“I really enjoy turning textiles that I've discovered during my travels into great decor items such as pillows, throws, and even table linens. It’s a great way to incorporate travel mementos into your home, and regardless of where in the world you are visiting, there are often local textile and weaving traditions.”
Read MoreThe Zoe Report
There are just some home decor trends that look perfect in pictures, but are hard to imagine implementing into your space logistically. For some, it's ultra modern furniture or fixtures, for others it's a bold, of-the-moment hue (like neon green or bright fuchsia). But if adorning your walls is the area you feel especially wary about, designers are here to tell you it's easier than you think. And with a few expert tips on how to choose wallpaper for your living room, transforming this communal part of your home doesn't have to feel so intimidating.
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Décor Tricks: You Might Have More House Than You Think
How interior designers gave under-utilized square footage a makeover—ingeniously finding space for a nursery, a bar and more
By Catherine Romano
Nov. 29, 2019
Off Duty | WSJ
SOME FATE-BLESSED homeowners enjoy expansive interiors with skate-boardable hallways and book shelves devoted solely to objets. Most of us, however, need to exploit every soupçon of real estate in our more modest living quarters, something at which interior designers excel. Their ingenuity helps them spot fallow or problematic spaces and turn them into much-needed nurseries, convenient bars and more. In prewar New York apartments, for example, prime territory below windows—where you might put furniture—is often monopolized by hideous radiators that can’t be blocked. Brooklyn designer Laurie Blumenfeld-Russo found a way...
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Makeover of the Week: A Lackluster Laundry Room Gets a Sleek, Stylish Refresh
by COLLEEN SULLIVAN
UPDATED 11/22/19
“The room was small, closed-off, and all-together not very functional. It got a lot of use with two children, a cat, and a dog living in the house, so I wanted to make the space more polished but still very utilitarian,” explains designer Stefani Stein.
MyDomaine
“I wanted to provide the family with the space and tools they needed to make a dreaded chore more enjoyable,” notes Stein. “They loved mid-century modern design, so I incorporated bits and pieces of that aesthetic into the space while still honoring the home’s Spanish farmhouse architecture.”
Read MoreHouse & Home
“We were going for a bold look in this powder room. Black lends an inherent sophistication, sort of like the perfect black dress. As the color’s name implies, the shade is faded, so it has a warmer effect than jet black.”
Read MoreLA / Home
Fall Winter 2019 -
FAVORITES
Anthurium Waltz “My favorite pattern is Anthurium Waltz. I had just returned from Vienna and was captivated by the Ikebana-style arrangements juxtaposed by the Austrian architectural details. I started working on floral sketches inspired by those elements, which evolved into a pattern. This was actually the very first pattern I designed in the collection.”
LA/HOME
FALL WINTER 2019
Photography by Jenna Peffley
From Persimmon To Navy, Interior Designers Share This Year’s Trendiest Fall Colors
by OLIVIA HARRISON
Refinery29
Rust
"This fall, think about incorporating accents of earthy rust, which is lovely as both a wallpaper or accent fabric. For example, a velvet or mohair pillow, in this hue, adds both the colors and textures we crave in the fall months. I especially love how it works in an otherwise neutral room, particularly when paired with moody elements like a dark accent wall or rich marble. As a focal point, try wallpapering a dining room or powder room." — Stefani Stein of Stefani Stein Inc and August Abode
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A CAPE COD-STYLE HOME WITH ’70S VIBES IN LA
HOME TOURS / OCTOBER 22, 2019
The owners of this Cape Cod-style house in LA wanted a place that felt sexy, but it wasn’t exactly communicating that feeling when they purchased it. It had recently been renovated and had great potential but was slightly too classic, as it was, for the young couple’s preference for a glam ’70s vibe. They turned to designer Stefani Stein to help them bridge the gap – something like Mrs. Robinson with a little bit of rock n’ roll.
Rue Daily
The owners of this Cape Cod-style house in LA wanted a place that felt sexy, but it wasn’t exactly communicating that feeling when they purchased it. It had recently been renovated and had great potential but was slightly too classic, as it was, for the young couple’s preference for a glam ’70s vibe. They turned to designer Stefani Stein to help them bridge the gap – something like Mrs. Robinson with a little bit of rock n’ roll.
