Search results for "Husbands" in Home Design Ideas

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside.
Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids.
We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine.
We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden.
The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture.
The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside.
Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids.
We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine.
We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden.
The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture.
The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside.
Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids.
We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine.
We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden.
The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture.
The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.
Find the right local pro for your project

Jennifer Smith
Example of a mid-sized transitional formal living room design in Atlanta with brown walls
Example of a mid-sized transitional formal living room design in Atlanta with brown walls

AFTER
Candice contacted Color Wheel about her husband’s favorite chair that was being used in the kid’s downstairs playroom. The simple oak chair had seen better days, but that’s what her husband liked about it. She wasn’t looking for a complete restoration, just a facelift.
First, the old fabric was stripped from the chair so that the webbing and seat cushion could be replaced. A fun animal print was selected to coordinate with the colors in their home so the chair could be used in a variety of places. Animal prints are a great foil to both solids and prints while adding a touch of whimsy.
The wood finish was only “touched up” to show that the chair had been well loved for many years. The chair is now cherished by both husband and wife and resides in their family room.

OPPORTUNITY
Cramped kitchen, no powder or guest bath on the main floor and two doors that entered into the master bath. The contractor suggested expanding the kitchen 3 feet into the husband’s prized portico to allow for a larger kitchen and powder bath, but no upgrade to the master bath.
RESULTS:
Designer rescued the husband’s portico, gave the wife both her dream master and powder bath, and they both got a more functional and larger kitchen.

Debbie Ballentine
Inspiration for a full sun landscaping in San Francisco for spring.
Inspiration for a full sun landscaping in San Francisco for spring.

Sponsored
Columbus, OH
Structural Remodeling
Franklin County's Heavy Timber Specialists | Best of Houzz 2020!

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer:
Jon W. Miller

OPPORTUNITY
Cramped kitchen, no powder or guest bath on the main floor and two doors that entered into the master bath. The contractor suggested expanding the kitchen 3 feet into the husband’s prized portico to allow for a larger kitchen and powder bath, but no upgrade to the master bath.
RESULTS:
Designer rescued the husband’s portico, gave the wife both her dream master and powder bath, and they both got a more functional and larger kitchen.

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer: Jon W. Miller

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer: Jon W. Miller

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer: Jon W. Miller

A well-designed room can do some good for the soul... After my client’s husband passed away she needed a fresh start. They always wanted to renovate their home and she decided to honor her husband by doing exactly that. I absolutely love this project because I can feel how this renovation was giving my client purpose and the drive to live again after her soulmate passed. She wanted the room to feel like a space that her husband would have loved and to represent the passion that they shared. They both are graphic designers and enjoyed traveling; she wanted the room to reflect that in every way. The design I presented was a room designed with mixed patterns and finishes and touches of colors. To top it all off, I used the artwork her husband painted as the focal point in the entryway. You can literally feel the love and history that they shared as soon as you enter the room. I can say my work is done!

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer: Jon W. Miller

A well-designed room can do some good for the soul... After my client’s husband passed away she needed a fresh start. They always wanted to renovate their home and she decided to honor her husband by doing exactly that. I absolutely love this project because I can feel how this renovation was giving my client purpose and the drive to live again after her soulmate passed. She wanted the room to feel like a space that her husband would have loved and to represent the passion that they shared. They both are graphic designers and enjoyed traveling; she wanted the room to reflect that in every way. The design I presented was a room designed with mixed patterns and finishes and touches of colors. To top it all off, I used the artwork her husband painted as the focal point in the entryway. You can literally feel the love and history that they shared as soon as you enter the room. I can say my work is done!

