Glam Living Room

via Traditional Home, Gerri Wiley Design Group 

Whenever a client asks me what to do with their "designated" living rooms 

I always ask them "what would you like it to be?"

It's often a decent size space at the front of the house with good natural light

It could be an office

it could be a den

it could be a tea room

it could be a lounge

The last one is my favourite and often the direction the client takes

A space to serve drinks & apps before a dinner party

or for those that don't entertain formally

it can become a lounge for hanging out with a bevy and some friends
before going out or relaxing at the end of a busy day with a stiff drink!

My clients just bought a newly built custom home
and we are furnishing their front room as a lounge for drinks or tea

We start with this chic boxy tufted loveseat with chrome nailhead trim
in a luxe cream coloured velvet

Then we will add in a couple of stream-lined, sloped arm chairs

in a textured cream chenille fabric

I like to mix up the shape of the seating to create interest, 

the clean lines of the chairs is a nice contrast to the "busyness" of the tufted sofa

A patterned rug in muted blue and cream tones

these two are being debated

A glass coffee table with lucite & chrome legs feels light

in the room but still sculptural

anything that goes on this table looks amazing

For our bar cabinet

a mirrored piece with patterned doors to store bottles and barware

while lovely glassware is displayed on top

A large mirror on top and maybe some sconces

Cap off the space with a contemporary crystal pendant

this one is definitely a statement piece

One wall behind the bar cabinet will have wallpaper

we are considering something like this with a soft grey background

and a metallic pattern

We are looking at various artwork options

we may keep ethereal with muted blues, creams & grays

or bump it up a notch with some deeper indigo and cobalt pops

Drapery fabric is going to be a luxurious silver damask I'm still sourcing

The overall plan looks luxurious and inviting

Drinks anyone?

Ceilings Treatments that Make You Look UP!

That fifth wall up above
that's so lonely and overlooked at times can be a real gift.

Especially when it looks like this!

Rarely do I get the chance to do something really interesting with the ceiling because it can be an investment to create beautiful architecture and often the client wants to focus the budget on furnishings that they are going to be sitting on and using every day.

But part of Interior Design is to enhance the good qualities in a room, while downplaying or improving the not so exciting elements.

I'm working on a project now with a beautiful 14 foot ceiling in the dining room (pictured below)
just crying out for a stunning chandelier to replace this boring shade.

And a gorgeous coffer ceiling in the family room (below)  

oh joy, oh bliss I get to start with this!

I MUST do something to enhance these beautiful surfaces.

There will be a stunning crystal fixture in the dining room for sure, client wants a very formal space.  I'm thinking a metallic finish of some sort in the central coffer, perhaps antiqued gold or silver leaf as a backdrop to the crystal fixture, like this



Or we could simply apply a dark paint to enhance the trim work

But fret not if you don't want to change the architecture of your room,  you can still get major bang for your buck with high gloss paint and a fantastic chandy, of course!

This black lacquered ceiling reflects the soft glow of the chandelier so beautifully as well as the sconces.  It truly creates a mysterious backdrop for this room with textured wallpaper and beautiful millwork.

Speaking of millwork...

How creative is this ceiling below?

Some trim strategically placed to form a circle then painted gold and sunbeams added 

make this room feel very special and again enhances the chandelier while providing 

a whimsical feeling to this lovely space.

A little bit of tape and some metallic paint... eh Voila!

A boring white ceiling is now a piece of art.

Or something as simple as a vintage ceiling medallion on a dark painted surface

even the simplest pendant looks fantastic.

This ceiling helps give the dining room an outdoor garden feeling 

echoing the lines of the floral area rug

Add a zingy lemon yellow to a neutral colour scheme and BAM!



Why not create the illusion of a coffer ceiling with patterned wallpaper?
Love this geometric pattern in a very modern room office space.
The contrasting gold chandelier creates a bit of tension but they work well together.




So the next time you walk into a room, look up and see the possibilities!

All images via Accents & Details board on Pinterest

Places to Spaces

via

via

We all know interior design is often inspired by the fashion world.

I love seeing the runway trends that are translated into room decor 

around the Pinter-sphere. 

So I wanted to show how inspiration comes from many places - like travel.

When I came across this beautiful island shot I was immediately inspired by the colour palette and filed it away in my Inspiration board on Pinterest.  

I wanted to show how this picture can inspire a mood for a room 

and inform the colour scheme and design concept as well.

It could be a picture you took on your honeymoon or anniversary that conjures up feelings of serenity, comfort and sheer bliss! You want to bring that feeling home after the vacay.
So, how do you do it?  Here’s my take.

My first response is an emotional one – how would I feel being in this space (aka water’s edge at dusk).  It immediately feels very serene and peaceful; a lovely sunset over gently rolling waves.
 At the same time, it evokes an edgy, modern, sophisticated vibe; and a sense of mystery as the evening transitions to night and all the colour fades into the darkness.

