Aida Saul of Aida Interiors has a talent for blending modern and traditional styles, throwing in unexpected elements that pull rooms together with curated sophistication.
Seven years ago, she helped these homeowners renovate their beautiful home. They recently came back to her for a lighter color palette and some fresh decor that would meet their family’s needs today. When working with a client, Saul says she needs to understand the style they want first and then the mood. “Modern can be both light and airy, as well as dark and sexy,” she says. “It’s important to describe how you see yourself and your family living in the home.”
These homeowners asked for an interior that is light and airy with touches of glamour. “They wanted an environment that was comfortable for their close-knit family, but also helped them to entertain in style,” she says.
Saul began by bathing the main living room in floor-to-ceiling white. She further brightened the room with mirrored panels on the ceiling and framed it with drapery panels in a modern taupe and ivory design. She added layers of warmth to the room with light shades of textured pillows and a white tufted hairhide ottoman. Rich metallic accessories add a just-right touch of glamour to the mix. “I love this room because I know it will bring their family together,” Saul says. “You might find three snuggled reading on the sectional while two play chess or backgammon at the burled wood game table in the corner.” A large abstract painting in green and gold by New Orleans artist Amanda Talley hangs behind a neutral vintage chair from Slate Interiors. The artwork repeats Saul’s play of metallic gold and gives the room a bold punch of color and spirit.
The dining room highlights Saul’s talents for finding unique pieces and fusing styles. The Neirmann Weeks chandelier sets the tone for the room, blending mid-century modern whimsy with transitional elegance. The vintage Mastercraft bamboo brass dining chairs were reupholstered in pearly Spinneybeck leather and paired with a traditional mahogany Duncan Phyfe table for an unexpected twist that gives the room a light, luxurious edge. Raw silk panels in an earthy tone finish the room with warm sophistication. Modernism is at play again in the home’s casual dining area, where BRNO style chrome flat bar chairs surround a Julian Chichester table with its hammered nickel base sitting on a deeply tufted Moroccan rug in blush. Sheer white drapery panels allow natural light to fill the room, bringing the outdoors in. Throughout the home, details and unexpected pairings make the difference between a home that is simply a well-designed transitional and one that feels artfully curated.
“I love unique and one-of-a-kind objects, and I try to create small vignettes by grouping like and disparate objects that speak to each other,” Saul says. A light, crisp color palette throughout keeps the home bright, while earth-toned touches, pottery, and metals anchor the airy feel and keep the whites from being stark. Because the family loves to entertain, the living room and dining rooms were switched in the last renovation, and a wet bar was added, shrinking the size of the original dining room to become an intimate sitting room off the foyer. A small sectional, game table and family portraits make this a warm, personal space. The wet bar in taupe lacquer projects understated elegance with its mirrored backsplash and earthy granite countertops. A smoked glass and brass cabinet from Slate Interiors displays a dining room vignette with touches of richness from a teal lamp, a painting from artist Mel Rea, and mid-century pottery. Their new home is quiet but not dull, neutral but still rich. Saul attributes this project’s success to understanding the homeowner’s vision and style from the outset. It also helps that her clients trusted her completely. “It is our goal to push clients a bit out of their comfort zone, so there is an element of surprise in the final results,” she says.
“For me, a project is successful when I come back years later, and I still find the home fresh and full of surprises.” In the warm, airy light of this striking home, it’s obvious that will not be a problem.