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Customizing Pillows with Borders, Fringes and Cords
Samuel & Sons
One can liken the process of customizing pillows to approaching a blank canvas. Their simple shapes—be it square, bolster or boxed edge—await your vision in fabric and trim. The addition of a border, cord or fringe is what allows designers and workrooms to create and to craft one-of-kind designs made with an individual client and space in mind.
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Nurseries Are Notoriously Cramped, But This Hack Saves Space Every Time
Domino
Almost every nursery has a past life. Before becoming bona fide babyland, it may have been a spare guest bedroom or an occasional office. Babies are tiny, so it would seem they don’t need that much space, but when you start counting all the things that come with a kid (a cradle, diapers, play mats, bouncers), you lose square footage fast. Incredibly, rather than too big, the room ends up feeling small. But what other choice do you have?
Read MoreCA Home + Design
Stefani Stein, one of CA Home & Design’s “Rising Stars” of 2019, embraces her childhood calling to design amazing spaces. By Lindsay Shook
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Roman Clay Is Having a Moment — And This Stunning L.A. Home Is Proof
Lonny
For interior designer Stefani Stein, this recently renovated Los Angeles abode — a four-bedroom, three-and-a-half bathroom house originally built in 1939 — posed a welcome challenge. With freshly painted white walls and gleaming hardwood floors, the home was essentially a 2400-square-foot blank slate just begging to be imbued with texture-rich details.
“Architecturally, everything was so new and crisp, the space was longing for a little imperfection,” says Stein, who was tasked with transforming the space by the home’s new owners, a young couple who recently relocated to L.A. from the Bay Area. "My challenge was to impart soul, add depth, and create an inviting atmosphere while working with the rather austere architectural foundation.”
The result is exactly what we'd expect from the accomplished interior designer: Vintage finds abound, natural textures impart a relaxed yet refined vibe, and works of art add welcome pops of color. But the standout feature, without a doubt, is a hand-troweled Roman clay accent wall that adds some much-needed depth to the living room.
Cookie-Cutter Condo Becomes a Custom Masterpiece
Designer Stefani Stein transformed this condo into a chic, contemporary space with touches of blue throughout. See how she added custom touches to this cookie-cutter space by incorporating custom molding and a kitchen tailored to the homeowners needs.
HGTV
What were the main items on your client’s wish list for the redesign of their home?
This was one of those projects that started as a kitchen renovation and each time I met with the clients, they added more to the scope of work. Eventually we had plans for gutting and renovating the entire space.
The primary focus was tailoring the limited space to maximize functionality surrounding how they lived. This included a lot of customizations and specificity within the cabinetry design. Drawers were designed to store paper towels and we even added a slot to feed the towels through for easy access. Cabinets were made specific to the size of their cookware and dinnerware. One of the client’s was an avid chef and had a preferred set of knives he used in each of their homes. We measured his knives and then created custom slots in the butcher block for storage and easy access.
Read MoreGood Housekeeping
PSA: These Are the Best Furniture Stores, According to Interior Designers
UPDATED 05/28/19
MyDomaine
Although we consider ourselves something of décor experts here at MyDomaine, it's no secret that we regularly seek out advice from experienced interior designers. Whether we're selecting the best shade of white paint, navigating the latest seasonal trends, or investing in furniture pieces for the long haul, we're always interested in what the experts have to say.
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Beautiful Trays That'll Have You Wishing for Breakfast in Bed Every Morning
These serving trays also do double duty as gorgeous décor pieces.
By Dobrina Zhekova on May 16, 2019
Departures
“Trays are a quintessential accessorizing element,” says Los Angeles-based interior designer Stefani Stein. “I love incorporating them in a contrasting material from the table top.”
A stylish serving tray is a multifunctional décor piece that you can use for a lot more than what its name suggests. “They are also perfectly suited to highlight negative space for an uncluttered, yet layered approach. With the exception of trays incorporated into bar styling, I like to keep the tray rather open and emphasize only an item or two. I typically pair them with a small vase or statement accessory,” suggests Stein.
