Area Rug

An area rug will define the area and give visual boundaries to the space.

Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman

2. Rich, textured fabrics

Warmth comes in the variety of heavy upholstery fabric that is cozy to sight and touch.

Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman

3. Artificial Lighting Options

Add lamps and pendants wherever you can in open spaces, they warm a space at night.

Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman

4. Make Room for TV

I know every year my husband wants a bigger, better television. Choose media cabinetry that will grow with your TV, not against it.

Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman

5. Embrace the open space

Make it work for you by keeping the palette similar in all connected rooms.

6. Add wood elements

Natural wood accessories will ground a contemporary plan.

Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman

A Dude-tastic Room for Father’s Day

My husband rocks… he is a hardcore tech dude with lots of fun loving jokes for the entire family. He has lots of opinions and a big bear hug whenever I need it. He’s perfect in his imperfection. He deserves a dude-tastic room for Father’s Day. If I weren’t in the biz, honestly, I wouldn’t know where to begin. Even though I know him well, I think a big TV and a huge sectional would be all he’d need (after all, that’s all he had in his NYC apartment when I met him, oh, and a card table with folding chairs–true story!) But I did just finish a manly space that I think he would vibe on. Use my Elements below and Voila! Dude-tastic!

Elements You Need:

A table for poker or card games is a must
A large, albeit rad, sectional – also a must
A deer head of some sort or animal profiles – not real – I can’t handle that!
Maps, maps, maps
Iron & rustic wood
Manly games like distressed leather and wood backgammon, chess, checkers
Leather and dark colors against a white backdrop for manly drama!

The Perfect Nest for Guests

A guest room should scream softly “I am here for you, just relax, let me capture you in my warmth”. I know it, you know it – we all want to impress and provide a cozy nest for our guests. Even the guests that should stay for only a short period of time:) But my dream is to provide a guest suite that is like no other – filled with love, style, fluffy towels and a basket of kindness and fluffy towels.

This is Ellie’s retreat… a guest suite that is warm and welcoming, stylish and simple.

A surprising mix of burnt orange, taupe and sunflower yellow create a cool vibe.

Pillows upon pillows – filled with down – cozy – a place to melt away into comfort. Lots of layering of colors and pattern but all in a natural way. I actually went to ABC Home and bought all these pillows the day of the shoot. It was a fab shopping trip!

Mixing Matouk bedding with Fortuny fabric drapery and lots of hand stamped fabrics gives it an earthy vibe. End tables and lamps owned by the homeowner was really the spring board for the design. A wall of gorgeous Phillip Jeffries wallpaper – a natural fiber material – adds another dimension. It’s simple yet stylish. Warm neutrals make it a guest nest worthy of the perfect visitor. All it needs is a bottle of Veuve on ice:)

Orange Ikat Pillow | Orange InkBlot Pillow | Sunflower Yellow Pillow | Linen Lumbar Orange Pillow

|Taupe Priyanka Pillow | Taupe Quilt Set | Taupe Bed

Setting The Bar

This was a super fun event at the Gulfstream Park Crate & Barrel! It was the Home & Design Fair and as promised, I provide my full presentation with tips! It was a packed event… can you see yourself in the audience of almost 200 guests?? Also below are the images of the “lounge” I created just before the event in Crate & Barrel. Enjoy!

Does anyone know why you’re here today?

I will be giving you some tips and advice on how to set up an uber cool lounge and /or bar and/or library in your home. When I was researching yesterday on how to give a good presentation – I read milestones are important. Letting everyone know what we will be talking about today – yes, I was googling in preparation just yesterday. Working mom! Last minute Lucy!

Today we will discuss:

Accessorizing shelves, a bar cart, a home bar, lounge furnishings, and more. Then I’ll open up the floor to you guys for questions.

Imagine this…just close your eyes for a second.. imagine a red Honda Civic driving over the MacArthur causeway, fast and furious, windows down, music loud, blonde hair flowing, and this car is packed with everything the driver owns. That was me! Have you ever left your entire life behind – including your boyfriend – to follow your dream somewhere?

My dream was in NYC. I lived in South beach for 7 years then moved to Manhattan. And the first thing I did when I got there? Poured myself a big, stiff drink. And that’s a big part of what we are talking about today!

