Traditional Living Spaces Get a Contemporary Makeover
Before and after: New textiles and wall treatments help update this San Francisco family’s living and dining rooms
Living Room
After: One of the first updates was to paint the walls a dark inky blue. “It immediately gave the space a contemporary feeling and enhanced the architectural details,” Madden says. Now the original windows, crown molding, existing built-ins and fireplace are highlighted against the navy walls.
The homeowners use their wood-burning fireplace and worked closely with a tile installer to cover it with a matte marblelike porcelain tile that would easily wipe clean. The couple kept the existing white mantel; above it hangs a new contemporary brass statement mirror. “I had layered two mirrors to achieve that same kind of look, but this one I love so much,” Eleanor says.
Wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore; Olympia mirror: Arteriors; fireplace tile: Ceramic Tile Design; Quinn armchairs: Room & Board; Clairemont round Art Deco coffee table: Crate & Barrel
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips | Find a tile installer
After: One of the first updates was to paint the walls a dark inky blue. “It immediately gave the space a contemporary feeling and enhanced the architectural details,” Madden says. Now the original windows, crown molding, existing built-ins and fireplace are highlighted against the navy walls.
The homeowners use their wood-burning fireplace and worked closely with a tile installer to cover it with a matte marblelike porcelain tile that would easily wipe clean. The couple kept the existing white mantel; above it hangs a new contemporary brass statement mirror. “I had layered two mirrors to achieve that same kind of look, but this one I love so much,” Eleanor says.
Wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore; Olympia mirror: Arteriors; fireplace tile: Ceramic Tile Design; Quinn armchairs: Room & Board; Clairemont round Art Deco coffee table: Crate & Barrel
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips | Find a tile installer
Before: “Our two cats had done some damage to the sofa, and I was artfully putting a throw over that part for a while,” Eleanor says. “We spend a lot of time in the living room and enjoy entertaining regularly with potluck dinners and cocktail parties. I love having people over, and this space needed an update.”
The dark brown curtains had been up for years and, though they provided privacy from the street, made the space feel dark. “The windows needed a bit of dressing,” Madden says. “We needed privacy that didn’t block out all the light, and we needed something to serve as insulation in the winter — the windows are old and let in a lot of cold air.”
The built-in bookshelf in the corner on the right is original to the home. The two bookcases flanking the fireplace were built to match it when the couple first moved in.
The dark brown curtains had been up for years and, though they provided privacy from the street, made the space feel dark. “The windows needed a bit of dressing,” Madden says. “We needed privacy that didn’t block out all the light, and we needed something to serve as insulation in the winter — the windows are old and let in a lot of cold air.”
The built-in bookshelf in the corner on the right is original to the home. The two bookcases flanking the fireplace were built to match it when the couple first moved in.
After: Lauren Siegel of Save My Seat in San Francisco’s Richmond District reupholstered their Room & Board sofa with a durable and stain-resistant Perennials performance fabric. “We picked an off-white fabric to add some contrast and lightness against the dark walls,” Madden says. “I used lots of pattern in the pillows to give the space more energy and interest, brightening things up even more.” New blue armchairs replaced the previous worn ones.
Madden worked with Tonic Living in Canada to design custom curtains. “To save on cost, we chose an affordable white linen fabric and dressed it up with two different Schumacher trims on the edge,” the interior designer says. “This is a great trick when you are on a tight budget but want something a bit more unique than solid linen curtains.”
A white woven pull-down shade from The Shade Store adds more privacy.
Mohair-and-wool throw in mustard yellow: Brian Paquette Interiors
Browse blue armchairs
Madden worked with Tonic Living in Canada to design custom curtains. “To save on cost, we chose an affordable white linen fabric and dressed it up with two different Schumacher trims on the edge,” the interior designer says. “This is a great trick when you are on a tight budget but want something a bit more unique than solid linen curtains.”
A white woven pull-down shade from The Shade Store adds more privacy.
Mohair-and-wool throw in mustard yellow: Brian Paquette Interiors
Browse blue armchairs
The sofa faces a television. One of the first ways the couple celebrated the completion of this decorating project was by watching an episode of Westworld.
The total cost for the two rooms was about $20,000. That includes design fees, furnishings, accessories, materials and labor installation fees for the fireplace tile and wallpaper.
Arrow and Hollyhock pillow fabrics: Clay McLaurin Studio; Anastasia collection AF-09 area rug in blue and gold: Loloi
The total cost for the two rooms was about $20,000. That includes design fees, furnishings, accessories, materials and labor installation fees for the fireplace tile and wallpaper.
Arrow and Hollyhock pillow fabrics: Clay McLaurin Studio; Anastasia collection AF-09 area rug in blue and gold: Loloi
Dining Room
Before: “The biggest problem I was trying to solve was to elevate the dining space by making it more contemporary using the existing dark and traditional furniture from Ethan Allen,” Madden says.
To make the space feel brighter and more modern, “it needed more juxtaposition — something to make the 100-year-old house feel fresher and younger,” she says.
