Concord
In lieu of moving houses, these clients decided to remodel most of their beloved home that they had enjoyed for some 30 years. They needed help selecting all new surfaces from flooring to wall color schemes, window coverings from plantation shutters and roman shades to draperies and a whole slew of new furniture and rugs. First, we discussed who would be enjoying each space and how. The answer was very typical for how we live today and for grandparents to many frequently-visiting, spirited children: comfortable, inviting and with nothing off limits. Accommodating many people for sit-down dinners was also priority one.
The living room off the entry lacked that special something that can draw a visitor in such as a fire feature, or interesting architecture. To create some intrigue, I suggested a Ralph Lauren grass cloth on two of the walls, painting the rest to blend. After the initial, understandable and common rebuffing at the mention of wallpaper (“my grandmother had wallpaper”), the client agreed to take the plunge and has since reported a great many favorable comments on it. It just has a way of saying “look at us walls, we’re special”. And they are. That made the large painting sufficient on the one big wall. A plush rug and extra-comfy upholstery occupy this space, creating an out-of-the-fray space for some quiet time and privacy. Plantation shutters provide that architectural effect the room was lacking and look sharp from the street. The new, unique light fixture creates the perfect sparkle without being too dressy for this space. The finely-crafted secretary holding the antique typewriter and other one-of-a-kind objects add personality and character. As well, the hand-painted display cabinet filled with loved objects also makes the room personal versus just a space full of requisite, designer-selected furnishings. Too often, that approach leaves a room pretty but shallow.
The Resortation Hardware table and chairs are big enough to accommodate family dinners. Bench seating saves space and makes sense along the traffic path during bigger gatherings. The adjoining family room furniture arrangement left an open space for periodic extension of the table. For non-meal times, this arrangement of furniture was also selected to accommodate the abundance of floor play the grandchildren engage in. The Century ottoman can be easily shoved aside as needed. The clients are very busy professionals so the light palette was purposeful to create a feeling of order and clarity, a little like a palette cleanser for the eyes and spirit. Richer colors were placed on upholstery pieces which is always a smart, kid-friendly choice. One request was that the tv be above the newly-renovated fireplace but hidden, and the doors needed to recede rather than simply splay out to the sides. I thought creating a faux mirror would be in order and tapped a contractor with meticulous attention to detail to build it. I chose a paint color that would blend in with the quartz on the hearth. Moderate privacy and sun control was needed, so semi-sheer roman shades were crafted. As for art, I was thrilled that the clients found a painting on their own on their travels. That certainly gives heart and meaning to a room.