I want to introduce you to my infamous side kick – Jordan – Mr Mix – he would be Mr 305 if it wasn’t already taken. Actually I just met him last week by email but I have a feeling I’m right about this. Jordan will walk you through some delicious cocktails. If you need a mixologist extraordinaire – you can find him at Brio. I will be imbibing because we have a driver today!

Let’s get this party started! I need two volunteers to join us at the bar. Jordan tell us a little about yourself and our first cocktail.

What are some of your favorite bars or lounges –a name and where it is located.

My favorites –The NoMad Hotel bar in NYC, the Rose bar at the Delano in South Beach, and HMF at The Breakers in Palm Beach. These are places where a rock star may frequent.

Have you heard of a speakeasy? During prohibition secret underground lounges and bars became popular. Now the speakeasy is back. It’s mysterious, understated.

How do we create that in our homes?

Some essential elements are necessary – I call it my ACME rules:

Ambient lighting (dimmer)
Countertop or workspace
Mirrors and reflective surfaces
Essential Seating & Shelving (seating conducive to talking not sleeping (perching) and Shelving – useful for storage & pretty things

You don’t need an entire room dedicated to a bar or lounge, even just an area or a corner can be you special lounging spot. I have been turning traditional dining rooms into lounges and home bars. Since we are living more consciously with open floor plans, big kitchen islands for informal seating and doing away with formal dining – the dining room is a perfect spot because it’s usually a separate room, it’s often too small for a large farm table, so it’s calling for a party to happen!

So let’s talk SHELF ACCESSORIZING.

Accessorizing used to be the one thing I couldn’t do well. We all know our strengths. So I focused on it, practiced, trial and error and I found certain things work. When I’m preparing my completed homes for photo shoots, most of my time is spent accessorizing. I want it to look beautiful but natural and mostly – functional.

My Top 7 laws for shelf accessorizing.

Height Variance
Repetition-colors and finishes
Layering
Functionality – things you need
Live plants or flowers
Meaningful items
Mix old and new

Frank Sinatra said “Alcohol may be man’s worst enemy, but the bible says love your enemy”. The man of cool, the lounge artist himself – the imbibing expert.

But a home bar or lounge doesn’t have to be for alcohol only – it could be kombucha, pressed juice, espresso, infused teas or waters. The lounge – is a place to chill and drink, chat and relax – appeals to all ages. We’ve seen a recent resurgence in the popularity of the home bar – shows like Mad Men brought back the lounge – and day drinking – with a vengeance.

A lounge is where you go to get your chill on. It’s where you go to feel alive. To be around like minded people … It’s sexy. So the furniture needs to be conducive to: chilling, talking, and flirting.

So let’s talk FURNITURE and Furniture PLACEMENT.

Furniture in a lounge should be smaller, easy for conversation, placed and peppered throughout the room. There should also be an area rug to define the space. And multi functional pieces that can be used as tables and seating. Perching is important when drinking and vibing.

AMBIENT LIGHTING can be in many forms

Install a dimmer on the overhead lighting in that room. If there is a window layer with a shade and/or drapery for manual control over natural lighting. And adding a wall sconce or floor lamps are also a great way to create ambience.

MIRRORS and reflective surfaces just create another dimension. Smoky mirrors are the best option. But hanging a large mirror and utilizing reflective surfaces such as mirrored trays are great to create drama and add a little bling.

Home parties have also become more popular – with all those party décor ideas on Pinterest, how can one resist! We work from home more these days. And we party at home more often than not.

How many of you are in your 20s just out of college? You want a cool place for friends to chill when they come visit you.

How many of you have a family? You want a place to hang with your mom & dad friends while the kids terrorize the house.

And if you’re in your 60-70s-80s – you remember that just about everyone had a home bar or lounge in the 60s and 70s.

So I set you free to design like rock stars!

Some Shout outs:

I’d like to thank Jesse (who helped me get my first 14 page feature published in Luxe magazine and just recently Architectural Digest), Cara (who is her amazing partner in crime) , if you’re looking for great writers and producers of beautiful stories- find them! Thanks to Carin with Gulfstream for organizing this amazing event, and Jenn (my fabulous Director of Marketing). If you need a social media diva and overall marketing guru –she’s the one! and a big thanks to Crate and Barrel for hosting our party today!

