#bungalowbabe
functional and welcoming
Well-designed homes are a delicate balance of the comforts of nostalgia and the fresh perspective of current, modern style. This is the case with our #bungalowbabe project. Our client’s home was oozing with the charm of yesteryear - architectural interest, original hardwood floors, and beautiful antique pieces collected lovingly throughout the decades. Although she had impeccable taste for all things vintage, our client found it difficult to strike a balance between fresh and collected in her own home. Dark wood pieces, mixed with heavy upholstery and window coverings, created an oppressive environment that proved to be the exact opposite of her bright and vivacious personality.
THE BEFORE
First impressions are everything…
From meeting new people, to walking in the front door of your home - and let’s just say that this entryway was not a people-person! The cool grey wall color was off-putting and felt depressing in such a small space. The mix-match of furniture made it feel more like an afterthought rather than the welcome to the home’s environment. Continuing into the living room, it was apparent that function over form had been a running theme with oversized pieces built for comfort, but without consideration for the scale of the room’s long, and narrow flow. At the far end of the living room, a spiral staircase led to a charming book nook above, but left the adjacent space feeling awkward and unused. Many of our client’s most-beloved pieces had been shoved aside instead of taking center stage where they belonged and could be admired. The beige wall color felt lifeless and detached from the entry, making the spaces feel even more disjointed. It was clear that our client was craving a new start, and after clicking instantly with lead designer, Mady, we set out to create a home that blended her love of the past and propelled her into an optimistic future.
First up, we set out to unify the home’s entryway and main areas with a fresh new paint color - SW Ivory Lace. This simple change instantly lightened and brightened things and left us with a blank canvas to work with. Next, we nixed the living room’s two area rugs in favor of a large, custom carpet that joined the two spaces and created better flow. After carefully curating furniture pieces from her own collection, we decided that an intricately carved coffee table was the perfect scale for the living room’s new layout, and a vintage glass-front bookcase would serve as a perfect alternative to climbing the staircase every time she wanted to reach for her latest read. Speaking of the staircase, we decided to leave the existing brickwork largely untouched as it serves as a sweet memory of her husband’s handiwork in their home. We could not wait to incorporate her collection of vintage family portraits to ensure she would end up with a home that felt authentically her.
Warmth & Comfort Meet Functionality
With our sentimental pieces solidified, we built the rest of the furniture plan and color palette around them, selecting complimentary items with lighter tones to bring balance to their dark wood stains. This allowed these treasured pieces to anchor each area, without weighing them down visually. We opted to keep the entryway bright and airy - a true reflection of its owner - by selecting a leggy console table stained in a driftwood color. Layered mirrors bounce the table lamp’s glow around the space, and woven baskets below provide smart grab-and-go storage options for shoes and other items. Adding a cozy sitting area provides a comfy spot for throwing on a pair of sneakers, or winding down at the end of the day. The vintage portrait gallery wall we created ensures she’s enveloped with precious faces and warm memories every day.
In the living room, we decided on all new seating upholstered in performance fabrics that prove to be as durable as they are beautiful - an important investment in their longevity, especially with active grandkids! Swivel chairs in both the entry and living room provide flexible seating options, ensuring everyone finds the best vantage point for viewing the newly installed TV. A large, clean-lined sofa provides balance opposite the entertainment wall. In a narrow space, the open shelving on either side of the TV and low-profile console table keep your eye moving around the room while still providing valuable storage. Adding in pops of color with accent furniture, accessories, and artwork brings the space to life and ties in the layered wool rug that helps to define the living room’s main seating areas. Gauzy draperies, layered over sleek privacy shades, provide softness while allowing light to pour in freely. To provide levity to the spiral staircase’s dark brick background, we went for a creative installation of white planters filled with greenery. The look is unexpected, fun, and is sure to be a conversation piece when she’s entertaining! A long bench, paired next to the vintage glass-front bookcase, provides extra seating for larger gatherings and helps define what used to be an awkward corner. Newly installed ceiling fixtures and intentionally placed table and floor lamps throughout ensure the space is flooded with light day or night!
Through carefully chosen pieces that compliment, rather than fight, the sentimental ones from her past, we have given our client the comfortable and much-needed retreat that she deserves. She now can enjoy a home that is the true embodiment of her heart for her family and a tangible representation that the past is just as important as the future.
Designer: Mady Greer
Materials Budget: $95 / SF
*Materials budget does not include design fees.
Timeline: 20 weeks from consult to install
Furnishings: Curtains, Blinds and Bath - Norwalk Furniture, Lancaster Furniture, Pottery Barn, World Market, Annie Selke
Paint: SW Ivory Lace
“The design team was easy and fun to work with. They were as excited as I was and supportive of my choices. Now my living space is not only light and airy and beautiful but also pet friendly. I never could have done this on my own. Whether your project is big or small, the designers ... will create a beautiful space for you.”