Room service
A poky, cluttered living area becomes a stylish, mid-century lounge with updated paint and flooring, and a few well-chosen vintage-style accessories
Reworking a poky and cluttered living area
CLIENT
Lina Belinda
PROJECT
Living room
BUDGET
TOTAL $6,172
Tina says:
THE PROBLEM
The living area feels closed-in and small, with a chunky corner sofa that Lina believes looks too commercial for the space. The original light fittings and curtains are dated and need replacing, as does the carpet, which runs through to the adjoining dining room.
The wall colour is a yellow-based cream, which needs refreshing with a more modern neutral to soften the red and brown tones of the dark wooden ceiling. THE SOLUTION
+ Starting with a fresh, modern palette of bone white with a warm grey base will instantly help to modernise and refresh the space, along with the addition of soft linen curtains to replace the dark maroon ones.
+ In her brief, the client cited mid-century as a favourite style, which suits the home perfectly. A streamlined sofa in lush velvet and a simple occasional chair in the fuss-free aesthetic of that era would elongate the space.
+ Bring in layered textures of wool, velvet and shiny brass to give the room more interest, along with a soft bohemian pattern on the rug.
+ Two pieces of art in opposing shapes (I chose a vintage photograph from Whites Aviation and a sculptural piece in brass) would help to define and ground the space.
+ Replace the flooring in the living, dining and kitchen areas with a Quick-Step laminate floor in Soft Oak Natural. This product is suitable for kitchen areas and would allow Lina to enjoy a cohesive look throughout the entire area. This is a cost-effective solution and the Soft Oak Natural finish ties in perfectly with the tones in the wooden ceiling.
Lina says:
When we first saw this home, we loved the fact that it had cathedral ceilings in the living space and open-plan kitchen and dining area. The living room is tucked to the side so it is a bit of an awkward space, but it has beautiful light and opens onto the deck.
We love how Tina has put this look together for us; the room now looks alive and more polished. The velvet sofa gives a touch of modern luxury and yet retains a retro vibe, which suits the house and our aesthetic. We have always wanted a beautiful rug to define the living area and add extra warmth and cosiness. The brass light fixtures, velvet sofa, wool rug and plants are perfect for us. Thank you so much for this.