If I was decorating a living room inspired by this picture, 

I would see light silvery blue-grey walls with a steely-grey ceiling & trim
to pick up on the colours of the approaching night sky and make the space feel cozy.

  

Benjamin Moore - Glacier Lake & Tweed Coat Paints

The bubble chandeliers in multiples provide the lightness and ethereal qualities
of the billowy clouds accenting the vast evening sky. 

A curved charcoal sofa with silver nail heads and the graphic lines of the side table
feature asymmetrical shapes similar to the side of the cliffs.   

 The black shades on this modern brass floor lamp
repeat the edges of the spiked rocks that accent the water's edge.

The linen tufted ottoman with bleached wood legs and base
adds contrast to the dark sofa and brings in another texture
 like the sand against the water. 

The wavy dark grey lines on the rug create the foundation for the room and
mimic the waves of the ocean, giving the whole room a sense of fluidity and motion.  

Lavender, cream, pink and metallic finishes splashed about in accent pillows, flowers, and accessories lighten the space like the night sky’s showcase… as it sets.

  

What do you think?

Does this space look like that place?

If you can't get to the oasis, bring the oasis to your home.

All it takes is a little inspiration to get you started.

Eclectic Style

some boho
a bit beachy
cottage library chic
add lots of vintage vibe

mix it all together ... feels eclectic to me!

My client's requirements for her open plan living room was first and foremost comfort, nothing precious;  family & dog friendly, barefoot country living with cozy places to play guitar or plop down to read a book, which the whole family of five love to do.

This is the BEFORE

On one side of the room, lots of mismatched and recycled pieces of furniture that had seen their time.  A dull brown rug that weighed down the room and leather sofas on their last legs... literally.  The aluminum window blinds and drapery sheers did nothing in terms of function or style.

The other side of the room hosted this lovely old piano that sat lonely in the middle of the space with only a few minutes a week having her ivories tickled - a smaller keyboard in the daughter's room had taken its place.  Random furniture placed about but it didn't feel cohesive with the adjoining space.  So the task was to make both spaces separately functional while still complementing each other.

The only piece that had to stay was this beautiful cabinet that stored a ton of cherished books.

The first task was to create a functional layout for both spaces that worked better for this family's specific needs.  A games table was mandatory and comfortable seating with good lighting for reading.  This was also going to be a teen girl's area for writing and crafts.

I designed two distinct but complimentary spaces to accommodate everyone at the same time, 

and created functional areas that could also be cozy enough for just one person.

The space is 33 feet wide by 13.5 feet deep.
Front entry door at bottom center with adjacent dining room (top right) and hallway to the kitchen (top center).

.
The original dull yellow walls were painted a crisp Benjamin Moore Cloud White and all the traditional trim in a contrasting dark grey, Benjamin Moore Kendall Charcoal for a nice pop. Matching sisal rugs with red border trim define each space but still link the rooms together.  A gorgeous navy velvet tufted chesterfield sofa is the best spot for lounging with a good book or taking an afternoon nap.  Client's vintage farmhouse cabinet (bottom right) provides additional storage.  The desk was an antique find that was painted to work in the space.

Client's artwork inspired the accent colour for the throw and pillows on the sofa.  They also kept their cubby bookshelves.

Daughter's desk hosts her prized vintage typewriter and lavender tea set.

The other side of the room showcases my client's vintage art posters that tie into the red rug trim.

I brought in a new daybed with classic styling and great patina on the wood frame.

The rustic wood table is just the right size for card games and works well with the two vintage Queen Anne chairs; we are still looking for two more side chairs that can be pulled up to the games table when needed.  The fireplace was freshened up with paint for now, with plans for a vintage surround in the future.

This is the front entry door that has no adjacent closets.  The nearest closet is 16 feet clear across the room, which makes no sense at all in a home this size.  So the solution was two hall benches flanking the door with hanging coat hooks and drawers for shoes.  We added baskets above for scarves, mitts and the dog leash.  It now helps define the space as well as keeping it tidy.  The frame of the door was also painted dark grey to match the window trim, it really makes the solid wood front door look richer.

There were three beautiful vintage chandeliers that came with the house but were located in hallways, so I wanted to move them into these spaces (two flanking the chesterfield shown below) 

but unfortunately they needed to be re-wired to meet electrical code requirements, as did the rest of the room, so we held off for now on the lighting upgrade until budget permits.  

So sad...

The original design concept was to hang the vintage chandeliers on either side of the sofa...so decadent! 

The definition of a successful project is not only to have extremely happy clients that give you wonderful referrals but, when the homeowner's teens give up their beloved media room to hang out here with the family instead.  Quality family time in a beautiful and cozy space. 

That makes me a very happy lady indeed!