Houzz Tour: the Relaxed Classic Style of Brian Dittmar

Too often, more conventional style gets a bit of a bad rap in modern design circles. Caught up in the progression of design techniques, sometimes the most successful components of past get swept to the side. But some of the most durable and approachable designs are the ones that pay tribute to heritage while incorporating current and individual touches.

The work of California designer Brian Dittmar Design, Inc. is a good example of this powerful blend. Dittmar’s work has a definite classic approach, but rather than coming across as old-fashioned and stodgy, his designs feel comfortable and interesting. Since his style blends with the style of the client, some of his work leans more towards contemporary, but as such three San Francisco homes reveal, his designs always produce a livable and comfortable home.

“I often spend some time considering what the room itself wants to be,” says Dittmar. “It certainly doesn’t work to force a room to be something it is not! Each project teaches you something new or shows you a new method to do something” In such homes, Dittmar’s consistent use of tailored details on upholstery, patina, warm lighting, clean-lined furniture, texture, and graphic patterns all unite to produce a new classic style that works with three different interiors.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Home No. 1: Tailored particulars and patina at Presidio Heights
The owners of the elegant home in San Francisco’s Presidio Heights area wanted a look that has been conventional but still livable. Dittmar incorporated soft colors, fabrics, and gorgeous patina with more structured and classic components, such as tailored upholstery.

Inside this workplace, the combo of clean and classic desk set and entertaining colors breathes new life to what could easily become a classic appearance. The pop of the dark wood at the secretary along with the structured upholstery onto the desk seat — both by Thomas O’Brien for Hickory Chair — keep this little nook from getting too girly.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

From the living room, a grownup and neutral palette remains fresh with light-filled windows, soft curtains and easy artwork. A combination of newer products out of Robert Allen and Burton James with classic pieces gives the room a comfortable, lived-in feel that is not necessarily attainable with all-new pieces ” Patina refers to a level of age and wear, such as you find in classic furniture,” says Dittmar. “Having pieces with patina immediately gives the room a lived-in feeling. The worst thing would be to provide an area with everything brand new. It has no soul or character and more closely resembles a furniture store, not a home.”

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

The structured canopy on this mattress, made with fabric from Beacon Hill, echoes the tailoring on the roman shades made with the same fabric and brings together this cheerful guest bedroom. “Whenever possible, I also like to include bespoke tailor-like details on upholstered pieces, window treatments and pillows,” says Dittmar. “I love to use contrast welting, accent edge banding, applied tape pits, fringe, buttons and nailheads, and such. Those details take regular pieces and cause them to a whole lot more custom and special looking.”

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

A duvet and upholstered headboard work superbly with the antique-style four-poster bed in the master bedroom. A worn oak nightstand (a perfect example of patina) and gentle plaid drapes from Kravet dampen the structured bedframe. While it’s certainly a conventional bedroom, the use of antiques, delicate colors, and touchable fabrics takes it out of pompous to approachable. “Even in the event that you can’t manage true antiques, you can get a similar sense by searching for furniture in your local flea market or consignment store,” says Dittmar. “You can also purchase certain pieces from some of the better online catalogues such as Wisteria or Gump’s. They will not be truly classic, but they have done a pretty good job at reproducing the sense”

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

A large mirror and matching vanity near the bed help disperse light across the room. The light blue paint provides a soothing and calming feel and helps disperse light. “When I meet with a new client and they say, ‘I want a red dining room’ or ‘let’s paint the kitchen gloomy,'” says Dittmar, “I really do need to point out that we should test a color in the space first and see until they receive their heart set on it, as each color doesn’t work well in each space.”

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Home No. 2: Lighting and clean lines at a Noe Valley apartment
While some of Dittmar’s work leans toward contemporary, he still uses the same basic principles to carry his relaxed and classic style throughout the home. This home was a schoolhouse in the 1920s that was later converted to condos. Located in the Noe Valley area of San Francisco, the design uses the same fundamentals of upholstery, patina, and livability, but is also a fantastic example of Dittmar’s emphasis on the value of lighting.

“Lighting is crucial,” he states. “It needs to be done right to make a warm and welcoming area.” The overhead fixture at the dining room is out of Hubbardton Forge, and provides a gentle and adjustable light within the dining space and modern art by James Rosenquist.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Dittmar’s warm lighting system comes in numerous levels: overhead lighting, mid-level lighting (such as floor or table lamps) and uplights. Ceiling cans are a great overhead lighting option, but if you decide to go with them, Dittmar urges installing trims that can be angled, so the light can reflect off walls instead of directing straight down and producing unflattering downlight.

And do not forget dimmers! “My motto is: dimmers, dimmers, dimmers,” says Dittmar. “Nothing makes me cringe more than walking into an area (dining rooms in particular) with the lights! Nobody feels good in that harsh, bright light, so put a dimmer on it and it will change the mood for the better — guaranteed.”

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Even when working with a somewhat more contemporary tone, Dittmar makes certain to use pieces with an architectural quality, and made with clean and classic lines. Citing Neoclassical, Biedermeier, and Art Deco as some of his favorite styles, the pieces in the home’s living room — such as the classic couch frame from A. Rudin, along with Kravet coffee table — signify a silent formality at a more simpler sense of traditionalism compared to living room from the Presidio Heights home.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

From the Noe Valley kitchen, Dittmar utilized Flint from Benjamin Moore to define the space. White cabinets out of Segale Brothers and CeasarStone counters round out the fresh but classic look. All appliances are from GE and Thermador.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Home No. 3: Texture and pattern at Buena Vista
the worth of texture is clear in each nook and cranny of this living room in this apartment near Buena Vista Park in San Francisco. Dittmar stuck to a consistent color palette of soft grays and red accents, but mixed textures in both fabrics and furniture to make a rich, layered impact.

“A mistake a lot of people make when shopping in retail environments is to just order all of the upholstered pieces in the stock materials,” says Dittmar. “Those are fine, but when all your main upholstered pieces are done in fabrics such as that, it has a tendency to have a boring and flat look because all of them have a similar texture. By habit ordering two or one of those pieces in a more interesting and textural fabric, you can get a more layered and interesting appearance.”

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

Dittmar originally started out in graphic design, and worked at the market for several decades, and enjoys using geometric patterns in fabrics, wallpaper, and carpeting. Boldly patterned accent pillows are a simple way to add another level of visual interest to the living room, contrasting beautifully with the rich Romo velvet of this couch. “In each room, there should be a contrast — of soft and smooth with rough and nubby, shiny with matte, etc,” says Dittmar.

Brian Dittmar Design, Inc..

When you look closely in each of Dittmar’s projects, you’ll see a few classically designed clocks — such as this classic from the 1800s — put here and there. “I’ve had a fascination with clocks since I was a young child,” says Dittmar, “so I’ve incorporated them into many of the projects I’ve done.” In fact, his passion for clocks is so good, he did his whole room in a timepiece theme for its San Francisco Decorator Showcase at 2010.

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