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12 Colors You'll Be Seeing Everywhere This Summer, According To Interior Designers
by CAIT MUNRO MAY 4, 2019
Depending on where you live, a glance outside will likely confirm that it's not summer yet. But while it may feel impossibly far away, the season of sunshine and Summer Fridays is just around the corner. It may be too soon to completely turn over your wardrobe, but you can start thinking about what tweaks you might make to your house or apartment. We're talking new couch cushions for the outdoor sofa, curtains that let in a little bit more light, or festive throw pillows that breathe new life into an old couch.
We asked interior designers for their recommendations on which colors to integrate in your home this summer. They predict red, a range of blues, and black and white will be big this season. Still not ready to move on from spring? We've got ideas for that too.
Refinery 29
1. Benjamin Moore Floral White
This hue brings a sense of softness to a bathroom without feeling dated, according to Los Angeles-based interior designer Stefani Stein. "I love using this color from Benjamin Moore's Aura line in a matte finish for washable walls without the sheen," she explains.
As seen on the walls in the lede photo.
"A cross-section of beige and ivory, like the name implies, [this shade] dresses walls with elegance and warmth," offers Stein. "If you aren't ready to stray from bright white walls, this color can add the most subtle contrast when used on millwork or cabinetry."
3. Portola Paints & Glazes Chalet
"For a rustic yet sophisticated touch, this is my top choice," says Stein.
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Practical Mudrooms & Entryways
A polished marble foyer isn't always practical, but beautiful entryways can also serve our various storage needs. Featuring built-in shelving, woven baskets, and more, these mudrooms are filled with creative storage options perfect for families — explore them here.
Dering Hall
Hands Down: The 15 Best Blue Paint Colors for Kitchen Cabinets
Featuring our favorite kitchens.
BY LYDIA GEISEL
From matte sapphire to midnight, we’ve seen just about every shade work wonders for kitchens. So how do you know which swatch is right for you? We asked the owners and designers behind 15 of our favorite blue kitchen cabinets to find out. Read on for the exact paint colors to try for the same looks.
Domino
The Background Blue
Tending toward traditional, this balanced hue can go coastal cool or inland sophisticate, depending on the materials, fixtures, and other design details you incorporate into the space. In the case of this beachside retreat in Marina del Rey, Stefani Stein invoked the classic laid-back aesthetic of a California rancher by matching the color with a quartzite countertop, a farmhouse sink, and oak floors.
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DESIGNER CRUSH: STEFANI STEIN
Author: Michelle Konstantinovsky
CA Home + Design
How did you get your start in design?
I loved interior design from a young age and would design floor plans “for fun” as a child. Interior Design was actually my first major in college, however, my parents didn’t feel it was practical and steered me in a different direction. I regretted not following my passion and when I was nearing 30, I realized life was too short for regrets and decided to pursue what I loved. So, I left my well-paid corporate gig and started over. This was definitely a bit scary. Fortunately, after attending the UCLA Interior Architecture program, I landed a position working with a very talented interior designer. Her attention to every minute detail was inspiring and she opened up my eyes to elements of traditional design that I hadn’t previously appreciated. I feel very fortunate for those couple of years of mentorship.
2. What inspired you to launch your own firm, and what have you learned in the process?In a way, I stumbled into launching my own firm. I had outgrown the role with my mentor and a few friends had asked for interior design assistance all around the same time. It was more than I could take on as a side hustle without my day-job suffering, so I thought, why not give it a try on my own?
The autonomy and creative freedom has been truly rewarding. Although admittedly I wasn’t initially prepared for all of the administrative elements. I hadn’t considered the amount of work that went into details, such as sales tax and payroll and whether or not to incorporate, I was just thrilled to be doing my own projects. I hired a bookkeeper straight away to ensure everything was being handled correctly on the business end. This enabled me to focus my energy on designing.
Each project is different so you learn something new with every client. On one hand, that can be challenging, but I love the variety and uniqueness of each project. There is never a dull day!
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