Blush Pink Keeps This Formal Living Room Light and Inviting
A Connecticut designer uses vintage pieces and a neutral palette to create a welcoming space in her family’s home
Erin Carlyle
October 29, 2018
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes to remodel. Former Forbes real estate reporter. Fascinated by cool homes, watching the bottom line.
Former Houzz Editorial Staff. Writing about the cost of renovation and what it takes... More
Photos by Jane Beiles
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Denise Davies of d2 interieurs; her husband, Darren; and their children Jesse, 17, and Jackson, 16
Location: Weston, Connecticut
Size: About 280 square feet (26 square meters)
This light, welcoming space is the formal living room of designer Denise Davies of d2 interieurs — but she didn’t want the room to be too formal. Instead, she wanted it to feel inviting, like “you can go and sit down and read a book and plop your feet up,” she says. Davies loves color, and her design projects tend to have a lot of it, but she didn’t want an overdose in this space. “I wanted it to be neutral so it wasn’t overstimulating,” she says. Most of all, Davies says, she wanted the room to feel happy and fun.
Pro tip: “Coffee table books are a very inexpensive way to bring in art and graphic detail to the room,” Davies says. Here, a teal book echoes the color of the sculpture on the glass-topped table.
Living Room at a Glance
Who lives here: Designer Denise Davies of d2 interieurs; her husband, Darren; and their children Jesse, 17, and Jackson, 16
Location: Weston, Connecticut
Size: About 280 square feet (26 square meters)
This light, welcoming space is the formal living room of designer Denise Davies of d2 interieurs — but she didn’t want the room to be too formal. Instead, she wanted it to feel inviting, like “you can go and sit down and read a book and plop your feet up,” she says. Davies loves color, and her design projects tend to have a lot of it, but she didn’t want an overdose in this space. “I wanted it to be neutral so it wasn’t overstimulating,” she says. Most of all, Davies says, she wanted the room to feel happy and fun.
Pro tip: “Coffee table books are a very inexpensive way to bring in art and graphic detail to the room,” Davies says. Here, a teal book echoes the color of the sculpture on the glass-topped table.
Before: Davies’ home was built in 1929. Prior to the remodel, the living room had white linoleum tile floors and wood casing around the doors and windows. “It was horrible,” Davies says.
After: The starting point for the room design was the rug, which Davies designed as blush, lavender and white. She finished the walls in high-gloss white lacquer and added a blush printed wallpaper to the ceiling. New white oak flooring replaced the linoleum.
The sofa, too, is Davies’ own design, and it was custom-made for this room. Though the sofa looks a bit pink-tinged in this photo, it’s actually cream. The blush impression is the result of the wallpaper reflecting off the walls and tinging the furniture a bit.
The room has three walls with windows and gets a ton of light, which Davies likes. When the sun gets too intense, she can soften it by drawing the drapes. To capture the sunshine rather than hide it, Davies chose light-filtering curtains instead of light-blocking ones.
Davies likes to add vintage items to her designs, and in this space they’re sprinkled throughout the room. The “Fun” sign on the wall behind the sofa is vintage; Davies bought the letters individually and used them to spell out the word. The coffee table also is vintage, and Davies had its base refinished with metallic car paint.
The collection of objects on the side table (seen in the first photo) is pottery from the 1970s and ’80s. And the dark chairs across from the L-shaped sofa are 1970s pieces from Germany. “If the chairs weren’t there, the room would look very feminine,” Davies says. “The chairs really balance it out.”
She also likes to add some black in every room she designs. It’s here in the chairs and in details of the palm tree photograph (over the mantel) by Allyson Monson. “I’m from Miami originally so I love the palm tree,” Davies says.
A midcentury Serge Mouille chandelier helps keep the living space informal.
Find midcentury-style chandeliers in the Houzz Shop
The sofa, too, is Davies’ own design, and it was custom-made for this room. Though the sofa looks a bit pink-tinged in this photo, it’s actually cream. The blush impression is the result of the wallpaper reflecting off the walls and tinging the furniture a bit.
The room has three walls with windows and gets a ton of light, which Davies likes. When the sun gets too intense, she can soften it by drawing the drapes. To capture the sunshine rather than hide it, Davies chose light-filtering curtains instead of light-blocking ones.
