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This living room, although compact, had some great things going for it. It had a high sloped ceiling and a striking stone fireplace. My client also had great taste - the problem was she would buy what she loved only to realize that nothing worked that well together. The result was a room that was neither functional nor inviting. We were hired to create a beautiful and functional space suitable for entertaining friends and family and provide a comfortable chair for her husband to sit and read.

Our first goal was to visually expand and heighten the room. A large area rug redefined the space so we could place more furniture and use the dead space near the staircase. By hanging an interesting mirror quite high on the stone fireplace and a great series of decorative plates all the way up the sofa wall, the room instantly felt more spacious.

We kept the beautiful silk draperies, the tufted charcoal sofa, rustic side board and mirror. Everything else was sold or relocated to make room for the new: a stylish but comfortable "greige" sofa with coordinating chair and ottoman, two striking side tables and new table lamps and a fabulous geometric area rug that echoed the shape of the stones of the fireplace. Everything is soft but not boring. The sideboard is now located next to the vestibule door under a authentic Klimt drawing for all to admire. New lighting (a sculptural pendant where you enter the home and new interesting ceiling fixtures in the living room) illuminates the new space.

The other transformation came from a new staircase and runners. The dated 1960s railing was replaced by a stylish chunky wood railing (in same finish as sideboard) and sculptural stainless steel posts. My client loves Schiele, the Austrian painter, and so proposed this drawing of his wife which was then photoshopped, enlarged and transferred to canvas. It is the first thing you see when you enter the home and is visible from the living room as well.

These clients now use their living room all the time - to read, have coffee and even play chess!