Abbe’s Design Dilemma
When Abbe wrote to us for help with her living/dining area, we grabbed our paint decks and fired up our laptop. Here’s her letter:
I’ve recently purchased a new home and need help with our living/dining area. I LOVE the Hollywood regency style with touches of Asian influence and want the space to be comfortable with touches of glam and maybe a touch of bling! I need to add additional seating and a coffee & side tables first and foremost! The space is large and there is a ton of natural light so I was thinking of one subtle and soft paint color so both areas work together- maybe a soft teal so the room is calming, I do love blue. I don’t have much, just a cozy chocolate velvet sofa and a funky Chinese art deco rug (with greenish teal, plum, lavender and mustard colors throughout) so I’m a blank slate. I’d like chairs that are basically neutral and compliment the rug. I am open to a fun pattern on the drapes and pillows. I LOVE my dining set, the white leather chairs are fun but I don’t know how to tie them into the living space. I don’t like the wood kitchen cabinets or the TV built in, I want to paint them as well. Oh and I need some lighting help over the island, in the living room and above the dining table. Looking forward to your help! – Abbe
I know, I know. Potential city, right? This space is primed and ready for subtle color, luxe lighting, and fab furnishings to take it from already amazing to downright spectacular. Here’s our glammy chic mood board:
And now for the mood board breakdown.
1. Many of the colors in our palette come from Abbe’s existing rug (full of festive plum, greenish teal, lavender and mustard) but we’ll also bring in some neutrals to temper the brights and some shimmering metalics for that Hollywood Regency vibe. And as for the walls, Abbe’s instinct to go with soft teal was right on, and we’d recommend Benjamin Moore’s Summer Shower (or the slightly deeper Soft Chinchilla if the room gets a lot of light). The cooler tone on the walls will look a lot more sleek and crisp while keeping everything open and airy. And speaking of airy, painting the built-in media cabinet a creamy white (try Benjamin Moore’s Winter White) along with the dark kitchen cabinets will instantly create an amazingly expansive space for relaxing, dining, and cooking up a storm.
2. Abbe requested a bit of bling, and we’re never ones to shy away from a little shimmer. We’d love to see these crystal-riddled candle sconces hung on either side of the mirror we’ll be mounting above the fireplace mantel, and if Abbe’s feeling bold, they’d look pretty fabulous on the two wide sides of the pillars throughout the space. Imagine hosting a cocktail party with them gleaming- creating a sort of indoor-outdoor feeling with loads of effortless ambiance. Swoon.
3. We mentioned a mirror above the fireplace so here it is (on sale no less!). The subtly Asian lines will keep things clean and sleek while the mirrored plane will reflect light and add up to even more glammy ambiance in the space.
4. Here comes the soul of this space: a trio of light fixtures that seriously makes our hearts go pitter patter. Since Hollywood Regency style typically includes gilded finishes and hammered gold or brass metals, we searched high and low for swanky lighting with warm golden hardware that would seriously transform the space. A few of these smaller faceted glass pendants would look amazing in place of the two pendant lanterns that are seen in the top image above the island…
5. …while this gorgeous oversized tweed drum shade (with “tea gold” finished metal accents) would look simply stunning above the dining area. Yum.
6. And our favorite fixture in the entire world (literally) is this amazingly fabulous oversized pendant that will stop people in their tracks once it takes the place of that fan in the living area. And although this amazing work of art doesn’t come cheap, it will absolutely make the space. Can’t you picture it glowing with all the other pendants and candle sconces around the room? Heaven I tell ya.
7. Abbe mentioned that she likes the look of a few Asian details, so we thought these patterned medallion curtain panels would really soften all the windows while adding more textural interest throughout the entire space. We’d suggest mounting extra long rods above each wall of windows, and adding at least one panel on either side of each rod. For example, in the living area, one rod mounted high and wide against that back wall would look great with a curtain panel on each side of the rod. And it would look even more textural and inviting with four panels across the rod, one on each side of the wall of windows and one in front of each of the slivers of wall between the windows (to create the effect of one giant window instead of three smaller ones). Likewise, in the kitchen area, we’d love to see two rods (one for each wall) and at least four panels- and maybe even seven to again abstract those slivers of wall to create the look of bigger windows.