On a personal note… design was always meant to be for me. I grew up in a dysfunctional, abusive home so creating beautiful homes for people is a true, deep passion. I feel our home should heal our hearts – it should be a sanctuary – a place of love and memories. And if you need a house designed – or just someone to pick out a sofa and some drapes – I’m the one! My postcards and business cards are right over here.

Do you have questions about what we talked about today or about a design project you are currently working on?

Thank you everyone!

An Intro to Tom’s Man Cave

Is a man cave an essential space? Since the return of lumberjack beards and torn Levi’s as well as artisanal whiskey – I hear a resounding “Hell Yeah!”

Tom needed a vibe that suited his character. Tailored, masculine and – yes – stylish.

Some fur, deer heads, map, leather pillows – a wood carved backgammon set (what you’re not seeing are the five TVs on the main wall – that’s not a typo – I wrote FIVE) – it’s all manly in the modern sense. Hip and rad, the vibe is quintessentially Tom. I nailed this one.

The shiplap was a nod to the wifey – she loves it and it’s everywhere. Her presence had to be known.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Gray sectional;

Dining Room with Boarding House Appeal

This dining room looks like it was pulled fresh from a boarding house in Connecticut from the 180os – of course with a fresh coat of paint and newly upholstered furniture! Yes there is a historic vibe for sure, the wainscot achieves that. But the iron pendant lights, large farm table, upholstered linen settee and nail heads all add to the vibe. It’s new school country – a warmth from a classic time with some updated coastal energy.

Dare I say the “new traditionalists” have come to town and taken over? Yes, potentially.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

My Home Inspired Wishes for Mama’s Day

I am a mama, that’s pretty much my number uno priority. I run a business, have a very busy-wonderful husband (who also runs his own business), I am also the CEO of my household – but first comes taking care of my babies, Griffon (8) and Skylar (6). I looked through some of my recent photos and found inspiration for gifts I’m dreaming of for Mama’s Day.

A staycation somewhere exotic! I love to travel – but because of our very busy schedules we tend to stay close to home when we vacation. I want to go somewhere close by that is also somewhat exotic. An island or a cool unique spot.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

2. Jars of cookies! I love sweets, but I stay away from sugar. I try to eat healthy – my secret snacking at night is a clue that I’m not so great at it! Any delicious homemade treats are what I crave.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

3. A nap or some reading time! I love a midday nap but it’s purely a luxury in my life. That is, it never happens! I also love to read. And I often don’t have time for that either.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

4. A Moment to Meditate! I love to relax and zone in on meditating. This is actually a meditation room in my house that doesn’t get used enough.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

5. Organization! I would love if someone would organize my shelves for me. I do it so often for others that I am left with such disorganized shelves it drives me crazy.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Find Your Vibe: Tailored Coastal

Well, yeah, it’s Palm Beach County. And, yes, people are fancy. This home has woodworking details to die for. It’s in Palm Beach County but a quiet beach town on the inter-coastal waterway. They wanted a tailored yet earthy, sea fearing energy. Something that felt cozy and warm but had “wow” factor. That comes with upscale fabrics, polished profiles, and lots of handcrafted millwork to proving insane amounts of character.

In the dining room, a traditional vibe. This was a newly constructed home so it was important to make it feel historic with certain refined details. One place to start, a smaller more intimate dining space. No open concept living happening in this room. And it’s right off the butler’s pantry which makes it feel like an old Northeastern Yankee home (I can say that because I’m from Connecticut:)) Painted ceiling beams, highly appointed wainscotting, silk drapery and weathered wood plank floors.

The built-ins flanking the fire place are truly unique – very classic with contemporary detailed. Back papered in a silk wall covering, one-of-a-kind cabinetry fretwork, minus the hardware. Push button doors and drawers offer a clean look.

The kitchen beams are slim and chic as well as functional – they house all the recessed lighting. We went through various designs of this ceiling but landed at a very special place. The bead board painted in a slightly tinged blue feel coastal and adds tons of character.

A double island is every chef’s dream! It’s truly a kitchen for entertaining. The dark wood furniture contrasts all the white wood.

My Office Tour: Making a Rental Fabulous

My team and I recently moved into a new office space in Palm Beach Gardens. It is a work in progress, but I am loving the space! I wanted to create a vibe that would foster creativity and a sense of fun. A place where I could bring clients to give them a sense of my style and a space where I could get some serious work done.

Hint: That is my tile on the backsplash! From my Eighty By Krista produced by TileBar.

