Hello friends!
Today I'm thrilled to share a project that I recently had photographed. We (mostly) completed this installation over a year ago, but due to scheduling conflicts and a few last minute projects that were added, photography was delayed. Finally, I have pictures to share!
Sadly, there are no "before" photos. Well, I took some photos with my phone and when I changed phones I forgot to transfer the photos! What I can do is give you a little background on where we started and what we planned to accomplish.
The condo is located in downtown Chattanooga, and it's home to a lovely, energetic couple. They are empty nesters, and they were craving a big change (music to my ears). When I first visited, the rooms were painted a rich gold and decorated with browns and reds - and while there's nothing wrong with those colors, it just didn't feel right for a space that's flooded with light and offers scenic views of the river and surrounding mountains.
We all agreed that we should try and capture some of the outdoors with a lighter, brighter and more youthful color palette. That being said, my clients still wanted some sophistication - nothing rustic. As is common, there were also some family antiques to be incorporated into the design. This was a bit of a challenge because the antiques are dark and somewhat formal in style, but it was my job to make it all work.
Below you see my clients' antique china cabinet I styled with their Asian figurines (I love them!) and a mint and gold platter (also theirs).
The main living area is completely open and features a wall of windows, so there is an abundance of natural light - my absolute favorite design element to work with. In order to continue the feel of the sky and water right outside the windows, I chose Benjamin Moore's Gray Wisp for the walls.
My clients requested sophistication, but they wanted to live casually in this space, so we chose a comfortable sectional with clean, classic lines in a neutral color. Sunbrella fabric was specified so they don't have to worry about stains or fading. A mix of prints on the pillows keeps the mood light. Also, take note of the nesting tables at the end of the sectional. I recommend a set of nesting tables for all of my clients because they're so handy for entertaining.
The dining area got a new round table in an updated finish. A few leafs can be added to accommodate dinner parties, but for daily use, the small size is perfect for two. We went with an oversize wood bead chandelier over the table. I absolutely love statement lighting and this one certainly delivers! The dark and light tones of the chandelier repeat the dark and light tones in the table and chairs. And speaking of the chairs, my client has had these for years. We gave them an update with new fabric - the chair fronts are outdoor (spill and fade resistant) fabric in a subtle green and blue woven pattern. My client loves red and I accommodated her preferences by using varied shades of red throughout the living area.
In the photo above, the mint and gold combination seen on the platter in the first image is repeated on the buffet lamps. It's hard to tell in this image, but instead of using a traditional sofa table behind the sectional, I moved my clients' antique sideboard (originally placed in front of the windows) to do double duty as a sofa table and as a sideboard.
You probably didn't see this coming. A modern concrete console with leopard print stools underneath? It's fun, it's functional (those benches pull out lickety split for parties), and very unexpected - and that's a good thing.
Thanks for taking the tour of the main living area. I hope you like what you saw today, and if you did, you'll want to come back next week when I'll share the master bedroom, guest bedroom and guest bathroom makeovers.
If you're in the Chattanooga area and thinking about changing things up at your house, give me a call at 423.653.3186. I'd love to help!
