Walk Through This Banner Day Interiors-Designed Berkeley Beauty

By Michael McCarthy By Michael McCarthy | November 5, 2024 | Home & Real Estate, Feature,

A couple with a young, energetic family completely transforms nearly every square inch of their home.

The original architecture of the home, especially the dining room’s curved ceilings, make a statement.

THE PROJECT

You know it’s time to renovate when a quick home assessment means counting entire rooms that need gutting instead of a quick fix here and there. A couple with two children lived in a 4,441-square-foot Berkeley residence built in 1925 with ancient appliances, tile and infrastructure, including electrical and plumbing. They concluded the home needed an extensive renovation of the entry, kitchen, primary bath, guest baths and living, family and dining rooms.

THE TEAM

The couple selected Clara Jung, founder and principal of Banner Day Interiors (@bannerdayinteriors), for the ambitious project. “It’s hard to put your finger on the Banner Day aesthetic,” says Jung. “There’s a common thread in all our projects: a mix of traditional, transitional and a dose of whimsy. We’re unafraid of color and pattern.

Additionally, our primary goal is to ensure that the project and the house always reflect our clients’ personalities and design sensibilities. We try to understand how they spend time in their homes and what’s most important to them.”

The team from Banner Day Interiors splashed the living room with color.

THE GOALS

Jung says the homeowners wanted to balance modernity and history in the home. “So, we incorporated a ton of built-ins that seamlessly fit into the spaces that didn’t exist before, including in the living room, family room and butler’s pantry,” says Jung, whose team doubled the existing kitchen footprint and created a walk-in pantry.

“We also reclaimed a weird landing space in the middle of the home by carving out a powder room, installing a new fireplace, creating access to the yard from the family room and creating a primary bath that didn’t exist before. Finally, we tried to preserve and incorporate the home’s original details, respecting the property’s history.”

LIVING AND FAMILY ROOMS

“We wanted something bold and unexpected in the living room,” says Jung. “The room is grand, and we wanted to push the envelope. Drenching the room in color was an idea that some could consider risky. Luckily, our clients trusted the process. The built-ins seem like they always belonged in the house, but they’re new. Due to the large footprint, we divided the space into two different seating areas and carved out cozy moments.”

Standout living room pieces include gray chairs from Arteriors (arteriorshome.com), white linen chairs from CB2 (cb2. com) and lighting from Visual Comfort (visualcomfort.com).

Jung notes that the family room quickly became a family favorite for gathering and hosting guests. “We wanted a great space for family time, playing with toys and watching TV,” she says. “This room is lighter and more contemporary than others, yet it remains consistent with the rest of the house.” Favorites in the room include a sectional from Room & Board (roomandboard.com) and a rug from Ben Soleimani (bensoleimani.com).

The design team removed a wall to create more kitchen space, which now includes appliances from Monogram, hardware from Rejuvenation and fixtures from Rohl.

DINING ROOM

“The original architecture of the room, especially the curved ceilings, makes a statement. There wasn’t much that we needed to add to ensure that this was a welcoming space for dinner parties as well as more intimate family gatherings,” says Jung, who selected chairs from BluDot (bludot.com) and a dining table from Crate & Barrel (crateandbarrel.com).

KITCHEN

The team removed a wall that divided the room. Still, the space was narrow, presenting a challenge for Jung. “To fit all the modern appliances, island and additional kitchen seating within this footprint was a feat,” she says. “The addition of the table to the island was one of the ways we tried to check off the clients’ wish list.

The range on the center wall is visible from the entryway, exemplifying our thoughtfulness in design. The archway frames the kitchen perfectly.” The team added appliances from Monogram (monogram. com), hardware from Rejuvenation (rejuvenation.com) and fixtures from Rohl (houseofrohl.com).

photographed by CHRISTOPHER STARK
The team from Banner Day Interiors splashed the living room with color.

PRIMARY SUITE BATH

“For this space, we wanted something elegant and that had longevity,” says Jung. “The Heath Ceramics (heathceramics.com) textured tile brings interest into the room without overwhelming it.” She added a custom vanity with rounded corners alongside the different finishes as an homage to a more traditional aesthetic. Watermark (watermark-designs.com) fixtures complete the look.

HOW THE HOME IS LIVING

“The house is living great for them, and, most importantly, they’re living in the house as intended,” says Jung.

A built-in provides plenty of storage for wine and spirits.