Refresh - Transform - Elevate
This month I’m revisiting a few of my favorite Dunbar Road projects and sharing a few of the details behind the scenes. As they say, every picture tells a story. Enjoy!
A Sun Filled Living Room
This elegant home is one of Dunbar Road’s signature projects. The room above features incredible windows and stunning architectural details, yet it didn’t feel as bright and inviting as it should have. The furniture and accessories felt heavy and not in proportion to the room. Knowing my client loved color, we got to work on changing the light fixtures, bringing in furniture upholstered in brighter fabrics, and swapping out dark antiques for ones with a lighter, honey color. Adding the acrylic coffee table brought an updated flair and kept the other furniture from reading too dark. We reimagined the beautiful blue plate collection by hanging a mirror in the center of the display, adding visual interest and bringing more light to that wall. The homeowner had previously purchased beautiful Fortuny fabric for the drapes, but wasn’t sure she wanted to use it. By adding a gorgeous blue trim, it elevated the drapery to be better suited to the space and added layer and depth to the room. The new, larger rug helped pull everything together, making the space feel significantly more spacious than did it before. I love hearing that this is now my client’s favorite room!
A Family Retreat in the Country
The great room, pictured above, was part of an incredible whole house renovation. The homeowners sourced the beautiful ceiling beams from an old church in England and are a prominent feature of the home. Our team worked with them on a design that complemented the beams, while keeping the rooms light and fresh. I love how in this room, the warm neutral tones with touches of blue and brown create an inviting and elevated space in keeping with the home’s character. The homeowners love to entertain and have a large extended family, so they wanted to be sure there was ample seating when they hosted gatherings. We created multiple areas within the room for people to sit while still maintaining a cohesive feel within the space. I love the stunning architectural details of this room!
Let There Be Light
In this hallway, our focus was on creating light and ease of movement, and the first step was to remove the existing furniture and accessories. The homeowner expressed an interest in displaying a gallery wall of family photos, and by placing the photos in acrylic frames, the space feels brighter and less cluttered. The large painting on the wall creates focal point, placing the family photos on either side of it for balance and visual interest. The homeowner had some furniture pieces in storage that were the perfect size for the space. Using a shade of blue from the painting as inspiration, we had the demilune settees and side tables custom lacquered, which instantly elevated the hallway. A beautiful Suzani fabric from India was used on the settees, while bright green tassels and sage lamps make the side tables pop. The long runner created visual interest and made the hallway feel much longer than it is, making the entire space come together…a path of happiness vs. an uninspired hallway.
Entrance Elegance
The entry of this stunning home didn’t reflect my clients’ fun style and the elevated feel of the rest of the house. We love wallpaper at Dunbar Road, but the one used in the photo on the left didn’t feel modern and fresh. We replaced it with a sunny yellow Schumacher grasscloth which lightened the entire entry and set the appropriate tone for the rest of the house. Replacing the dark furniture with this gorgeous Beidermeier chest helped open and highlight the overlooked nook next to the staircase. We found this spectacular painting and placed it prominently to reflect the homeowners’ ranching roots. Finally, adding the runner to the stairs created more interest and texture. Mixing color and pattern add an unexpected sophistication and visual pop!
A Fresh Take
Here’s an example where the homeowner felt the overall tone of the room no longer reflected her style, so we helped her design a space that felt more in harmony with her current taste. The room on the left had beautiful furniture and accessories, which our client had collected over the years, yet they no longer gave her a sense of peace or contentment. Imagining a tranquil and sophisticated refuge for this busy mom of four became our focus. We wanted to give her a heavenly space, so we brought the beautiful outdoors into her home by adding a garden-feel wallpaper in a calming shade of green. The gorgeous Murano glass light fixture, Lucite drapery rods and gold leaf mirror all bring a touch of calm refinement to this lovely dining room.