Luxury Living Room Design
A Living Room Design Primer
As we enter the dog days of summer, I know I’ll be spending more time indoors, enjoying the AC. As much as I love the warmer weather, our pup Figaro can only handle so much heat and it’s nice to take a midday break with him, curled up on our living room sofa reading a magazine or watching TV.
Our firm is known for warm, modern interiors that fully capture our clients’ polished lifestyles. Most of our work consists of whole-home design projects and we address each space by asking our clients what emotion they want to feel when they walk into that particular part of their home.
When it comes to living rooms, we find that clients want to feel relaxed. They request bright and airy designs that offer comfort and versatility so that the room feels right whether it’s just their family or a large group of guests. The perfect sofa can make all the difference here. We love designing custom pieces so that each of our clients get exactly what they need in terms of size, comfort and aesthetics.
Almost every one of our clients wants a television in the space, but they don’t want it to be the focus of the room. Thanks to modern technology, this is less of an issue now than ever before. Samsung’s The Frame and LG’s Oled collection offer low-profile options that can double as art. Even so, we still make sure to pick the right pieces for the surrounding area so that the eye travels rather than focusing on the screen.
Ensuring the visual interest of the overall space is a bit more involved. We create the perfect balance of accessories, lighting and textiles and, to tie it all together, the perfect rug. Rugs may not seem that exciting at first, but finding the style, color and material rolled up into one floorcovering can be quite the feat.
For families with young children we are especially conscious of our material choices in their living room design, prioritizing durability and stain-resistance, and we avoid sharp corners and glass. Other than that, these clients can expect to enjoy the same great layout and level of design as the rest of our portfolio.
Given the personal and relaxed nature of the living rooms we design, this is often where we will choose to incorporate family heirlooms and antiques or highly personal pieces of artwork. Here they can be appreciated and enjoyed.
Most Requested: Contemporary, Modern, Minimalist
As a firm, our passion is “Soulful Minimalism” which allows our clients to experience life surrounded by the things that matter so they can focus on the people that matter. The design styles that align with this tend to be contemporary, modern and — you guessed it — minimalist.
If you’re reading this thinking, what’s the difference? So we’ve put together a brief breakdown.
Contemporary Living Room Design — To achieve this style we infuse elements from up-and-coming makers, artists and artisans; everything from unique lighting to decorative objects and art and even tables.
Modern Living Room Design — As a firm, most of our selections for furniture lines are modern, especially the soft seating. We find that most clients are comfortable with these tried-and-true shapes. They understand them and they fit into almost everyone’s style.
Minimalist Living Room Design — When we are working with a true minimalist, we don’t over-decorate. We focus on curating the right pieces to style with and then we eliminate. Think of it as applying the old Coco Chanel adage, “Before you leave the house, look in the mirror and take one thing off” to your living room. Before you sit on the couch, look around and take one piece out. This way the space won’t feel cluttered.
While subtle, the differences in these design styles can greatly impact the overall feel of your space. They can also be combined and tailored to how you live. We have our point of view, but it is very much your home; we want you to be tickled pink when we’re done.
If a coastal vibe is what you’re going for, we would be honored to channel our inner Coastal Grandmother to design a living room fit for a Nancy Meyers movie (our favorites are It’s Complicated and The Holiday). We’ll focus on natural elements and materials. Think layered linen and cashmere, light wood tones and stoneware accents. Perhaps we’ll pair an oversized sectional with a coffee table ottoman, perfect for pouring glass after glass of pinot noir while chatting late into the evening (Eileen Fisher outfits are optional, but encouraged).
While we’re talking about Nancy Meyers movies, let’s not forget one of our favorite living room features — fireplaces! (I mean, the abundance of fireplaces in the English townhouse in The Parent Trap alone are worthy of their own post!) If we have the opportunity and resources we love a good fireplace facelift. This could mean a new stone surround and hearth, a new mantle and surround or even purchasing vintage fireplace elements from 1stDibs to bring an added level of character to the space.
It may not be fireplace season yet, but before we know it, it will be. Let’s set up a time to talk about your ideal interiors — living room included — and see how we can tailor your home to reflect the beautiful life you lead.