8. Nothing is more inviting than a luxurious chase lounger, and this wheaty tan right arm chase (in Douglas Peat) will look perfect under the window (and still facilitate reading by the fire or gazing out the window without blocking the view for anyone else in the room). And the plush construction mimics Abbe’s existing sofa so they’ll work together seamlessly for a collected-over-time vibe that never looks too matchy matchy. And speaking of the actual seating arrangement itself, we’d love to see the rug remain centered just as it is, while the sofa is shifted forward a few feet so that the front two legs are centered on the rug to create a seating area that floats in the middle of the expansive space (grounded by that fabulous rug). The chaise can then be placed so that the legs on the close side of the chase will also sit on the rug to create an L shaped seating area in an instant. Moving the seating area away from the walls and into the room will make the entire space look larger and more luxe to boot.
9. 10. & 11. This trio of tables will really contribute to that chic mixed-and-matched feeling while adding wood for warmth, sleek natural horns for impossible-to-miss style, and polished upholstered x-detailing for luxury to spare. Instead of a traditional coffee table, we’d love to see two carved wood stools, and one round horn table clustered in the middle of the rug to form a stylish “coffee table” alternative. Then two of these plush x-benches (upholstered in Desert) can serve as super chic side tables on either side of the sofa (topped with a tray they become a spot for drinks- and sans tray they becoming seating in a pinch).
If a seemingly random cluster of tables is a bit too willy-nilly for Abbe’s tastes, she can always just use the two wooden tables as side table, place the horn table in front of the chaise to serve as the side table for that piece and use the two x-benches as a coffee table of sorts (with a tray on top of each one for drinks, a stack of books, a lacquered box for the remote control, etc). The beauty of so many tables is that Abbe will be able to achieve so many looks- and can even switch things up when she entertains (or just gets bored).
12. Since all the walls will be going pale teal, bringing some of the neutral tones from the living room and kitchen (thanks to the granite) into the dining area will truly unite all three areas for a cohesive look that screams I’m fab and I know it. This round jute rug will bring in the exact neutral tone that we need along with textural interest and warmth underfoot which will warm up that glass table and those leather chairs for a super inviting little nook to share a meal. Thanks to the jute material, it’s easy to keep clean (just vacuum it or shake it out outside from time to time) and the round shape mimics the shape of the table. Love it.
13. For one more pop of color in the space (we certainly won’t be hurting for hue once the soft teal is on those walls to complement the boldly toned rug), this plum pillow from Pottery Barn will be just the thing on that yummy chocolate sofa (while working ever so seamlessly with those patterned curtains).
So there it is. Abbe’s Hollywood Regency makeover with a splash of Asian style and glamour to spare. We can’t wait to hear what you guys think!
Update: We sadly can no longer find the time to take on client commissioned mood boards (we now whip up general inspiration boards instead) but if we ever reinstate them we’ll make a big announcement!
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Thanks Sherry and John!
This is fabulous and I am so excited now! The kids will love it too! I will send you pics when this is complete… should be a month or so.
where did you get your current couch? we are looking for a long deep couch like in your before pic
love the moodboard… those cabinets look pretty top of the line, though. do you really have to paint them? i understand if they’re not your taste, but i think they look beautiful!
You’re right, so much potential here! Love the moodboard and can’t wait to see the finished product!
Wow! This is a gorgeous mood board for a gorgeous space! I wish I had more rooms so I could steal more ideas. Can’t wait to see the afters!
I loooooooooove the lighting choices! High five! The room is going to look oh so chic!
What a gorgeous “blank slate” from which to begin! Clearly it will be fabulous! Would so love to see the after pics.
I agree with Blair. I would put it all together first before you paint those nice cabinets. It may all work together. Good Luck!
I’m in love with that rug. What a cool find.
Those cabinets are nice. You should not paint them.
The lighting is going to compliment your existing table really well. Looking forward to the afters!
you know what? we’ve got nice cabinets that we haven’t painted for four years just because they’re nice cabinets, and it bugs me every time I’m in the d&*^$ kitchen. As soon as it warms up, if it ever warms up, I’m painting ‘em. Paint away, I say!