Before: “The biggest problem I was trying to solve was to elevate the dining space by making it more contemporary using the existing dark and traditional furniture from Ethan Allen,” Madden says.
To make the space feel brighter and more modern, “it needed more juxtaposition — something to make the 100-year-old house feel fresher and younger,” she says.
After: As she did in the living room, Madden started with the walls to make a dramatic change. A playfully patterned metallic gold wallpaper by DwellStudio transformed the space.
“It made the furniture feel less traditional and serious,” Madden says. “The subtle pattern added texture and interest. The Reinholdts worked with PaintZen to install the new wallpaper, and it was initially installed upside down. “We had a good laugh about that but were thankfully able to fix it,” Eleanor says.
The new abstract wall art provided the initial color inspiration for the redesign. “I liked the color palette and how it ties together with the living room yet isn’t busy,” Madden says.
“Overall I wanted things a little more casual and organic — I’m a T-shirt kind of gal,” Eleanor says. “The dining room now has a beautiful elegance, but I still feel comfortable in it.”
This project was the first time the couple worked with an interior designer. “I respect how much work it takes to do interior design. I get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choice, and this process really reaffirms what it is like to work with an expert,” Eleanor adds. “Things moved far quicker because I had Rachel as a partner. I wouldn’t be remotely done if I tried to finish the rooms on my own.”
As soon as their dining room project was complete, “we celebrated with friends by ordering takeout from one of our favorite local Indian restaurants, Roti Bistro,” Eleanor says.
“I love being in these spaces more now. It’s finally done, and I finally feel at ease. I’m no longer saying, ‘I should really get to that.’ It’s truly a place for us to entertain and relax.”
Wallpaper in gold: DwellStudio via Anthropologie; “Open Ocean” abstract art: Studio McGee; seat upholstery: Perennials; Journey collection JO-08 area rug in navy blue: Loloi
Browse area rugs
More
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Find an interior designer near you
“It made the furniture feel less traditional and serious,” Madden says. “The subtle pattern added texture and interest. The Reinholdts worked with PaintZen to install the new wallpaper, and it was initially installed upside down. “We had a good laugh about that but were thankfully able to fix it,” Eleanor says.
The new abstract wall art provided the initial color inspiration for the redesign. “I liked the color palette and how it ties together with the living room yet isn’t busy,” Madden says.
“Overall I wanted things a little more casual and organic — I’m a T-shirt kind of gal,” Eleanor says. “The dining room now has a beautiful elegance, but I still feel comfortable in it.”
This project was the first time the couple worked with an interior designer. “I respect how much work it takes to do interior design. I get overwhelmed by the sheer volume of choice, and this process really reaffirms what it is like to work with an expert,” Eleanor adds. “Things moved far quicker because I had Rachel as a partner. I wouldn’t be remotely done if I tried to finish the rooms on my own.”
As soon as their dining room project was complete, “we celebrated with friends by ordering takeout from one of our favorite local Indian restaurants, Roti Bistro,” Eleanor says.
“I love being in these spaces more now. It’s finally done, and I finally feel at ease. I’m no longer saying, ‘I should really get to that.’ It’s truly a place for us to entertain and relax.”
Wallpaper in gold: DwellStudio via Anthropologie; “Open Ocean” abstract art: Studio McGee; seat upholstery: Perennials; Journey collection JO-08 area rug in navy blue: Loloi
Browse area rugs
More
How to Refresh Your Living Room on Any Budget
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer
Key Measurements for Planning the Perfect Dining Room
Find an interior designer near you
Living and Dining Rooms at a Glance
Who lives here: Eleanor Mason Reinholdt and Richard Reinholdt, their 18-month-old daughter, and their two rescue calico cats, Luna Noodle and Bella Boo
Location: Forest Hill Extension neighborhood of San Francisco
Size: Living room of 237 square feet (22 square meters); dining room of 192 square feet (18 square meters)
Designer: Rachel Madden
Project completed: June 2018
Before: It was always on Eleanor Mason Reinholdt’s to-do list to finish decorating her family’s living room. Eleanor’s husband, Richard Reinholdt, grew up in their traditional 1916 Edwardian in San Francisco, and his late parents had lived in the house for more than 30 years before the couple bought it and moved in at the beginning of 2005.
“I did an initial pass furnishing the living and dining room and painting the walls, but I never really completed the rooms to my liking,” says Eleanor, a design manager at a software company and an actor. “Every time I would pass these front rooms, it felt like a big thing to one day get to. They just didn’t really feel ‘finished’ to me.”
The couple tapped interior designer Rachel Madden to help elevate the existing design and give their living and dining rooms a contemporary update. “One design challenge was creating a dramatic enough change while still keeping all of the homeowners’ major pieces of furniture,” Madden says. “It’s a highly traditional home with traditional-leaning furniture. My goal was to create bold spaces that feel contemporary and sophisticated while also highlighting the traditional architecture.” The result is a blend of the two styles in a way that feels balanced, fresh and inviting.
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