“We spent nearly two decades pondering how we wanted the rooms to function,” says Jennifer Parker-Stanton of the office and adjoining main bath in her 1958 South Pasadena home. “The spaces flow from one to another, so we knew the remodel needed to be consistent, streamlined, and, of course, beautiful.”
Jennifer is a busy real estate agent who works from home, and to enable her and her husband, Sanders, to finally take the next steps, Jennifer’s best friend, interior designer Kirsten Blazek stepped in. Kirsten runs the Los Angeles firm A1000XBetter (and is the author of the recent Rizzoli book, A 1000 X Better: A Rebel By Design). Her dramatic recommendation of cloaking the two rooms in modernist slatted walnut paneling accented by glossy green tiles took Jennifer and Sanders’ ideas in an all new direction.
The plan required some convincing—and splurging—but if you’re wondering if it was wise for friends who are like family to do business together, take a look at the results. “We wouldn’t have dreamed this up ourselves and had to be encouraged,” admits Jennifer, “but we are grateful every day that Kirsten had this vision.” Scroll to the end for a glimpse of the setup as it was—and see if you agree that it’s a thousand times better.
Photography by Michael P.H. Clifford, courtesy of A1000XBetter.
The Home Office, Reinvented
The Upgraded Bathroom with Washing Machine and Dryer
Contemplating your own paneling? See Remodeling 101: The Ultimate Guide to Shiplap, Beadboard, and V-Groove Paneling and Trend Alert: The Return of Retro Wood Paneling
Before
- For more work space inspiration, here are 19 Home Offices That We Love.
- Browse our Bathroom of the Week archive for more ideas, including The Reclaimed Bath: 8 Favorite Retrouvius Designs Featuring Vintage Components.
- And for utility rooms, go 10 Clever Laundry Rooms, Space-Saving Edition.
Frequently asked questions
Who designed Jennifer Parker-Stanton's office and adjoining main bath?
Interior designer Kirsten Blazek of A1000XBetter
What was the dramatic recommendation made by Kirsten Blazek?
To cloak the two rooms in modernist slatted walnut paneling accented by glossy green tiles
What did the plan for the remodel require?
Some convincing and splurging
What did Kirsten Blazek add to the main bath to offer a framed glimpse of the adjoining room?
A designed half wall
What kind of paneling did Kirsten Blazek include in the main bath to work in a damp space?
Warm paneling finished by her millworker
What kind of tiles did Kirsten Blazek combine in the main bath?
Heath square tiles in a glossy green and Clé's cement-based Forage Terrazzo tiles
What kind of counter and backsplash did Kirsten Blazek use in the bathroom?
Dekton Pietra Kode in Avorio
What was added in the laundry area for a touch of formal whimsey?
A panel of Zak + Fox wallpaper in a foliage pattern Creatures of the Night
Who is the author of the recent Rizzoli book, A 1000 X Better: A Rebel By Design?
Kirsten Blazek
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