Room Of The Week
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Room of the Week: A Colourful, Curated Family Living Area
Meaningful family heirlooms are blended into a contemporary and family-friendly living area that sparks joy every day
In a Q&A format, we talk to the designers – and examine the creative thinking – behind some of Houzz’s most loveable rooms.
Brief
I was contacted by my clients to bring their interiors up-to-date with the renovation and to create a more functional and beautiful space for their now grown-up family.
My clients prefer an eclectic look with a chinoiserie influence. We updated the living area with new custom-made furniture, rugs, lamps and accessories and made these work with the existing furniture they love and which has meaning to their family. For example, the rocking chair was a favourite piece of furniture that they used to feed and rock their children to sleep in when they were babies, and the dining setting is a much-loved antique.
I was contacted by my clients to bring their interiors up-to-date with the renovation and to create a more functional and beautiful space for their now grown-up family.
My clients prefer an eclectic look with a chinoiserie influence. We updated the living area with new custom-made furniture, rugs, lamps and accessories and made these work with the existing furniture they love and which has meaning to their family. For example, the rocking chair was a favourite piece of furniture that they used to feed and rock their children to sleep in when they were babies, and the dining setting is a much-loved antique.
Starting point
The existing Persian rug was used as the starting point, as this has strong colours and patterns that needed to work in with the scheme. We used brighter and more contemporary fabrics that worked in with the colours of the rug to give the room a contemporary but timeless refresh.
The existing Persian rug was used as the starting point, as this has strong colours and patterns that needed to work in with the scheme. We used brighter and more contemporary fabrics that worked in with the colours of the rug to give the room a contemporary but timeless refresh.
Thinking behind the arrangement of furniture/fixtures
The new layout of the living room furniture provides a comfortable sitting area for the family when watching television. It also provides an entertainment zone for guests that opens out through bi-fold doors onto a deck and garden.
The new layout of the living room furniture provides a comfortable sitting area for the family when watching television. It also provides an entertainment zone for guests that opens out through bi-fold doors onto a deck and garden.
As it is a large room, the rocking chair has been placed to provide a separate reading zone. The dining area is positioned off the kitchen for practical purposes.
The rugs are used to define the spaces as well as providing comfort underfoot. The lamps provide both mood and task lighting, while the tables create a spot for books and accessories that make the living area cosy and warm.
The existing artwork has meaning to the family as it was collected on their travels to Africa and reflects the family’s heritage.
The rugs are used to define the spaces as well as providing comfort underfoot. The lamps provide both mood and task lighting, while the tables create a spot for books and accessories that make the living area cosy and warm.
The existing artwork has meaning to the family as it was collected on their travels to Africa and reflects the family’s heritage.
Key design aspects
Colour palette: A base of neutrals, with natural linen sofas and hemp rugs, combined with warm tones of blue and orange, and a touch of red.
Materials palette: Natural linens, rich velvets, contemporary prints and hemp rugs mixed with existing timber furniture.
Colour palette: A base of neutrals, with natural linen sofas and hemp rugs, combined with warm tones of blue and orange, and a touch of red.
Materials palette: Natural linens, rich velvets, contemporary prints and hemp rugs mixed with existing timber furniture.
Key pieces of furniture: Manhattan sofa upholstered in Warwick Haven linen and Manhattan ottoman upholstered in Warwick plush velvet, both from Circa 64.
Fabrics on cushions from LuRu Home, Warwick and Christopher Farr Fabric from Ascraft. Lampshades from Sachs and Cornish. Accessories from various suppliers sourced by Berkeley Interiors.
Fabrics on cushions from LuRu Home, Warwick and Christopher Farr Fabric from Ascraft. Lampshades from Sachs and Cornish. Accessories from various suppliers sourced by Berkeley Interiors.
Challenges you worked around
I do not love to decorate around a television [which is opposite this sofa] and would have designed the room to face the garden rather than a television, but as this is the only living room, it had to work for both adults and teenage children.
The existing rug has a strong colour palette, but we managed to find beautiful bright fabrics that still work together.
I do not love to decorate around a television [which is opposite this sofa] and would have designed the room to face the garden rather than a television, but as this is the only living room, it had to work for both adults and teenage children.
The existing rug has a strong colour palette, but we managed to find beautiful bright fabrics that still work together.
Why do you think this room works?
My clients were involved in the decision making every step of the way. I wanted to make sure we selected furniture and furnishings they love and that appealed to their aesthetic as well as designing a room that works.
Without a client’s personality, sometimes interior schemes look cold and lifeless. This room not only looks beautiful but tells the story of this family. It’s a room they love to spend time in both relaxing and entertaining.
My clients were involved in the decision making every step of the way. I wanted to make sure we selected furniture and furnishings they love and that appealed to their aesthetic as well as designing a room that works.
Without a client’s personality, sometimes interior schemes look cold and lifeless. This room not only looks beautiful but tells the story of this family. It’s a room they love to spend time in both relaxing and entertaining.
Tell us
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: Flexibility and Flair for a Downsizer’s Unit
What do you love about this kitchen? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, save the story, and join the conversation.
More
Craving more great interiors? Take a look at last week’s Room of the Week: Flexibility and Flair for a Downsizer’s Unit
Images by Hannah Puechmarin
Who lives here: A family with three grown-up children, twin girls in year 12 and a son at university, plus their dog Katie. The family have lived in this home since their kids were born and did a major renovation about six years ago.
Location: Sherwood, Queensland
Room purpose: Living and dining area