Room of the Day: Stately Study Includes a Cozy Family Space
A new fireplace, windows, millwork and furniture make this room hard to leave
“Our homeowner is pleased to tell us there are days when he doesn’t leave his ‘stately study,’” interior designer Patti Watson says. “He works from his desk in the morning, reads in his chair in the afternoon and enjoys the fireplace and a movie with his family in the evening.” With the room’s handsome millwork, comfortable seating and cozy proportions, it’s easy to see why it’s hard to leave.
“Before, the room had no fireplace and no bay window on the north side,” Watson says. “We chose to bump out the bay to provide extra floor space for his desk and added windows flanking the fireplace for added natural light.”
The desk is tucked right into the small bay and enjoys a view out across the landscape through three large windows. This layout helps give the different functions of the room their own spaces, while it still feels cohesive overall. French doors open into the main hall and the living room, providing privacy and quiet while keeping an open, inviting and light flow through the home.
Tub chair with casters: Hickory Chair
The desk is tucked right into the small bay and enjoys a view out across the landscape through three large windows. This layout helps give the different functions of the room their own spaces, while it still feels cohesive overall. French doors open into the main hall and the living room, providing privacy and quiet while keeping an open, inviting and light flow through the home.
Tub chair with casters: Hickory Chair
Note the way the trim in the bay matches that of the cabinet doors. Sconces in the bay provide a nice layer of light at night.
The fireplace and TV are on the left side of this photo, with plenty of comfortable seating around. The chairs are comfortable for reading, and the ottoman can be shared. On the wall over the armchairs are three black and white photos of three generations of one of the owners’ family members graduating from the same college. “Each is beautifully framed in reclaimed wood and hung over his reading chair, providing this room with a solid history,” Watson says.
Throw pillows and an area rug add color and pattern. Watson designed the ottoman on the right herself.
Rug: Landry & Arcari
Throw pillows and an area rug add color and pattern. Watson designed the ottoman on the right herself.
Rug: Landry & Arcari
The designer opted for brass for all the metallic finishes. “Brass is warm, rich and accents the red and chocolate tones in this room perfectly,” she says. “Brass is also the metallic finish associated with tradition — nothing else would do in this room.”
A woven tray with a nailhead detail adds texture and transforms the side table into a bar. With its new windows, warm fireplace and soft furnishings, the room is now a favorite spot for the couple.
Side tables: Hickory White
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Side tables: Hickory White
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Study at a Glance
What happens here: Working, reading, getting toasty, watching movies
Location: Jamestown, Rhode Island
Size: 250 square feet (23.2 square meters)
Designer: Taste Design
Watson’s clients are an active, semiretired couple with two sons in college. They needed the room to serve multiple functions. One of the owners wanted a study that could function as a well-organized office, while they both wanted this room to function as a family room. On their wish list were a big-screen TV and a wood-burning fireplace.
“We weren’t blessed with high ceilings in this room, so we chose to treat the ceiling with shallow coffers, to add interest in the low space,” Watson says. Designing the right millwork was a little tricky, as she wanted the study to have a stately look but knew heavy millwork could overwhelm the low-ceilinged room. “The high chair rail and panels provided a rich background that didn’t shrink the space,” she says.
All paint by Benjamin Moore: Middlebury Brown HC-68 (millwork); Reflection C2-414 in eggshell finish (walls); Reflection C2-414 in satin finish (crown molding and beams); Milk Moustache C2-080 in flat finish (ceiling)