Open floor plans are all the rage. They present many design opportunities, but also one key challenge: making sure a design concept flows from room to room. In remodeling this great room, dining room and study, it was important to establish continuity. In particular, we wanted to make sure each room flowed nicely from the kitchen, which is where we had made the biggest transformation in the house. So we started by carrying the kitchen wall color through to the Great Room and then went with a blue wall paint in the dining area and study, to tie in with the kitchen island.
We took white paint to all the dark wood trim, and installed new hardwood floors throughout. The floors were stained a rich, medium brown to help anchor the space and provide contrast.
Rearranging the accessories and pictures in these rooms went a long way toward updating the space, and plantation shutters were a nice upgrade for both the study and dining area. New fixtures from Capital Lighting were also added.
For the Great Room, we painted the hearth white (the brick felt a bit dated) and added a new couch and two leather swivel chairs that bring in some more of that dreamy blue. The area rug, from Jaunty, combines the blue with some of the brown tones that also appear in the room.
The new dining room uses chairs from the client’s previous home, and they are from the same set that we used in her updated kitchen — again, it’s all about establishing flow. Their elegant frames pair wonderfully with the more understated table, and keeping the lines simple allows the eye to focus on the mirrored wall hanging, which is a stunner.

Area Rug: Jaunty Inc.
Style: Vista #VI-547 Shadow
Chairs: Jessica Charles
Style: Delta
Chandelier: Capital Lighting #4720WG-565
Other furniture from her previous house.