When we met our clients Lizzy and Gagan, we leapt at the idea of co-creating the setting for their new life chapter together, turning their newly-purchased Upper Rockridge house into a home. Together, we transformed their 1929 English Tudor into a haven that seamlessly blends global charm and modern functionality, with a touch of luxe.

While Gagan grew up in the Bay Area, Lizzy is from the Midwest, and after their engagement, they decided to put down roots in Oakland with the help of real estate agent Bill Charman. Bill referred the couple to LMB Interiors, and within a few weeks, the plans began.

“We really fell in love with it, saw a future here, and wanted to make it our own… shortly after we bought the house Laura came over with some builders. We walked around the house envisioning what we could create with the space. She really took the effort to understand who we are and what our vision was for our home. That made a huge impact in building trust for a creative process.” 

Featuring artwork by Sharon Paster of Simon Breitbard Fine Art Gallery above a vintage find midcentury bar cabinet from Narrative Oak, we love how this space invites visitors to sit at the kitchen without being in the kitchen.

During the design process, Lizzy and Gagan were planning an international wedding while working demanding tech jobs. Their trust in our team was crucial, as was the relationship with our industry friends, Oliver Builders. 

“We were quite foolish, to be honest with you, taking on this massive project, but felt really taken care of by LMBI and Oliver Builders teams.”

Work by Petros Koublis stands in as art via television screensaver in this radiant kitchen.

I enjoyed creating a tapestry of aesthetics alongside Tiara, our design lead on the project. We merged Gagan’s desire for practicality and functionality with Lizzy’s willingness to explore more daring elements, resulting in a home that marries earthiness with global influences. Jewel tones and rich woods coalesce with Indian and Moroccan accents, resulting in an eclectic yet harmonious blend that reflects their travels. And throughout the home during the day, natural light floods in with bright warmth.

This warm, welcoming dining room features a Jacob May dining table, a chandelier by Arteriors, and Shir rug from Sloan Miyasato.

As any longtime readers of this blog know by now, I am a huge fan of wallpaper, the unexpected, and blending masculine and feminine elements. It was a delight sharing with Lizzy and Gagan options for bold choices that they may not have otherwise considered. 

“We had some fun making bold decisions on wallpaper and tile. I’m so glad the LMBI team wasn’t afraid to bring unique options to the table. The powder room really demonstrates the creative and collaborative outcome of their process. I love the bold and chic look of this room; it is way cooler than I could have imagined!”

This showstopping powder room is brought to life with bold Shumacher wallcovering and a duo of pendants by Arteriors.

Lizzy and Gagan both work from home, and it was important to create office spaces that reflect who they are, and appeal to their own individual sensibilities. 

Lizzy’s office opens to a garden seating area to bring the outside in, and features artwork by Elise Morris of Slate Gallery.

“I love my office. I chose it intentionally because it leads out to the garden. I often keep the doors open while I’m sitting there because it feels like I’m outside. The seamless flow between outdoor and indoor spaces is one of our favorite aspects of the house. With the design, I feel we did an excellent job of pulling nature into the home to allow this flow to happen organically.”

A rug from Ruby Rugs and art by Sharon Paster of Simon Breitbard Fine Art Gallery provide richness to this global-influenced living space.

Now that they have lived in their home for a few months, Lizzy has shared about her love of finding new spaces to sit within her home, to appreciate the details and rich textures we chose together. The couple enjoys hosting family and friends to stay in their “mother-in-law suite,” as well as for events in their lower-level theater, which has already set the stage for viewing parties of the Oscars and the Super Bowl. 

This mother-in-law suite with a featured charming traditional arch window provides a restful space for the couple’s family and friends when visiting from out of town. Notable detail: custom metal vent covers (as seen on the ceiling) used throughout the project by Annie Kantor/Modern Metal Designs.

As the principal of this firm, nothing brings me more joy than hearing positive feedback about our warm, kind, talented designers. Tiara did a stellar job taking care of the details all the while keeping the humor and grace she is known for. Here are a few words Lizzy shared about working with her: “Tiara is a rockstar! It’s astounding to me all the detail she can hold in her brain. We went into this project without knowing anything about all the moving parts that have to be managed to deliver a project of this size. We felt we were in great hands with Tiara.” Thank you, Lizzy. We agree!

This bright, cozy master suite is brought together with an antique rug by Ruby Rugs.

Oddly enough, all parties have struggled a bit to define the exact style of this home, to find words that encapsulate a space that ultimately bears Lizzy and Gagan’s unique signature. What is undeniable, though, is the magic of collaboration when working alongside people and teams who are dedicated to a beautiful, shared vision.

“As a midwesterner, home as a welcoming vessel is important to me. I’ve always wanted to live in a space with light, natural beauty and space for cultivating community. I’m so fortunate we’ve been able to create that with our home.”

See all photos from this project in our portfolio: Warm and Welcoming Rockridge Tudor

By Laura Martin Bovard. Photos by Mo Saito.