Mark Pinkerton - Vi360

Budget analysis and project development by: May Construction, Inc.

Colleen Gahry-Robb, Interior Designer / Ethan Allen, Auburn Hills, MI...This sitting area is ideal conversation space. This room is built with multiple layers of textures and natural elements. It’s just inviting and laid-back, comfort comes from plush seating, pillows, and versatile accent table.

Hogan Design & Construction (HDC) completed this family room remodeling project installing a custom fireplace with mantle, stone, custom bookshelves/casing, and Pella windows.

Window bench in the Great Room

Sitzecke mit Novamobili Couchtisch

Photography: AudreyHall.com

Alan Shortall

My clients are parents of 4 children under the age of 5 - they requested that their living room be functional, practical and of course look good! They wanted to maximize seating in the room but also did not want the room to feel cluttered. The main seating area includes a matching sofa and love seat along with a large comfortable chair. Both sofas are upholstered in a faux leather, which has proven to be very durable and cleanable. We agreed that two small ottomans were a good alternative to a large coffee table, so that they too could be used for extra seating and/or moved out of the way so her children could play games on the carpet. The ottomans are also upholstered in the faux leather to protect them from staining. A small shelf below the upholstered ottoman top is great for displaying books or other small decorative items. The large rug is a shag! I had this made by Barry Carpet on Pico Blvd. It is both stain resistant and adds to this warm and inviting living room. I suggested a storage bench on the far wall with a cushion atop of it to create an additional seating area. She knew she wanted blues, browns and tans for the color palette so we first selected the sofa fabric and I found this fabulous Clark & Clarke floral fabric at Durelee for the large chair. I always love a wow factor in each room and this chair is definitely just that! We pulled the colors together with the blue upholstered ottomans, bench cushion and coordinating, colorful stripe and floral pillows. The Ghost chairs on the sides of the fire place not only fill in the space around the fire place but also serve as additional seating. I tried to create a focal point on the fireplace with the round silver mirror, white coral, pair of floral vases and the plant of course. Another interesting feature in the room are the custom made two tone angled book cases. Not only do they look great, but they are both unique and functional as well. We chose shutters for the window treatments because we wanted the room to feel light and airy. The walls were painted blue to match the furniture. Art work, the small accessories all over the room, along with fresh flowers were the final touches. My client was thrilled with the results - it met her expectations that the room be a warm, cheery, inviting space for both her family to play and entertain. She once told me that she smiles every time she walks downstairs and sees the bench with the beautiful blue floral bench cushion. An expectation of mine that I have fulfilled as a designer.

This young family began working with us after struggling with their previous contractor. They were over budget and not achieving what they really needed with the addition they were proposing. Rather than extend the existing footprint of their house as had been suggested, we proposed completely changing the orientation of their separate kitchen, living room, dining room, and sunroom and opening it all up to an open floor plan. By changing the configuration of doors and windows to better suit the new layout and sight lines, we were able to improve the views of their beautiful backyard and increase the natural light allowed into the spaces. We raised the floor in the sunroom to allow for a level cohesive floor throughout the areas. Their extended kitchen now has a nice sitting area within the kitchen to allow for conversation with friends and family during meal prep and entertaining. The sitting area opens to a full dining room with built in buffet and hutch that functions as a serving station. Conscious thought was given that all “permanent” selections such as cabinetry and countertops were designed to suit the masses, with a splash of this homeowner’s individual style in the double herringbone soft gray tile of the backsplash, the mitred edge of the island countertop, and the mixture of metals in the plumbing and lighting fixtures. Careful consideration was given to the function of each cabinet and organization and storage was maximized. This family is now able to entertain their extended family with seating for 18 and not only enjoy entertaining in a space that feels open and inviting, but also enjoy sitting down as a family for the simple pleasure of supper together.

Emily Minton Redfield