It’s important that my library of materials has a ton of resources for me to pull from when I’m working on the design of a new home. Our little kitchenette is our refuge for breakfast, lunch, snacks and coffee throughout the day. I am tea obsessed (because the ladies love a cold office) so I drink hot Chamomile (to keep me calm) and peppermint tea throughout the day. It’s a fun yet highly energized office. We are super busy (thank g*d) and all of us need a refuge to keep us balanced.

Here are some of the details and elements I chose for our offices:

The tile on our backsplash is from my collection and it’s called “Patience” after the Guns n’ Roses song. All my tile is 80s inspired.

Style wise: do you like the apples and Pellegrino or the pink hydrangea? I love hydrangea in general.

Below: We installed IKEA cabinetry so we wouldn’t feel a huge financial hit when we have to remove it when our lease is up. And yes I will have to remove the backsplash and repair the wall. But when our lease is up it will be four years in this space. All these upgrades are worth it. And we made it so nice the next tenant my like what we’ve done. I used remnant pieces of quartzite for the counters.

This is my office below – even though I have a sexy husband I love looking at uber cute models! Feels very fashionista and NYC… This is a photo by my super talented fashion photographer friend Willis Roberts. I went with wallpaper to give the walls a finished look. Of course we couldn’t change window treatments or flooring so there are drapes coming soon. It’s still in process.

The main library conference area is very simple and clean. It needs to function – I pile this table up with fabric books, tiles, Quartz and cabinetry samples – it looks like a design tornado has hit when I’m getting ready for a presentation!

fic

House Tour: West Coast Gypsy

I know you’ve heard the term “Boho Chic” – I love it! BUT…it’s overused and ambiguous. I decided to coin a new also ambiguous phrase: West Coast Gypsy. So what does that mean? Well you can visually see from this home I recently finished designing that there is a well traveled, fun personality vibe to the home. My clients are international, with small children. It had to reflect their “gypsy” personas. I hope you love it as much as I do. I have real house envy for this one. Snowy white walls, pops of bright fabrics, and lots of love was put into this style. I really propped and styled the home for the photo shoot. Truth be told. And of course Jessica Glynn, the amazingly talented photographer who shoots all my work (she gets me:)) captured it all through her camera lens.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Fuchsia and sunshine yellow as well as cobalt blue pop up in little bits everywhere.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Real plants, flowers and herbs in the kitchen make for a beautifully “alive” feel.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Simple architecturally interesting furniture and lighting are easy on the eyes.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

A girl cannot live without a fiddle fig tree in her family room!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

The nursery is over flowing with charm!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Lots of beautiful curves in the architecture, including the front door!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

I’m obsessed with making shelves beautifully stocked with all kinds of found items and books. Balance is key!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Krista Watterworth

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

So, ok, my Chuck Taylor’s match the pillow. I’m all good with that!

Stylish Nursery: Create the Look

So… you’ve got a bun in the oven. It couldn’t be a more precious time for all family members: siblings, mommy, daddy, grandma, aunties, friends… overall, everyone is excited and anxious. It’s a good time to put your creative energy into a beautiful space to welcome the bundle of joy. A stylish nursery is just moments away!

First: begin pinning like a mad person, and then we can chat. Once you’ve got that off your chest:).

The reality is, who wants to focus on design when you’re creating life?? Nesting is an important part of welcoming the new baby.

My recommendations follow:

Start with a light, neutral backdrop (a breathy gray is ideal in today’s standards).
Add some natural appeal – vary your wood finishes, rattan is cozy (see the light fixture) or anything weaved feels homemade.
Antique or flea market finds give the space loads of character.
Most importantly – a comfy spot for mama to feed, nap and sing a lullaby. I created an art center for the older sister.
Don’t leave siblings out! This is a transitional time for them. Make them feel welcome and appreciated!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Makeover Takeover: From Dated to Fresh Bohemian

Making over a home that feels outdated is one of my favorite challenges. Mostly because renovation love is required for a successful outcome – and I’m in love with the reveal! For this home it meant an infusion of what’s clearly stylish today: bright, white, open and cozy (with a touch of color and gypsy style). These homeowners are international travelers that decided to finally put down roots with their growing family. You can see we took out some heavy, dark details and gave it a wanderlust vibe (with plenty of sexy styling). There are some found items mixed with mid-century antiques and plenty of objects from their many travels. Enjoy!

