And I am so glad they did. This project was one of my favorites. Not only did Mandalin Phillips and her husband, Hunter, give me free rein—they were game for a little fun! Mandalin came to me with a request to help turn a small space in their Plaza Midwood bungalow into a lounge area for Hunter. She wanted to make an eight-by-ten-foot room into a small bar and music space just for him. I loved the idea but quickly advised her to transform their larger entry into the bar and make the smaller space a chic music room for Hunter.
Mandalin wasn’t afraid of wallpaper and wanted something different—and that’s when the fun really began. I wanted to create a lot of drama as you walk in the front door, hence a bold, graphic black-and-white wallpaper and a reworked fireplace.
We decided to add a black chevron tile from floor to ceiling and incorporate the mantle into the floating shelves over the new custom “bar” cabinet. Then we clustered two kelly-green velvet lounge chairs and a dramatic chandelier as well as several original pieces of art. The space is now a cozy conversation space, television-free and reading ready. The fun continued when we moved into Hunter’s music room. We used another bold wallpaper and an oversized floor lamp.
The accent chair has a strong presence in the center of the room and is just the spot for a little guitar workout. Across the hall, we created a palm-filled sunny guest room, carrying over the kelly-green color palette. Light and airy bedding add a contemporary touch, and two velvet-printed pillows I scored from local artist Windy O’Connor give the room a splash of color.
With a black-and-white kitchen and family room, the back of the house is more calm, but our color palette is revisited in the bold powder room. From front to back, this bungalow is now a colorful and pattern-filled happy collection of spaces for a young couple who just wanted something different.
BETH KEIM is the owner of LUCY AND COMPANY, a full-service interior design firm located at 2108 South Boulevard, Suite 213. For more information, visit LUCYANDCOMPANY.COM or call 704-342-6655.