There is something special about an old house, with its plaster walls, high ceilings, and original windows. They’re built to last and obviously they have, making it through layer upon layer of décor and personalization. I have an older home with character, and instead of tearing out the quirks and character, I’ve embraced them and it has made the home that much more interesting. It was a treat to work on this previously formal living area, giving it new life with updated furniture and colors. What was once a dark and dated space is now fresh and bright – and it was all in the details. We fell in love with the original tall pocket doors, large moldings, and old coal fireplace. We also chose to keep the bookcases, but added doors to the bottom to give it a cleaner look. Starting with a new color palette of white and grey with a pop of green, we chose modern furniture to contrast with the traditional architecture of the space. The key is layering the details and mixing the old with new.
Casual furniture combined with a modern fixture, large art as a focal point, and well-placed bookcase accessories (all in like colors) help a rather small room look bigger and less formal. Some quick tips to adding personality to a room: try layering rugs for added texture; splurge on one large piece of art as opposed to several smaller ones; mis-match your side tables using different woods and metals; add a contrast color, or in this case, an amazing inlayed wood wallpaper in a chevron pattern on the back of the built in cabinets. It’s all about attention to detail. You can give any space new life with just a few tweaks, like freshening up the trim and wall colors, creating a neutral but sharp palette, and building a good mix of old and new furnishings all in similar colors. Splurging on one or two special pieces, while brightening a tired space with a new design, may just be the difference between staying in that older gem of a home and moving to the new one that’s tempting you.
Beth Keim is the owner of Lucy and company, a full-service interior design firm located at 1009 east Boulevard. For more information visit www.lucyandcompany.com or call 704-342-6655.