PLYMOUTH AVENUE
THE GOAL
My goal with the living room, dining room, and entry way is to put together a comprehensive aesthetic that is relaxed, approachable, and eclectic and at the same time feels highly stylized, impressive, and luxe. This will be accomplished through intentional recommendations regarding floor plans, colors, textiles, and sources. Each space will include a delicate mix of modern and vintage elements to make your home feel extremely interesting and well-curated. It will hopefully set the tone for future projects as well (kitchen, sunroom, etc.)- a mix of Sicilian glamour, eclectic interests, and casual/organic comforts.
LIVING ROOM
In the living room, I recommend freshening everything up with a crisp, modern white paint (walls, trim, mantel, ceiling). Pictured is Simply White by Benjamin Moore. This will create a bright canvas for your living space and will feel much more like the inspiration you are often drawn to via Pinterest, Instagram, etc. When mixing modern and vintage elements, its important to have a neutral backdrop, and this fresh white is timeless.
Step
Step
TV & Media Console
Plant
Deep, Comfy Sofa Storage Cabinet
Side Table
Side Table
Coffee Table
Fireplace Wall
Runner (Size Can Vary)
Coffee Table
Long Bench
Club Chair
Side Table
Club Chair
12 x 14 Rug
Deep, Comfy Sofa
D u e t o t h e location of your fireplace and television, not many options existed for layouts. You are on track with what you have now as it’s what feels natural; however, adding a pair of sofas/ bench/etc. gets you additional seating while adding a cabinet gives you more storage. Some side tables, etc. give function. All elements will be further explained in the pages to come.
I want all of the pieces in your living room to feel very neutral but with a lot of interest in materials/shape/etc. Mixing grays, tans, and blacks will feel timeless/classic (very “rag & bone�) but the accents will be interesting/quirky and with a touch of blue (see mood board). I recommend two matching (deep) opposing sofas to flank the fireplace. This will give you extra seating, and the depth will provide a ton of comfort. This sofa should be in a gray or sand/flesh color. I also recommend doing the same for curtains (gray or sand/flesh tone). Whatever you do for the sofa, do the opposite for the curtains in regards to color. See mood board for a great example for how the Belgium, linen curtains can look. The linen element also has a level of approachability and comfort (versus a leather, velvet, etc.). It is more relaxed, even though the look is a little formal.
Your main rug should be approximately 12x14 (give or take), so options are limited without spending a small fortune. See sourced links for some options that would work well. An over dyed gray or gray marbled texture would look great. Since we are using some blue accents in here, your current rug might work (we’d want to see a swatch next to the rug to confirm- hard to tell exact color from my photos), but the important things to keep in mind are some visual texture/interest, size, and color (gray, ideally).
To add an organic, natural element, consider adding two (or one if we source larger) concrete-style coffee tables. This is is also something organic to consider for the kitchen as well (concrete). It’s a plain color, but the texture adds so much to the space (two coffee table books, bowl, and plant to be styled on top). Your side tables should pull from the black marble in the fireplace. Again, many options exist for black marble side table, but a couple are sourced here. On top of the side tables, add matching lamps. For the lamps, I’d keep the shape interesting/minimal to add function without it feeling incredibly formal. This black will also pick up on the elements from the entryway and TV (to make it feel even more intentional). To a d d a q u i r k y , b u t luxurious element, add a large, gilded mirror above the fireplace.
To the left of the fireplace, add a large-scale house plant (locally, Flowerland on 28th St. is the best place to source). This will add great air quality, life, and sculptural interest to the space. To the right of the fireplace, add a tall, vintage chest or wardrobe for that modern-vintage mix and storage of blankets and extra “stuff�. The scale should go about halfway up the fireplace. If the height is off from a piece you love, we can add vintage/concrete vases & sculptures to balance the height.
On the main window wall, similar to your set-up now, add two matching club chairs. These can be in a unique color (blue) and fabric (velvet or leather) OR they can be really visually interesting like modern womb-style chairs. The important thing is that they are comfortable and visually interesting. Between the chairs, add a round side table (or variety of sizes) for function and balance (something much smaller than what you have now). To the right and left of each chair (see floor plan), add a modern black mantis-style lamp. The organic shape will add a lot to the room in addition to height and additional lighting.
Behind the sofa (nearest dining room), add a long bench. This allows for extra seating or extra styling (see photo bottom left). Another idea if you’d like added function would be to add a large sofa table there instead with stools to tuck underneath (see bottom right for example). This would add more surfaces/seating for entertaining, but would be excessive if you don’t think you’d use it’s function. We could have this custom built locally to fit your sofa. Regardless, you have ample, usable space behind that sofa for additional use. If you want something more minimal, a wood bench would also do the trick, but might blend in a bit too much with the floor. In that case, add runner in a color.
On the sofas, I’d keep additional pillows to a minimum since so many are already a part of the sofa itself. Instead, I’d recommend adding some cozy, neutral blankets or poufs for additional comfort and function. To the right of the dining room step and the left of the entry way step, add two large scale pieces of abstract art or photographs (approx. 36”-44” wide each- can continue to source, but see examples to left). The mantel, built-in shelves, etc. should be styled with a number of interesting organic, brass, marble accents, and plants. The books would look best in black/white. I can style the built-ins after sourcing /collecting.
