Lifestyle

Detailed architectural floor plan, two levels shown.

Transforming a Historic Marysville Building into a Modern Live-Work Space

When The King’s Accountant, a full-service accounting firm in Marysville, CA, set out to expand, they weren’t just looking for more office space—they wanted a seamless blend of work and home, modern function, and historic charm. Having previously worked with Sonja Skvarla Design Studio on their executive office redesign, they knew they wanted to extend […]

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Before & After, Community / By mustardseed

Modern kitchen with green cabinets and bar seating.

A Family Home Transformed: A Grandchild-Friendly Refresh with Timeless Elegance

Every home holds a story, and this one—built by the homeowner’s own hands over four decades ago—is a testament to craftsmanship, love, and family. The challenge? Refreshing the space to honor its history while infusing it with warmth, functionality, and a grandchild-friendly touch. The result is a transformation that feels both fresh and deeply personal.

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Before & After, Lifestyle, Residential / By mustardseed

White house with solar panels and garden

A glowing example of nature-inspired renovation

Try as you might, I know its hard to resist the allure of the wham-bam HGTV makeover shows. After all, wouldn’t we all love to believe we can makeover a room or even a whole house over the course of an hour. Fortunately, for most folks it seems that the dream bubble on the not-so-reality

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Residential / By Sonja Skvarla

(interior) Design is love

I can’t get this phrase out of my head. It rings so true. (interior) Design is a deeply intimate way of saying “I love you” to yourself, your family and even your community. Let me tell you 3 stories of love. The ‘G’s Both retired and looking toward the third act of their lives. They

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Community, Lifestyle, Residential / By Sonja Skvarla

What are you welcoming in?

I think we’ve finally gotten there. By just about every calendar there is; Chinese, Lunar, Astrological, Gregorian, et al, we are officially in a new year. So if you haven’t been feeling that new year, new you vibe since January, it may now be starting to stir. A couple weeks ago we spoke about emptying

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Lifestyle / By Sonja Skvarla

I Think in Pictures

I think in pictures. I thought there was only one way to think. Thinking was that loud running monologue. The voice inside my head. Feelings came from my body, my heart, my throat, my chest, my gut. Luscious and intriguing experiences. But thoughts spoke to me in the oft annoying narrative. Yammering on and trying

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Lifestyle / By Sonja Skvarla

House In Transition

Not Just 2020 It’s likely a considerable understatement that the last couple of years have been doozies. I don’t know about you, but for me it started years before the panini thing. 2018 and 2019 were chaotic whirlwinds of business and panic and fear. We will save those stories for another day, but those years

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Lifestyle / By Sonja Skvarla

Stuck?

The truth is I’m not a talented enough photographer or writer or artist to really encapsulate the soulfulness that I can feel. Articulating soulfulness is a challenge. I’m up to the task of practice… I am sensitive though. I can feel the energy in rooms, objects and people. I have ideas about how a room

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Lifestyle, Tradition / By Sonja Skvarla

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