The Sofa had to Stay
Interior designers are fully aware that clients are going to have special pieces they have collected over time, and that need to be integrated into the new interior. This project was based around a beloved sofa upholstered in a cheery yellow chintz.
This seldom-used living room was last decorated 20 years ago and needed to be completely refreshed. Though it opened to a beautiful garden, the heavy drapery did not call you into the room or through the doors to the patio. The biggest questions were what to do with the dated television cabinet and whether or not to replace or recover the pristine floral sofa.
We replaced the built-in cabinet with wall-to-wall cabinetry designed to showcase a newly-commissioned abstract painting. The cabinetry incorporates the detailed dentil molding and trim found on the fireplace on the opposite wall. The trim in the family room was painted a bright white to contrast with the taupe-gray walls.
We decided to keep the bright floral sofa, not only because it is pretty but because of the many colors it gave us to work with. Set against the new background, that sofa invites you right into the room and the garden beyond. The neutral furnishings in the room are a perfect background for all the colors in the sofa, art and accessories we used in the room.
Removing the heavy window treatments opened up the room and we replaced the vertical panels with trendy fig trees for some height and privacy. We flanked the fireplace with accordion shaped console tables in oak with a pearlized finish. The shimmer is also seen in the coffee table finish as well as the custom viscose and linen rug and the commissioned painting.
The detail in this refreshed living room is focused on the brassy and gold metallic finishes used in frames, table details and in the rooms crowning touch – that 60-inch wide rock crystal chandelier which provides light to this beautiful space!
