Step Inside an Energetic Home Filled With Color and Character

Watch and read how a designer used curved furniture and a soft blue palette to create stylish, family-friendly spaces

Mitchell Parker October 14, 2022

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative trends, breaking news, industry analysis and humor.

Houzz Editorial Staff. Home design journalist writing about cool spaces, innovative... More

Comment18

Click "Embed" to display an article on your own website or blog.

Designer Laura Elliot wanted to help a San Francisco couple imbue their 1917 home with creative energy that reflected their personalities. And with three kids under the age of 5, the homeowners needed lots of family-friendly activity space.

Elliot drew upon the couple’s love of Justice League, the comic book superheroes, to fill the home with color and art while preserving its old-world character. A framed art piece depicting Wonder Woman sets the tone at the charming front entry. A soothing palette of blue ensconces the combined family room, game area and formal living space. Curved furniture pieces minimize potentially dangerous angles for the young kids.

In the dining room, a watercolor-like wallpaper creates a dreamy atmosphere. A vibrant wallpaper on the main bedroom ceiling recalls a colorful comic book panel. A forest-inspired theme cheers up a nursery. And a lively swim-themed wallpaper makes a happy splash in a kids bathroom.

Refined Interiors

House at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple with three kids under 5
Location: San Francisco
Designer: Laura Elliot of Refined Interiors

A colorful custom rug and framed art of Wonder Woman add playful elements to the front entry. In the corner, Elliot installed floating shelves and an organic-shaped mirror around an original mail slot. “We created a whole moment around the mail slot,” she says.

Watch now: Go inside this remodeled home on Houzz TV

Refined Interiors

In the family room, Elliot designed a custom sofa to curve around a bay window. A custom ottoman upholstered in vinyl provides a durable surface during family movie nights. The curves ensure no sharp corners for the kids. Blue millwork and blue textured wallpaper create a soothing feel. “They hang there and cuddle on a nightly basis,” Elliot says. “It’s the fun family room.”

Find local design and general contracting pros

Refined Interiors

The family room connects to an open living space that includes a game table near floor-to-ceiling built-ins. Elliot carried the blue wallpaper and millwork into these areas as well. “I kept the blues because you can see numerous different rooms at one time and I want that sightline to work nicely together without being jarring or without feeling like the house is a rainbow of colors,” she says.

Again, a round table and base and chairs with gentle curves provide soft angles. Elliot styled the shelves with wood pieces made by the father of one of the homeowners, as well as with framed photos and other cherished items. “It’s really nice to be able to bring some personality into the home onto the shelves without overdoing it,” says Elliot, who used Houzz Pro software to manage this project with the homeowners.

Shop for home furnishings

Refined Interiors

At the other end of the room opposite the game table, Elliot arranged the formal living area around the fireplace. Rich blues and cool grays dominate the scheme, but pops of warm gold shine through.

Curved pieces provide soft edges and facilitate circulation. “I typically like to stay away from pointy corners when I have a family with young kids,” Elliot says.

An art installation comprising kiln-fired porcelain discs fills the space over the mantel.

Installation artist: CJ Nash

Watch now: Tour more of this stylish home

Refined Interiors

In the dining room, wallpaper gives a watercolor impression of clouds, creating a dreamy effect.

The large wood table features a white finish and metal details. A chunky wood console adds texture. “It brings in that artsy creative look these clients were really looking for,” Elliot says.

20 Drop-Dead Gorgeous Dining Rooms

Refined Interiors

The main bedroom features a stunning wallpaper on the ceiling that brings in bright colors and broad strokes that recall comic book panels. “It’s abstract and you can see different things every time you look at it — or create your own story,” Elliot says.

Refined Interiors

A forest theme perks up a colorful nursery. The rug features woodland animals perched in trees. A birdcage floor lamp coordinates with a similarly styled ceiling light. And the blue wallpaper features reflective stars for a nighttime sky effect.

A round crib sits on the opposite side of the room. The daybed gives Mom a spot to nurse or nap.

Refined Interiors

A retro swim-themed wallpaper and watery blue vanity energize a kids bathroom. “It’s so fun to work with color, pattern and just to get creative,” Elliot says. “Don’t be afraid to do that.”

Watch now: Step inside this remodeled home in the latest episode of Houzz TV

More on Houzz
Tour more homes
Hire a local design pro
Shop for your home