Client Design - A Transitional Family Friendly Living Room
It's been a few months since I announced my leap into providing
eDesign services. I've been so happy with the response and the chance to help many of you
create homes you love. From living rooms to dining rooms, adult retreats to
kid's cottage bedrooms, it's been such a fun new endeavour.
Selfishly, you've given me the opportunity to push my design abilities,
explore different styles, and incorporate products that I've long loved. An
unexpectedly fun element? Working within a budget! I have a degree in Finance
so I get a thrill with any task that requires me to break out Excel ;)
I thought I would share on the blog some of the designs I've created. All
rooms have challenges and I thought you might like to see how I approached
this space. It might give you ideas you can use in your own home.
Transitional Living Room
This living room shared many of the hallmarks of a traditional living room: a
good-sized space, a fireplace, multiple entrances and windows. It also had
several built-in bookcases and moulding which gave this room a sense of
formality, suited to this Colonial home in Baltimore.
This room sat at the end of a hallway leading from the front door. It was a
high traffic room, with most movement in and out of the adjacent kitchen.
Design Brief and Challenges:
- Create a comfortable space for this family of 5 to hang out together
- Give the three windows a sense of uniformity
- Allow for traffic flow to the hallway and kitchen
- Incorporate transitional style with a mix of traditional and contemporary furnishings
- Create a multi-functional space. This is a room for piano playing, reading, toddler naps, and sitting by the fire.
Design Elements:
I started by anchoring the room with a
sleeper sofa. In fact, this is the
same sofa we have at our cottage. When stretching out is a priority, I highly recommend this sleeper
sofa over a sectional or sofa with a chaise. It gives everyone the chance to
lay out within the same furniture footprint. A dark colour in a high
performance fabric will keep it family friendly. To use the sofa, the
coffee table
needs to be moved out of the way and luckily this one has hidden
casters.
The sofa is paired with two
wingback accent chairs
in an attractive window pane pattern. As these chairs are visible when
standing in the hallway, I wanted them to have prominence and a pattern and
catch your attention. The tall legs on the chairs also keep things from
feeling too heavy. A pair of
grey leather x-base stools
with brass nailheads provide versatile seating and add a hit of masculine
style and texture. In one corner, I've a tucked a vintage secretary desk. It's
a perfect spot for doing homework or working from home, and every room needs
something vintage to give it soul. This gorgeous
Persian style wool rug
in hues of soft blue, cream, and grey ties everything together.
With so many bookcases, doors and windows, and moulding in this room, I wanted
the fireplace to be simple yet elegant. A
modern arched mirror
contrasts against the classic elements. Adding herringbone tile to the
fireplace surround and painting the mantel and walls all in a soft grey white
like
Farrow & Ball's Blackened
creates a calm and peaceful atmosphere.
I've recommended that the bay window be outfitted with a custom bench seat
with a pull out drawer for toy storage beneath. A bench cushion in
blue grey velvet fabric
and blue and cream pillows will make it the most coveted seat in the room.
A modern photographic print
and pair of floral prints enliven the walls. and the room is finished off with
an unexpected
linear chandelier.
All in all, this is a room both the kids and adults will love!
Do you need help with your home?
Check out my design services
and get in touch!
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