Art Collector's Abode
When they bought this house, it was to be closer to their kids, and since they already had another home in Delaware, they thought they would take their time furnishing this one. But that changed completely when they found me to help with their ENTIRE FIRST FLOOR!
We were about to embark on creating the perfect showcase for their extensive art collection. The front entry room is such a unique and airy space, that I thought it be a shame to not be enjoyed as a sitting room. Off we went!
THE FOYER SITTING ROOM…
was now the maiden voyage to not only curating where the art should go, but how it should be grouped, and lit! The room is filled with natural light, so whatever vignettes we assembled, they had almost even lighting, terrific for the pieces that would find a home here.
I found it versatile to offer a comfortable bench for seating and to anchor the space. It also could easily be pulled in as additional seating in the adjacent dining room.
Because the homeowner has a sensitivity to VOCs, we chose all of the floor coverings, furniture and paints very carefully. All of the furniture in these rooms is new and needed to sit in a warehouse for almost 6 months to allow it to off gas, before we would bring them into the house.
The rugs chosen for the seating and dining areas are complimentary to one another, while different in pattern and design. We went subtle with the overall color palette and patterns, so not to compete with the joyful artwork and chair fabrics.
The fabric for the Roman shades was a real leap of faith on their part. They thought they wanted something quieter, without any pattern. But after testing several large fabric samples they agreed that this ginkgo leaf pattern was going to bring graceful energy to this entry, and well, we are all so glad we did!
THE GLASS SHELVING
I must take a moment to tell you guys about this glass shelving
This display marks the connection point between the previously featured entry sitting area, and the dining room.
It was actually a solid wall before we started. But it blocked so much light, that only a narrow beam could shine into the dining room.
Knowing that the homeowner has an extensive tea pot collection, I thought what better way to feature them.
Thankfully, this wasn't a load bearing wall, so I had my pals over at @hutchinsonglassandmirror to suspend glass shelving from floor to ceiling.
This allowed all the light from the overhead windows to shine onto her pots, and right on through to the neighboring dining room.
THE ART COLLECTION
As I introduce you into this adjacent dining space… I want to take a brief moment to just talk about art.
For some of my clients, their artwork is like a pet in their home. It actually has a presence.
It is something that brings in a sense of peace. It could give them a sense of nostalgia from the trip where it was found. And often times, it is kempt , cleaned and protected very carefully.
This next dining space is quite special because it is a functional continuation of their collectables finding a home.
DINING ROOM
The dining room has a cast of warm rosy light, which is intentional and a welcome contrast to the bright white light of their museum foyer.
With so much artwork, how do they keep it safe from the littles you may ask? Well, we decided to include two bunching curios that are loaded with their more fragile items.
This way, they wouldn’t be accessible to the grandbabies, but still very accessible for entertaining.
The fabrics we went with for these two rooms are filled with varying color and design, coordinated, but all quite different from one other. All told, there are at least 6 different fabrics between the two spaces.
And the homeowners wouldn’t have it any other way! This room has its own hue, artful vibe and conversation starters around every corner!
THE GREAT ROOM
We are entering the great room now! After all that art leading to the rear of this Columbia townhome, we find ourselves in this brightly-lit custom great room.
.
Open-shut-Open-shut... if your eyes could take design snapshots, this is what you would see:
⚪️ crisp overhead light
⚪️ golden planks of wood
⚪️ custom area rug
⚪️ fresh upholstery choices
⚪️ custom made lighting
⚪️ great fitting accessories
⚪️ conversation starter art
We were about to embark on creating the perfect showcase for their extensive art collection. The front entry room is such a unique and airy space, that I thought it be a shame to not be enjoyed as a sitting room. Off we went!
THE FOYER SITTING ROOM…
was now the maiden voyage to not only curating where the art should go, but how it should be grouped, and lit! The room is filled with natural light, so whatever vignettes we assembled, they had almost even lighting, terrific for the pieces that would find a home here.
I found it versatile to offer a comfortable bench for seating and to anchor the space. It also could easily be pulled in as additional seating in the adjacent dining room.
Because the homeowner has a sensitivity to VOCs, we chose all of the floor coverings, furniture and paints very carefully. All of the furniture in these rooms is new and needed to sit in a warehouse for almost 6 months to allow it to off gas, before we would bring them into the house.
The rugs chosen for the seating and dining areas are complimentary to one another, while different in pattern and design. We went subtle with the overall color palette and patterns, so not to compete with the joyful artwork and chair fabrics.
The fabric for the Roman shades was a real leap of faith on their part. They thought they wanted something quieter, without any pattern. But after testing several large fabric samples they agreed that this ginkgo leaf pattern was going to bring graceful energy to this entry, and well, we are all so glad we did!
THE GLASS SHELVING
I must take a moment to tell you guys about this glass shelving
This display marks the connection point between the previously featured entry sitting area, and the dining room.
It was actually a solid wall before we started. But it blocked so much light, that only a narrow beam could shine into the dining room.
Knowing that the homeowner has an extensive tea pot collection, I thought what better way to feature them.
Thankfully, this wasn't a load bearing wall, so I had my pals over at @hutchinsonglassandmirror to suspend glass shelving from floor to ceiling.
This allowed all the light from the overhead windows to shine onto her pots, and right on through to the neighboring dining room.
THE ART COLLECTION
As I introduce you into this adjacent dining space… I want to take a brief moment to just talk about art.
For some of my clients, their artwork is like a pet in their home. It actually has a presence.
It is something that brings in a sense of peace. It could give them a sense of nostalgia from the trip where it was found. And often times, it is kempt , cleaned and protected very carefully.
This next dining space is quite special because it is a functional continuation of their collectables finding a home.
DINING ROOM
The dining room has a cast of warm rosy light, which is intentional and a welcome contrast to the bright white light of their museum foyer.
With so much artwork, how do they keep it safe from the littles you may ask? Well, we decided to include two bunching curios that are loaded with their more fragile items.
This way, they wouldn’t be accessible to the grandbabies, but still very accessible for entertaining.
The fabrics we went with for these two rooms are filled with varying color and design, coordinated, but all quite different from one other. All told, there are at least 6 different fabrics between the two spaces.
And the homeowners wouldn’t have it any other way! This room has its own hue, artful vibe and conversation starters around every corner!
THE GREAT ROOM
We are entering the great room now! After all that art leading to the rear of this Columbia townhome, we find ourselves in this brightly-lit custom great room.
.
Open-shut-Open-shut... if your eyes could take design snapshots, this is what you would see:
⚪️ crisp overhead light
⚪️ golden planks of wood
⚪️ custom area rug
⚪️ fresh upholstery choices
⚪️ custom made lighting
⚪️ great fitting accessories
⚪️ conversation starter art
Project Year: 2018
Project Cost: $75,001 - $100,000