DINING ROOM
With the table/chairs/hutch/credenza all being nonnegotiable in the dining room, the main focus is final styling elements. We’ll want to add some visual punch to the space in to compliment the gray tones and add some texture/depth. Because the room has heavy/dark elements (table/ credenza/hutch), I again recommend lightening up the walls. You can use the same as living room (Simply White by Benjamin Moore). On the two walls on either side of the kitchen doorway, add a diptych (pair of coordinating paintings). These should be interesting abstract pieces at least 40” wide each. This will make a large impact from looking in from the living room. Your floor needs to be anchored with a rug, but I’d let the color speak for itself in the artwork. Consider doing something black/white on the floor. The one pictured are FLOR carpet tiles. These are a great option for dining room since you don’t have to worry about ruining an entire rug if there are food stains/ spills. Regardless, this rug can be lower pile so as to be family-kid-dining room friendly.
On the wall to the left of the living room entry, add a brass bar cart and a round, wood mirror above (or opposite- round cart and wood rectangle mirror). The wood color should match the color of your hutch/credenza. The cart can be styled with plants/water (for now- liquor when kids are older or whatever you feel comfortable with). This breaks up the heavy shapes but fills the wall space with functional elements and something you can also wheel to living room when entertaining.
Your light fixture should really be the focal point of the space. I like the color (brass/ gold) you have now, but it needs to be more interesting/ less “sight-blocking� in terms of shape. Consider something brass but in an unique shape that allows light to pass through.
Due to the curve for the built-in wall alcoves, it is hard to do anything very functional in the space. The weight of the hutch/ credenza impacts this as well (you don’t want that wall to feel too heavy). I think you should let it breathe (don’t fill it with too much stuff), but instead add a couple of plants on each side (even floating ones). This is something we can work on together as it will be tricky to find the right balance.
Your hutch should be styled with just white or clear glass dishware and pottery. With so much going on such a small space (and it taking up so much of it), it’s best to keep it as clean and minimal as possible.
Entryway
In your entryway, I would like to make a large visual impact. Since your husband loves the impressive-ness of the space, let’s be sure to highlight it and amp-up the visual interest. This space currently reads very brown/yellow and I think (as mentioned before) the first step is freshening it up with a crisp, white paint. The white walls will create the perfect backdrop for the interest/drama we can create. Long term (when you are working on kitchen remodel) I recommend changing the entry tile to something in the gray color-family (as opposed to brown). In the short term, you can work with the existing tile with an added rug. To warm up the front (and create contrast), I recommend adding a stair runner and large scale entry rug (similar size to what you have now, but in a bolder pattern). The two can match or they can be a combination ( see examples on mood board). I LOVE the idea of adding a bold leopard pattern on the runner or large scale rug and have the opposing pattern be an overdyed vintage-traditional pattern.
I recommend painting your front door in a black lacquer to bring out the black elements in the railing and to create a bold, sleek look that acts as a neutral to the other visually impactful elements in the space. Where your existing table resides by the stair curve, replace it with an interesting settee or bench (80� or smaller). The color can be neutral (depending on the rug selection) or it can be vibrant; however, having some interesting element is key (color or shape). To the left, add a large scale house plant. These two elements will add function, interest, and life.
Where your existing bench resides, add a dresser or cabinet that goes to the floor with storage. This will add some extra weight and function to the wall. It should be 40-44” wide to allow for some breathing room. Again, depending on rug selection this can either be a color, walnut, or burl wood. See e-mail for links to these examples; however, can also be sourced locally/vintage. This area becomes a “drop” zone for keys, smalls, mail, guest purses, etc. Above the cabinet, add a lamp. You can use your existing black base from your current entry console, but I’d change the shade to a white. If you want to change the light all together, consider something brass or black with a white shade. Additionally, add a large scale piece of artwork above new console (36-44” wide).
Additional styling elements can be added to entry console as well (books, tray, plant, etc. depending on size. Final styling elements to come with selections. Two additional art prints or medium sized plant could also be added to the left of the door depending on the scale of the console.
On the wall to the right of the door (opposite the newly added console), add a tall gilded mirror. This will add function and fill the wall nicely. Your maximum recommended width is 36-38”. Yo u r e x i s t i n g l i g h t f i x t u r e s (hanging and sconce) fit with this style entry since it’s a good mix of old/new. I didn’t add a floor plan since the explanation is comprehensive.
So, what’s next?
Whew! That was a lot of information. Now that you have seen the inspiration/recommendations, soak it all in. Let me know if you have any questions. After processing the information, you have a couple of options. ü Call or e-mail to set up an appointment to discuss your likes/dislikes of the design and how we can move forward together with Hunt & Gather managing the project (we would discuss what items you would like to purchase yourself, what I should be hunting for, budget, and timeline). ü Start working on the room on your own (purchasing items, hunting for things, etc.) and only call me when you need clarification, recommendations, or final styling. Remember, the WHY is more important than the WHAT, so if you don’t like a pillow/lamp/etc. that I recommended, find something with similar lines or a similar purpose (or a cheaper price) and consider purchasing that instead! ü Nothing. This wasn’t what you were looking for, and you would like to discontinue working together. Additional pricing for services would be given at the follow-up meeting that fit your specific needs. Hope you love the design concept! Can’t wait to hear from you!
THANK YOU Kelley Howley Hunt & Gather 740 Curve St. SW info@huntandgatherGR.com