The Perfect Fit
Author:Lindsey ShookCorine Maggio of CM Natural Designs elegantly transforms a San Francisco pied-à-terre for a savvy young couple
“I am obsessed with the idea of home. Our homes play a huge role in our lives and often people don’t recognize the ways in which their homes are supporting or hindering their lifestyle and wellbeing,” says designer Corine Maggio of CM Natural Designs when asked how she curates interesting spaces that support her clients’ lifestyles. “Every individual and family are unique and have unique requirements and all spaces offer different opportunities.”
Based in Mill Valley, Maggio’s firm was commissioned by a young San Francisco couple to rejuvenate their 1,900-square-foot condo that resides in a building built in 1926. “The client wanted everything to be upgraded,” she recalls. “The kitchen felt dated and stodgy, the bathrooms were similarly mundane and the client really didn’t have much in the way of furniture so that was a blank slate.”
Through smart spacial planning and expressive fabrics and finishes, Maggio was able to maximize the floor plan while elevating the overall design. “The client’s weren’t in need of a formal dining space and a table in the center of that room would really mess with the path of travel,” she says. “But we couldn’t leave it empty so instead we designed something with a coffee-shop-vibe. The green leather bench and two bistro tables allow the client a place to set up their laptops to work or read the paper comfortably with a cup of coffee or a meal. It’s a space they were absolutely thrilled with and use all the time.”
Maggio and her team worked with Wright Residential to add dramatic energy inside both the kitchen and bathrooms without any major demoing. “The bathrooms were major transformations and yet, we didn’t change any of the floor or wall tiles,” she notes. “And the kitchen is certainly a point of pride. It feels like such a sophisticated space that balances the masculine and the feminine in perfect harmony.” They kept the existing appliances and plumbing in place allowing for more efficient, timely design. “I was pleased with the level of transformation that was possible with just careful reworking around those items,” says Maggio.
After revealing the newly posh pied-à-terre to the homeowners, they were so overwhelmingly pleased, they hired Maggio and her team on the spot to design their second home. “We’re now in the middle of a second project together,” she remarks. “To me, it’s the ultimate compliment.”