We have been super busy this summer installing and photographing several huge projects, including this gorgeous second home that is minutes from the beach in Southern California. The house has great bones and was in great shape, but is pretty formal with lots of pretty millwork. We left it in tact, but infused the house with a more casual feel through comfortable upholstery, structural furnishings, muted colors, and, of course, lots of our signature textural fabrics!
Photography by Amy Bartlam
Project Scope: This was a full-home furnishing job, we did very little to the structure of the house. The major challenge was just getting enough furnishings for the large home with all of the recent manufacturing delays. We branched off from our normal larger installs and did several small ones, and since the client doesn’t live here full time, it was much easier to manage them.
Overall Vibe: Cozy, warm, elevated.
How it's Used: This is a secondary home near the beach for our clients who have adult children. We wanted them to feel at home as soon as they stepped foot inside, so we incorporated a lot of warmth into the formal spaces. They entertain here often, welcome guests, and work from this home, so every detail had to be intentional and well thought out. We wanted it to be durable, of course, but with no young kids in the picture, we were able to have a little more fun with fabrics and rugs that are a little more precious than what we typically specify.
The Entry
The entry to the home is long and extends from the front of the house through the front living room and dining spaces. We kept it simple with a glass and metal console in the front and a bench towards the end. The bench needed to have a pretty heavy structural presence since it was the only thing we were having there, and it's set against the stair railing. The accessories are understated and structural and a vintage runner adds texture and color.
The Living Room
Our clients entertain quite a bit, so this room is intended to be a cozy conversation spot, and an overflow for the formal dining space, which is just next door. It needed to make a statement yet feel very cozy and approachable. We chose to do four big upholstered chairs in a heavily textured fabric rather than a sofa because the flow from the dining room is better. Plus, when you're entertaining, more than two people never sit on a sofa so I didn't feel like we lost any seating.
Then, we brought in warm tones and interesting shapes with the coffee table and vintage wood stool (used as a side table). My favorite feature is the soft window treatments. We used a combination of relaxed roman shades and really full drapery panels in the same fabric to bring some charm and warmth to the space.
The Dining Room
This space really only has enough square footage for a table and chairs, so we knew we needed it to be massive. This table is 10 feet long but for large dinner parties or holidays, it can extend another four feet! The house has a lot of neutral colors, but we brought in color here with a vintage rug that has greens, blues, and rust. We selected it because it pulls in the colors of the original painting by our client's uncle. Adding in the drapes gave this room drama and added softness.
I really love the modern light fixture! You may notice that it is off center -- that playful detail is unexpected because the rest of the room leans a little more formal. The chairs are semi-custom and are super comfortable without being too soft (very important to our clients). The gentle curve on the arm gets me every time!
This is the first for four posts on our #10thStreetProject, so come back next week as we reveal more spaces!