Davies likes to add vintage items to her designs, and in this space they’re sprinkled throughout the room. The “Fun” sign on the wall behind the sofa is vintage; Davies bought the letters individually and used them to spell out the word. The coffee table also is vintage, and Davies had its base refinished with metallic car paint.
The collection of objects on the side table (seen in the first photo) is pottery from the 1970s and ’80s. And the dark chairs across from the L-shaped sofa are 1970s pieces from Germany. “If the chairs weren’t there, the room would look very feminine,” Davies says. “The chairs really balance it out.”
She also likes to add some black in every room she designs. It’s here in the chairs and in details of the palm tree photograph (over the mantel) by Allyson Monson. “I’m from Miami originally so I love the palm tree,” Davies says.
A midcentury Serge Mouille chandelier helps keep the living space informal.
Find midcentury-style chandeliers in the Houzz Shop
The area leading from the living space into the kitchen houses a beverage refrigerator and shelves that the couple use as a bar when they entertain.
Pro tip: Davies suggests that those who are hiring a designer for the first time prepare a list of questions for the first meeting. The questions could cover what the work will entail as well as timelines and project benchmarks. That way a client can get a better idea of what work will be involved and the schedule to expect.
Find beer and wine refrigerators in the Houzz Shop
More
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
Why a Sofa Makes a Room and How to Find the One for You
Find an interior designer in the Houzz pro directory
Pro tip: Davies suggests that those who are hiring a designer for the first time prepare a list of questions for the first meeting. The questions could cover what the work will entail as well as timelines and project benchmarks. That way a client can get a better idea of what work will be involved and the schedule to expect.
Find beer and wine refrigerators in the Houzz Shop
More
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
Why a Sofa Makes a Room and How to Find the One for You
Find an interior designer in the Houzz pro directory
Related Stories
Laundry Rooms
Loads of Function in a Classic Black-and-White Laundry Room
By Becky Harris
A designer incorporates expansive storage, a drying rod, a generous sink and a counter for folding
Full Story
Bedrooms
Soothing Whites and Grays Create a Refreshing Master Bedroom
Strategic changes help a California master bedroom go from dark and heavy to light and bright
Full Story
Basements
A Light, Bright Basement Inspired by Midcentury Design
By Becky Harris
Designers create an organic and airy feel in this underground space in Toronto
Full Story
Living Rooms
A Sliding Door Hides the TV in This Attractive Living Room
By Erin Carlyle
See how a designer transforms the barn door concept using walnut veneer and modern styling over a fireplace
Full Story
Before and Afters
100-Year-Old Craftsman Home’s Master Suite Lightens Up
A designer balances architectural preservation with contemporary living in this Northern California remodel
Full Story
Bedrooms
Warm, Minimalist Style for a Master Suite in Oregon
By Becky Harris
Garden views, built-in storage and nods to Japanese design contribute to a calm and beautiful retreat
Full Story
Landscape Design
Relaxed Courtyard Celebrates Indoor-Outdoor Living
Sliding glass walls open up to connect the living spaces in this Southern California retreat
Full Story
Laundry Rooms
A Warm and Bright Laundry Room to Welcome a Family Home
See the inviting vibe a designer created for this renovated Minneapolis room off the garage
Full Story
Kids’ Spaces
Nods to Nature and ‘Star Wars’ in 2 Boys’ Bedrooms and Bath
Bold color, graphic patterns and custom murals create a kids’ zone designed to grow up with brothers in Utah
Full Story
Living Rooms
Sand and Surf Inspire Look of New Great Room With Pacific Views
A designer renovates a coastal California living space to highlight its amazing views and create a chic beach vibe
Full Story
This is very glamorous and pretty but too shiny for me to live in on a daily basis. Having said that, I would love to step inside this room to see what it feels like! I would never have thought of using high gloss paint on the walls. My walls are not perfect so all the flaws would show up. How do you do this and have it turn out so beautifully? I envy all the beautiful natural light, especially since my own little house house is dark. Thank you for sharing.
I think it's more than just the bluish pink colors that made the room refreshing and classically beautiful. The right illumination from the outside and even the inside of the house make a huge difference in how the room looks overall.