White Paint and New Decor Bring a Family Room to Life
A Spanish-style family room with wonderful architectural features gets new furniture tailored to its style and size
Before: This is the family room prior to the redecorating project. You can see that the walls are painted beige. Although the French doors are open to let in a lot of light, the homeowners found the space too dark. Designer Kimberley Kay Worswick also found the scale of the furniture the previous owners had (seen in this photo) simply too small for the expansive room. The homeowners let Worswick run free with her design. “They just said, ‘Do whatever you want,’ ” Worswick says.
After: A key element of the project was this large sectional. The homeowners entertain often and wanted enough seating for guests.
And a key question was what to do with all the art niches in the room. One is seen here behind the sofa, and two others are visible in the previous “before” photo. Worswick arranged some simple outdoor lanterns in the niches; their flameless LED candles illuminate the room without fire risk.
Fresh white paint on the walls (Sherwin-Williams Alabaster White in flat sheen) helped brighten the room. Worswick chose a black-and-ivory rug to bring some pattern into the space, opting for an inexpensive one as she could foresee wine spills happening in the entertaining hub.
The foreground of this photo gives a glimpse of the room’s two leather chaise lounges, another comfortable seating option for guests.
Browse sectional sofas
And a key question was what to do with all the art niches in the room. One is seen here behind the sofa, and two others are visible in the previous “before” photo. Worswick arranged some simple outdoor lanterns in the niches; their flameless LED candles illuminate the room without fire risk.
Fresh white paint on the walls (Sherwin-Williams Alabaster White in flat sheen) helped brighten the room. Worswick chose a black-and-ivory rug to bring some pattern into the space, opting for an inexpensive one as she could foresee wine spills happening in the entertaining hub.
The foreground of this photo gives a glimpse of the room’s two leather chaise lounges, another comfortable seating option for guests.
Browse sectional sofas
Before: Here’s a view of the other side of the room prior to the renovation. As this angle shows, it’s a straight path from the front door to the family room.
After: Here’s the same angle of the room in a more pulled-back shot after the redecorating project. Worswick added the rustic chandelier, which serves as a dark focal point in the room. She chose two coffee tables, offsetting them to fill the large open space created by the sectional and chairs. The tables feature a grayed wood designed to resemble concrete.
Pro tip: Many of Worswick’s clients have never hired a designer before working with her. She advises anyone new to hiring a designer to be sure they understand both the design process and the cost of the various services provided before they sign a contract. These will vary by firm, but designers can explain all the details upfront.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
Pro tip: Many of Worswick’s clients have never hired a designer before working with her. She advises anyone new to hiring a designer to be sure they understand both the design process and the cost of the various services provided before they sign a contract. These will vary by firm, but designers can explain all the details upfront.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire an Interior Designer?
Stylish leather straps and matte black bars keep the sectional’s back pillows in place and add a little extra detail to the design. New long white drapes highlight the room’s tall ceilings.
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Browse photos of Spanish- and Mediterranean-style living rooms
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Shop for living room decor
Family Room at a Glance
Who lives here: A professional couple
Location: Napa, California
Size: 400 square feet (37 square meters)
Designer: Kimberley Kay Worswick of Kimberley Kay Interiors
The couple who purchased this Spanish-style home in Napa, California, had originally planned to build a custom home on property they owned in the area. However, after the devastating Tubbs fire destroyed thousands of homes in the Santa Rosa area in 2017, they found that the price to build a custom home had gone up quite a bit, given that area contractors were busy helping families rebuild. So the homeowners decided to purchase this home instead and remodel and redecorate it.
This family room got a cosmetic makeover but no structural work. The redecorating project included a new wall paint color, new light fixtures and new furniture.
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