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Lou Ann Bauer brings one San Mateo family’s bungalow a whole new look—and a whole lot of fun
One steadfast rule of interior design is that regardless of the setting, surround yourself with things you love and enjoy. For two of San Francisco designer Lou Ann Bauer’s clients, that meant bringing in colors and patterns that made them feel good.
The couple owned a bungalow in San Mateo, and wanted to get rid of the home’s dark, small feel. Bauer began the remodel by opening up and reconfiguring several rooms into one expansive space and adding windows and moving doors to increase natural light and improve the flow. Her first task was the kitchen. “The owners have three children, and wanted a fun, whimsical feel,” she says. “They were inspired by a painting of Le Cirque in Las Vegas, which is lively without being juvenile or cliché.” By mixing bright colors with natural materials, which she stained or painted, Bauer enhanced the playful aesthetic.
The island, for instance, is avocado-green Corian on one side and cherry wood on the other. Perimeter counters are Brazilian blue granite. Pendant lamps were custom-made to look like spun cotton candy and evoke a big-top effect.
“We created a harlequin print for the backsplash, which is sage, purple, and gold tile,” Bauer says. Cabinets are back-painted mirrors in complementary colors, and there are 12 different pulls and knobs, including a serpentine design on the refrigerator drawers. As with most bungalows, rooms were dark, so she brought in natural light by adding small windows—which also capture a view of the trees. The high ceiling called for a checkerboard border around the oak floor, which she “exploded” to match the scale of the setting. “You can’t have a mouse in a tent,” Bauer says.
The circus theme was carried into the powder room by painting the walls chartreuse with wavy stripes and adding a scissor-cut apron to the vanity. “This is a place guests visit, so it should be whimsical,” Bauer says. The bowl is pounded silver with a clownlike blue lever, and the counter is terra-cotta. Sconces inspired by Aladdin’s lamp flank a custom mirror surrounded by spheres.
In contrast to the kitchen, the living room is sophisticated and formal. “We designed it for corporate America, as a place where the parents can entertain colleagues and friends,” says Bauer, who used an earthy palette of sage, brown, and beige to create a Zenlike effect. She added faux ceiling beams, and dropped a Giacometti-style chandelier to bring intimacy to the otherwise expansive surroundings. Furnishings are a nod to old steamers, and include mohair chairs and a soft chenille sofa for a clean, shipboard aesthetic. The rug is Tibetan, and a deco-style screen has two kinds of wood and a glass panel. “We let drapes puddle on the floor for elegance without pretense,” she says. “If everything is perfect, people don’t relax.”
The couple wanted the same Zenlike feel in the master bath. The room had an odd elongated layout, so Bauer popped out a wall to create a bay for a Jacuzzi, and then designed his and her vanities in opposite configurations to soften the long, narrow flow. Bauer faux finished the walls in a warm gold, and surrounded the tub in cherry. One innovative touch was designing Corian counters with extra deep edges for a chunky effect.
It was a win-win project, Bauer says. “The colors are for the kids, who have the energy, while the monochromatic palette creates a relaxed feel so the parents can unwind.” But more importantly, it’s a house with new environs that make everyone feel happy.
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