The property is one of the original farm houses located on the main street of a small town. It has been in the family for many years and our client just inherited the property. They were trying to have balance of preserving the old while realizing modern day living has its benefits too. The house had a large addition added using mostly old style materials, but designed with function and modern day luxuries. Our goal was to carry that theme to the outside.
Our first problem we had to address was how to transition between the first floor elevation changes. The lower room was the husband’s office. He stated in the future he may have clients over and it would be nice to have an area to sit outside. The wife’s main concern was to renew the four corner garden. She also felt it was very important to be able to see it from the kitchen area. Finally there was an old wishing well stuck right outside the kitchen. They both felt it would be neat to be able to incorporate this in some how. They wanted a patio area with a built in grill to accommodate there family and friends. They also wanted to keep a large play area for the kids.
We were able to pull this off successfully. We addressed the first issue by having a small lower level flagstone area. This area is large enough for 1 to 2 people to sit comfortably. It also provides a transition from his office to the larger patio area. We installed a simple small gravel sitting area opposite of the main patio. This provides our client a secluded place to relax or do business. Mrs.... told me she is amazed how much her and her husband enjoys this area. It is so peaceful looking at the small creek over a glass of wine.
We built a natural limestone retaining wall to create the patio terrace. The stone was chosen to extend the houses architectural elements into the landscape. Irregular broken flagstone was used to give it a more casual feel. We installed three Serviceberries into the patio terrace to replace some trees that were taken down during the remodeling. She was very concern that they would block the view of the four corner garden. We new they were crucial to nestle in the terrace, so we placed them for a couple days for her to decide. Fortunately she agreed they not only kept the view open, but helped frame the garden.
The four corner garden was designed to be viewed from afar and experienced up close. We wanted the space to have some formal structure while keeping with the casual farm house feel. Another natural limestone retaining wall was created. This leveled the garden terrace and helped associate it with the rest of the property. The four corner garden is nestled into the existing woods edge. This provides three distinct experiences to entering the garden; a more formal from the driveway, an open feel from the lower lawn, and a more natural / casual experience from the wooded area. The Plymouth brown gravel was used for the center of the garden. This helped highlight the stone post that was found during construction. The gravel also brings the sense of sound into the garden space. Lamb’s ear was chosen as a fun way to get kids interest in horticulture.
The balance of using the new to create the old feel is what makes this project a success. The property has already hosted a local historical society event and won an award for its preservation efforts. When Mrs.... can’t find her husband, she knows he is either reading the newspaper by the grill or resting in the hammock along the wood’s path.

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer: Jon W. Miller

The clients are a younger couple with no pets or children. They asked me to help them with the Great Room in their brand new townhouse. The space is open concept with 9-foot ceilings. When the clients moved in they had very little furniture and the walls were white and bare. The husband had his eye on a very large original work of art that he wanted to purchase and incorporate into the design. They love to cook and entertain. They asked for a tranquil, neutral space with some color accents, comfortable and flexible seating, a wall-mounted TV with some storage for media equipment, and a bar. The room has several large windows and two sets of sliding glass doors so there is a lot of natural light, which the clients didn’t want to block, but also a lack of privacy. The couple also requested lighting over the kitchen island and some counter stools.
I was challenged by the lack of architectural detail in the room and a tight budget. I decided to choose furniture and accessories with classic modern lines so they would last for a long time. To offset all of the straight lines and neutral colors of the main furniture pieces, and to add visual interest, I introduced organic elements, texture and movement. I did this with wallpaper on the fireplace wall and on the kitchen island (in the case of the island, I railroaded the paper for some interest), a textured rug, some greenery, rough wood on the pedestals next to the fireplace, window shades in natural woven wood, and accessories (particularly two ceramic vases) in interesting shapes. I used the husband’s art piece as the starting point for the color scheme and overall design. I added balance and harmony by adding a large art piece and large pedestals across the room from the large art piece and carrying the teal color across the room in the sofa cushion and ottoman fabrics, art above the mantel and a vase in the niche next to the fireplace. I chose large green glass pendant lights for the kitchen to add color and to match the scale of the room.
One major challenge was that the clients wanted ottomans so they could put their feet up while watching TV. I couldn’t accommodate ottomans and a coffee table, so I opted just to have one large ottoman and added casters so it could be moved closer to the sofa; however, the husband is very tall and the wife is very petite so they wanted separate ottomans to accommodate their different leg lengths. My solution was to design an ottoman that provides maximum flexibility: the two pieces can be joined and a tray added to make it a coffee table, or pulled apart and used either as party seating or individual ottomans for the homeowners. They were thrilled with the solution.
Photographer:
Jon W. Miller

OPPORTUNITY
Cramped kitchen, no powder or guest bath on the main floor and two doors that entered into the master bath. The contractor suggested expanding the kitchen 3 feet into the husband’s prized portico to allow for a larger kitchen and powder bath, but no upgrade to the master bath.
RESULTS:
Designer rescued the husband’s portico, gave the wife both her dream master and powder bath, and they both got a more functional and larger kitchen.
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