When Clara Jung of Banner Day Interiors found her home in the Claremont neighborhood of Berkeley, California, it had already been remodeled—but still needed a designer’s touch. While the updated spaces were not what she would have done, many of the finishes and fixtures were of higher quality, so she left the kitchen and bathrooms as they were to avoid creating waste. The rest, however, was fair game.

Clara, who has just wrapped up two large-scale home remodels as well as a tasting room and Airstream at a Napa winery, practiced law for five years before turning to design. She’d long nurtured a talent for creating stunning interiors, but didn’t have formal training and was uncertain about making it her career.

“Additionally, this was during the tail end of the Great Recession, and I didn’t know if it would be crazy and irresponsible to quit my well-paying job for what was essentially just an idea,” she says. “I did some research, I quit my firm job, and took a giant leap of faith. Sometimes the biggest hurdle you have to overcome is to just do it.”

“I started as a one person, and I hustled really hard,” Clara recalls. “I really utilized my network and was never shy about talking about my projects. Slowly, more and more leads and projects trickled in.” Now, Banner Day Interiors is a team of four.

When it came to her own abode, Clara allowed herself to fly by the seat of her pants, a contrast to the more measured approach she takes with her clients. “I don’t measure when I should,” she admits. “I am impulsive and definitely do a ton of high and low. I just don’t take it too seriously and figure my personal space is a great place to experiment and see what works.”

Clara kept her interventions minimal, adding seating by her living room bay window and a breakfast nook in the kitchen. The backyard is where she really got to work, transforming it according to her “dreams of the English countryside.” Her next project? “Instead of renovating the kitchen and bathrooms [in this space], I’m keeping my fingers crossed to redo a lake house in the near future,” she says.

Shop the Look

What parts of the home are particularly special to you?

Clara Jung: At the back of our house, there is an archway that leads to the basement. That entrance is where they used to drop off the milk and groceries from the grocer in their horse and cart. How fun is that? The sunroom in our home is very special. It looks and feels like you’re in a tree house. It gets sunlight all day long, and we have our library in there. It’s a cozy little spot to retreat away from the world for just a little bit.

Where do you spend most of your time in your home?

In the living room—it’s cozy and comfortable. We have a sliver of an ocean view which is framed by the large redwoods that grow in our neighbor’s yard. The sunsets from this room are pretty epic.

What is your single favorite piece of decor, and why?

My George Mulhauser Plycraft lounge chair. I bought it for myself as a treat. It was a couple of years after my firm had finally started taking off. Like many small business owners, you don’t pay yourself when you’re building a business. I finally felt I was getting a footing in this industry and treated myself appropriately.

What was on your checklist when designing your home?

I knew I wanted a mix of contemporary and vintage furniture. I’ve slowly been working my way towards that goal.

What home items are most important to invest in?

Not to be cliche, but invest in things that make you happy. I’m a huge proponent of saving for original artwork that speaks to you. It can transform and elevate a space so profoundly.

What are your tips for putting a cohesive space together?

A never-fail rule is to have the larger pieces of furniture act as a neutral background, and bring in accessories and color through artwork. This also guarantees flexibility for the future, as you can easily switch out accessories versus replacing a statement sofa. Additionally, if you’re unsure of yourself, experimenting with color and texture through pillows, throws, ceramics, etc., is a forgiving and fun way to try out different color palettes.

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Project Credits:

Interior Design: Banner Day Interiors

Appears In

My House: An Interior Designer Nods to the English Countryside in Her Berkeley Home