BEFORE THE RENOVATION

AFTER THE RENOVATION

It’s obvious this master bedroom had seen better days. It’s all mismatched — even the artwork stands out to a detriment. It doesn’t match or coordinate with anything in the room.

BEFORE THE RENOVATION

In the master bedroom, we dialed up the clean, clear energy with snow white walls and lots of character. It feels fresh and new without a full gut job.

The dining room was a small space and it felt closed off. Our homeowners weren’t the formal dining type. So we made this into a gorgeous office with lots of space to create, invent and inspire.

Now the old dining room is an office that is inviting for all visitors. Even the kids can hang and read or play while mommy and daddy work. We kept some ceiling details and original millwork because it gave each space extra character.

A surprise happened in the middle of the project: new baby on the way! So the old office became a nursery for the new addition. I had lots of fun with this space!

How to Create a Home Bar or Lounge

These days with artisanal beers, wines, scotch and kombucha – the home bar or lounge has become a popular design trend. I am always looking for fun nooks or unused spaces to create a room or built-in that has lounge-y appeal. So the question is: how do you create a home bar or lounge? There aren’t any rules. You need some type of imbibing ingredient – it doesn’t have to be alcoholic in nature. Juice bars are all the rage – why not create that in your very own abode!

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

First key element: seating! I like to give the bartender a seat! Here I added a leather pouf, an antique stool, and club chairs. So when drinks are being created there is room for lots of friendly conversation.

Interior Design + Styling by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Second key: lots of glassware! It sparkles and provides a nice styling accessory. So it’s useful and pretty. If you can add a wine or beverage fridge, that is a fab addition.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Third key feature: storage! I like to do glass shelving. In a small space, the look of items floating is a cool element. We snuck this bar into a staircase. It was pretty rad. And we added an ice machine! It was easy to do because the refrigerator is on the other side of the wall so already had a water line available.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Countertop space is another key element. It adds useful surface area but gives you another design layer of fun. Countertops in a home bar or lounge can be more dramatic or fun. The space lends itself to taking risks.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Using reflective surfaces such as mirrors are a fabulous addition to any home bar or lounge space. It gives the space a deeper sense of space. But a gorgeous backsplash is also another way to add drama. And don’t forget the martini table!

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Mid-Modern Bedroom Reveal

Gold, gray and glam: oh my! A bedroom must feel sensual, clean, cozy and intrinsically individual. This space is a pure reflection of the inhabitants. They are cool, contemporary and chic. There is a wonderful mix of rich mid-century profiles with a load of tactile finishes. A high pile carpet, velvet bed, python bench, and heavy weave settee. It was a fun project to be involved in and super creative. I loved the desire for gold and brass finishes as well as a daring sensibility for surprises (ie. the Madonna artwork!)

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn

SHOP:

Heritage Linens | Cameron Linens | Grandstand Pillow

Howard Elliot Pillow | Embroidered Pillow | Vesper Throw |

Li ttle Prince Foil Artt | Pieces Foil Art

Cowhide Rug | Brass Floor Lamp | Steel Floor Lamp | Tripod Floor Lamp

Moussa Sofa | Rosencrans Sofa

Upholstered Bed | Lacquer Desk | Madonna

Find Your Vibe: Classic Contemporary

So… I have something against the word “transitional”. It feels non-committal to me. Being in transition doesn’t sit well because it often comes with some uncomfortable moments. I like finding a vibe of classic yet contemporary. These are definable words. When I say classic, you say rooted in tradition. When I say contemporary, you say today’s vibe. How do you create this energy in your house? Good question. All design is deep within our souls, it’s organic somewhere. It just takes something, someone (sometimes!) to bring your decorating style to the surface.

Below in this eat-in kitchen, it’s cool, bright, contemporary fabrics, lighting yet warm with the wood tones and handmade glass table base reminiscent of a Red Oak.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Lighting often defines a space, especially statements pieces like this. I love the more classic ceiling detail with this contemporary fixture. The soft fabrics and the stark white walls create a cool vibe.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth Alterman | Photo by Jessica Glynn

Modern art takes on many forms. This piece was part of my client’s collection of very diverse artifacts, paintings and photography. The home as a clean backdrop creates a gallery feel for their collection.

Interior Design by Krista Watterworth | Photo by Jessica Glynn