Wednesday, March 9, 2011

Living Room Before & After


I recently gave you a little sneak peek of this project and am now ready to show you the living portion of it. As you can see in the before image above, the space was basically a blank canvas. My clients didn't know where to start in the space and in turn the space became a resting place for unmatched furniture and no commitments on the walls. Here is the space today after I got my hands on it...

Not only was the furniture mismatched before, the scale was wrong for the height of the room. We placed a large distressed cabinet on the largest wall to fill in the huge void that was there before. Not only is it proportional to the space, it also provides storage for books and family photos. I flanked the sides of the cabinet with vintage garden prints that I found at a gallery in Manhattan and had custom framed. The historic green is echoed in the silk sofa pillows.
In the before image, you can see another angle and a little more of the space.
We added plenty of seating, that is not only proportional to the space but really comfortable as well. My clients actually sit in this room now. You catch a glimpse of the dining room in the below image. We did that space along with the living but the lanterns over the dining table weren't hung yet and there were a few final touches yet to be installed.

We used an inexpensive seagrass underfoot and layered it with a zebra pattern dyed cow hide. This creates interest and a bold graphic for the room...plus, the hide is super soft under bare feet. This is one of my favorite flooring treatments.


In the before image below, you can see how grand the scale of the room is. The ceilings are really tall and so is the window. This calls for custom drapery treatments to achieve the appropriate height.

I took the drapery panels almost to the ceiling which is dramatic and softens the hard lines of the wall and the plantation shutters.


Another image of the comfy new chairs and the vintage garden prints in the background.

...and a few images for you looky-loos that like the details like I do.
A detail of the cremone lock on the distressed cabinet. Love.

Nailheads and tufting. Love, love.

I simply adore these mercury glass mushrooms I placed under a cloche. I've previously talked about using mercury glass here.

The accessories on the cocktail table. I found this sweet little shadow box and filled it with faux mossy rocks and some shells from one of the family's beach vacations.


I hope you've enjoyed a peek into my client's home and one of my projects.

A very big thank you to the Jacksons. You are lovely, gracious and a joy to work with. I can't wait to work on the next space we've got lined up :-)

Happy Hump-Day!

19 comments:

Fragolla said...

LOVE this room! fabulous job!

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Thank you Fragolla, and thank you for reading!

Anonymous said...

Beautiful!! Love every detail. xoxo

Adele [ Paws, Hooves & Diapers ] said...

This is just beautiful work! I want to steal the whole room! :)

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Thank you Anon (maybe Melissa?) for reading.
Thanks Adele and thanks for reading!

Anonymous said...

Love, love, love the drapes! Where did they come from?

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Thank you! The drapes are custom. The fabric is Kravet (to the trade) Rhythm Linen - Mica.
Thanks for reading!

Blakes Mom said...

Love the layered rugs! The seagrass is so pretty but not so soft, soft is a requirement in my house.... "the boss" says so :) I also HAVE to have that chenille snow leopard fabric somewhere!!! I mean MUST HAVE! I can't believe you have not already told me about that!
The drapes are gorgeous, the orchid is beautiful!
I also love, love the gray cabinet.......
It is all perfect!

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Thanks Stac! I'm glad you like the layered rugs cause I'm bringing a solid white one to your house :-) I'm glad you like that leopard print but I have no idea where we would use it. I'll keep it in mind :-)

Meredith said...

What a gorgeous transformation! I'm visiting from Remodelaholic, and I figure any room that makes me say WOW out loud deserves a comment!! Well done - this room is a showstopper. :)
Meredith @ Welcome to Heardmont

BizzyMom said...

Beautiful! I have tall ceilings in my home also, and have always wondered how to decorate them. Love the change your style brings.

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Thank you Meredith and BizzyMom! Thanks for stopping by :-)

Carol DeGraeve said...

Incredible! Love, love, love that room! Every single detail in wonderful. Job well done! I am a new follower, can't wait to see more of your work!

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Thank you Carol! Welcome :-)

Anonymous said...

Love the curtains and really love the chairs! They look super-comfortable. Where did you get them? Visiting from Remodelholic.

Kelly

Maria@Live Beautifully said...

Kelly, thanks for stopping by. The chairs are custom ordered directly from Bernhardt available through M. E. Beck Design if you are looking to purchase :-)

Kimberly said...

I love this room! So glad I found your blog. Have gone back and read all your older posts. Is this room painted a gray or beige? I love the color. Any reccomendations for a good neutral gray or beige paint color? Thanks!

deidre martin booker said...

gorgeous transformation! i was wondering who made the cabinet. it is such a statement piece. so many great things going on in here!

Kelly M said...

Could you please tell me where you got the chairs with the nailhead trim? They are gorgeous! Beautiful room, great job!