Designed with Meaning

Author:

Jeff Schlarb Design Studio gives a beloved home a renewed and deeply personal, serene spirit

The flush mount light in the kitchen is by Allied Maker, the cabinetry hardware is by Belmont Hardware and the Velis stool is by Cliff Young, LTD. Photos by Christopher Stark

True style often reveals itself in the smallest details, and in this 2,410-square-foot home in Woodside, Jeff Schlarb Design Studio honed in on every corner, transforming a familiar home into a refined sanctuary where understated elegance, exceptional craftsmanship and personal touches coexist in perfect harmony. “This Woodside residence is an exercise in restraint without simplicity,” says Jeff Schlarb. “A quiet, warm palette creates the foundation, while layers of texture, material, tone, and detail give the interiors their depth, allowing the home to feel calm and deeply comforting without ever becoming one-note.”

In the dining room, the Motto armchair by Mattaliano and Polson dining table by Ty Best for Caste, were discovered at De Sousa Hughes. The painting is by Stephane Villafane found at Chadwick Dolby. Photos by Christopher Stark
The powder room walls are clad in stone from IRG, the Forchette sconce is by Materia Designs and the mirror is by Una Malan. Photos by Christopher Stark

The clients were craving the inviting charm and comfort of a California cottage, paired with an elevated sophistication of luxury design. Rather than dramatically reinvent the home’s architecture, the team focused on enhancing its existing character while expanding functionality. “Storage was a major priority, particularly in the primary suite, and became an important consideration in how the bedroom was detailed and furnished,” he recalls. “In the more open areas of the home, careful attention was paid to scale, proportion and continuity. The formal living room, for example, was furnished to preserve a spacious and gracious feeling, while repeated wood finishes helped connect it visually to the kitchen and adjoining spaces.”

The media room ceiling is clad in wallcovering by 17 Patterns LTD and the rug is from Sloan Miyasato.
Photos by Christopher Stark

The primary suite is a perfect example of how the team was able to strike a balance between beauty and practicality. From the soft, custom cabinetry to the Galbraith & Paul wallcovering and coordinating window treatments, the space feels dynamic without being overwhelming. Every element serves a purpose, while contributing to the overall ‘high-style’ feel. “The primary bathroom also carries some of the home’s most personal details,” says Schlarb. “Taken together, the suite brings many of the project’s defining principles into one place: function, craftsmanship, restraint and personal meaning.”

The primary bedroom wallcovering and fabric are Wildflower by Galbraith & Paul. Photos by Christopher Stark
The primary bathroom features custom sculptural plaster floral wall details that incorporate the client’s heirlooms. The paint color is Baby Fawn by Benjamin Moore. Photos by Christopher Stark

Beyond the home’s sophisticated material palette, some of its most compelling details tell the family’s story. “On the walls of the primary bathroom, the client’s mother’s jewelry became part of sculptural plaster florals handcrafted by MJ Atelier, their forms drawn from California native flora and cherry blossoms,” he proclaims. “Above the tub, a Japanese family crest—the leaf of a mulberry tree from the client’s mother’s side—presides with quiet authority. These details gave family memory a permanent place within the home, woven directly into the design.”

In the study, a custom mural of the Yosemite redwoods was painted by Carolina Lizarraga, the coffee table is the Floe White Quartz table. Photos by Christopher Stark
The desk and chair are by Tom Faulkner. Photos by Christopher Stark

For Jeff Schlarb Design Studio, layering is at the core of how they approach each project. Through subtle contrasts, tactile richness and carefully curated details, each room is designed to unfold gradually, offering new moments of discovery over time. The clients are so pleased with their renewed home, Schlarb boasts, “They were thrilled to see the home come together and excited to experience its reimagined spaces in a completely new way. There was a real sense of discovery in seeing familiar rooms take on new purpose, personality and possibility.”