2020 Blog Highlights at Carla Bast Design

A Look Back at Our Top Posts and Why We Love Them

There’s no doubt that 2020 was a tough year for us all. But despite the uncertainty, one thing has kept us grounded: design. Here at Carla Bast Design, we’ve found escape and joy in beautiful interiors. Especially in today’s world, that can be exactly the boost we all need to get through each day. So, to kick off 2021, we’re taking a look back at our top five posts for the year.

These were hands down your favorite blogs, and what better way to celebrate the new year than to gush about why we love them? If you’re craving some design inspiration, read on. When it comes to 2020, reminiscing about a few pretty designs isn’t a bad way to remember it at all.

How to Work with Your Honey Oak to Update Your 90s Home

What could be more quintessential to the 90s-era home than oak trim? This post was a big hit for our readers and to this day it’s one of our favorites, too. After all, while an extensive remodel is probably on the wish list for us all, it’s not always in the budget. So we gathered together examples from the best design minds in the industry to show you the potential for working with that honey oak trim without completely ripping it out to the studs. For low-cost solutions, you won’t want to miss this!

Our ASID Showcase Home was an award winner for best use of color in this Mid-Century Modern Home. We embraced the original oak trim in the home and brought it to life with an infusion of blue and green and added a custom vanity with pull-out stools for the little ones. (Interior Design: Carla Bast | Carla Bast Design)
Our ASID Showcase Home was an award winner for best use of color in this Mid-Century Modern Home. We embraced the original oak trim in the home and brought it to life with an infusion of blue and green and added a custom vanity with pull-out stools for the little ones. (Interior Design: Carla Bast | Carla Bast Design)

How to Update Your 1990s-Era Kitchen

We love a good before and after reveal. That’s why we weren’t surprised when this one landed in the top five posts. The blog’s highlights? We show you in detail what a 90s-style home has the potential to become. And on top of that, we also give you a step by step look into how we conceptualized the renovation. Have you been staring at dated oak cabinets and earth-toned wall colors for years? Then this 90s kitchen transformation is right up your alley.

A soft neutral color palette brought light and life into this kitchen, making it an entertainer’s dream. Design by: Carla Bast, Carla Bast Design
A soft neutral color palette brought light and life into this kitchen, making it an entertainer’s dream. (Interior Design: Carla Bast |Carla Bast Design)

 

Pin this for easy reference on our top posts!

updating the 90s kitchen

New Basement Finish Project Reveal: Wilds Overlook

In this era of COVID, nothing feels more essential than having a spacious entertaining zone for the whole family to enjoy. Hours upon hours at home means we’ve all had to rethink how each room functions and where we actually enjoy spending time. The Wilds Overlook basement reveal checked off all those boxes. It included a bar/lounge area to take in the televised NFL games with a cocktail in hand and a hidden bookcase door and secret playroom for the kids. It was a homebound family’s dream come true. Looking to spruce up your basement to survive the winter ahead? Take a look – you just might find inspiration that’s the perfect fit.

Our clients were ecstatic about their lower level reveal, complete with a shuffleboard, spacious bar, comfortable TV and fireplace lounge area, bathroom, and secret playroom behind a hidden bookcase door. Design by: Carla Bast, Carla Bast Design
Our clients were ecstatic about their lower-level reveal, complete with a shuffleboard, spacious bar, comfortable TV and fireplace lounge area, bathroom, and secret playroom behind a hidden bookcase door. Interior Design: Carla Bast | Carla Bast Design

How to Update Your 1990s-Era Bathroom

This post was a continuation of our 90s-era transformation series. In it, we followed up our popular 1990s kitchen post with a before and after reveal of a 1990s bathroom. And if you’ve ever been closed in by too many walls and a mix of powder blue walls, beige tile, oak trim, and a massive built-in tub, well this post was probably saved to your browser favorites. We absolutely loved seeing the transformation of these two bathrooms into neutral, spa-inspired getaways. If the normal days of spa treatments are on pause, why not get a little pampering in your very own home?

After a heft transformation, this master bath became a spa-like retreat for our clients, complete with extensive built-in storage solutions. Interior Design: Carla Bast | Carla Bast Design
After a heft transformation, this master bath became a spa-like retreat for our clients, complete with extensive built-in storage solutions. Interior Design: Carla Bast | Carla Bast Design

How to Create a Home Office Background Wall for Video Meetings

The whole work-from-home situation was initially temporary. But after awhile, using half the dining room table or setting up shop in a bedroom corner probably stopped feeling novel. To really get the most out of those work hours, we all began to recognize the need for a dedicated office space, or at the very least, a solid background wall for video meetings. This post was especially popular this year, and it’s no wonder. With endless inspiration – from unique bold walls to shelfies filled with beautiful tchotchkes – those zoom calls started to get tackled with confidence and style.

Pin this for easy reference on our top posts!

How to create a home office background for video meetings

What were your top posts of 2020? Did these five make the cut? No matter which topics you loved, we can promise you that 2021 has a whole lot of fun in store. Reveals, renovation inspiration, 90s tips and tricks, and more await. Stay tuned for another year of design magic!

Cheers

Hi, I’m Carla

carla-bast-interior-designer-and-blogger

I’m glad you’re here! You are in the right place if you are feeling overwhelmed at the thought of embarking on a remodeling or interior design project. Living with an outdated home and don’t know where to start? I’ve helped families like yours update their home and create spaces that reflect what’s important to them for over 25 years.

I’ve been honored to be featured in:

Real Homes

The Spruce

Apartment Therapy / Cubby

Twin Cities Luxury + Fashion

MSP Magazine

Minneapolis Star Tribune

Hunker

Home Crux

 

paint-color-guide

Free Paint Guide

5 Tips for Stress Free Remodel

Don’t miss a thing!

Enter your email below to be the first to know about design posts, new products and tips for a more beautiful home.

Don’t miss a thing!

Enter your email below to be the first to know about design posts, new products and tips for a more beautiful home.

Looking for something on the blog?

More Posts We Think You'd Love

6 Responses

  1. I really enjoyed seeing which posts made *The Cut*, Carla. I enjoyed all five of these myself, this year, and it was fun to review them again as there are so many good ideas in each one.

  2. I can see why all of your past blogs mentioned here made your top list. All are wonderful topics that people are looking at doing in their own homes. The one about working with honey oak is golden!

  3. What a great post, I can’t even decide which is my favorite post! You certainly have created so many great spaces over the last year, thanks for showing these great photos. I am truly inspired!

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comments links could be nofollow free.

how to choose paint colors with confidence

Free Design Guide

Ever wonder what your own personal interior design style is?

Unlock Your Unique Design Style