New This Week: Why Blue Is the Perfect Accent Color for a Living Room
Look to these 4 spaces for a dose of relaxation
I like to think that whoever coined the term living room did so because he or she felt that sitting back, kicking one’s feet up, reading a book and conversing with friends and family are what living is truly about. After all, these spaces are all about relaxing. And nothing promises that feeling more than a soothing dose of the color blue. These four living rooms show just how the color can deliver on that promise. Keep on living.
Designer secret: “As with almost every project, I try to bring window treatments up as high as possible,” Thayer says. “I find the height makes the room appear larger and the ceiling higher, and the fabric softens the space while adding texture.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “Although my wallpaper girl, Evita Caune of Rip Tide Finishes in Nantucket, remained calm, the application of the wallpaper to the beams caused more stress than I would have liked,” Thayer says. “First, although scaffolding was built, there needed to be different degrees of height beyond that, so an 8-foot ladder was placed on the scaffolding. To see Evita at some points standing on the top of the ladder that was on the scaffolding had me freaking out.
“Then we realized the paper, due to its thickness along the beam edges, wasn’t adhering well enough to the beams with the paste. Again Evita worked it out and made a cut groove in the paper, then used a stapler on the tops of the beams to firmly secure the paper. In the end they look spectacular, but I look at those beams with an even greater appreciation for Evita along with a full range of emotions remembering that week.”
Also on the team: E.J. Jaxtimer (builder); Krafton Woodworks & Design; Rip Tide Finishes; Colony Rug Co.; Dave Duchesney Painting; Nantucket Window Workroom; Cary Hazlegrove Photography
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Rye end tables in weathered mineral finish: Hickory Chair; lamps on end tables: Arteriors; mirror over fireplace: Coco, Made Goods; sconces: Ben in polished nickel and ebony with white shade, The Urban Electric Co.; throw: Pine Cone Hill; wall paint: Skylight 205, Farrow & Ball; doors: Marvin Windows & Doors
“Uh-oh” moment: “Although my wallpaper girl, Evita Caune of Rip Tide Finishes in Nantucket, remained calm, the application of the wallpaper to the beams caused more stress than I would have liked,” Thayer says. “First, although scaffolding was built, there needed to be different degrees of height beyond that, so an 8-foot ladder was placed on the scaffolding. To see Evita at some points standing on the top of the ladder that was on the scaffolding had me freaking out.
“Then we realized the paper, due to its thickness along the beam edges, wasn’t adhering well enough to the beams with the paste. Again Evita worked it out and made a cut groove in the paper, then used a stapler on the tops of the beams to firmly secure the paper. In the end they look spectacular, but I look at those beams with an even greater appreciation for Evita along with a full range of emotions remembering that week.”
Also on the team: E.J. Jaxtimer (builder); Krafton Woodworks & Design; Rip Tide Finishes; Colony Rug Co.; Dave Duchesney Painting; Nantucket Window Workroom; Cary Hazlegrove Photography
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Rye end tables in weathered mineral finish: Hickory Chair; lamps on end tables: Arteriors; mirror over fireplace: Coco, Made Goods; sconces: Ben in polished nickel and ebony with white shade, The Urban Electric Co.; throw: Pine Cone Hill; wall paint: Skylight 205, Farrow & Ball; doors: Marvin Windows & Doors
2. Big-City Breather
Designer: Michelle Tam of Ethan Michelle Home
Location: West Village neighborhood of Manhattan
Size: 225 square feet (20.9 square meters)
Why blue: Designer Michelle Tam wasn’t allowed to paint the walls in this room, but she made the most of all the natural light flooding in to create a dramatic, airy apartment. She chose a blue sofa to reference the sky views coming through the windows while selecting a style with a New York City vibe. “I feel that bright rooms almost always have to have touches of green and blue,” Tam says. “It is a natural association to nature and makes most people feel at ease.”
Special features: Blue convertible sofa. Lots of natural light. Patchwork chairs. Trio of stone mirrors. Zebra-print rug.
Westminster blue convertible sofa bed: available on Houzz; rug: Acura Rugs; chairs: Baxton Studio; coffee and accent tables: Ink + Ivy; plants: Sage & Co.
Designer: Michelle Tam of Ethan Michelle Home
Location: West Village neighborhood of Manhattan
Size: 225 square feet (20.9 square meters)
Why blue: Designer Michelle Tam wasn’t allowed to paint the walls in this room, but she made the most of all the natural light flooding in to create a dramatic, airy apartment. She chose a blue sofa to reference the sky views coming through the windows while selecting a style with a New York City vibe. “I feel that bright rooms almost always have to have touches of green and blue,” Tam says. “It is a natural association to nature and makes most people feel at ease.”
Special features: Blue convertible sofa. Lots of natural light. Patchwork chairs. Trio of stone mirrors. Zebra-print rug.
Westminster blue convertible sofa bed: available on Houzz; rug: Acura Rugs; chairs: Baxton Studio; coffee and accent tables: Ink + Ivy; plants: Sage & Co.
Designer secret: “The windows had a lot of character and light coming through them; however, the view is very urban and cluttered,” Tam says. “To create a neutral white wall without losing the character or light of the windows, I used a stretch rod with sheer curtains panels, which are very affordable and accessible.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “From the moment I was commissioned to design this apartment, I had 10 days to completion,” Tam says. “A couple days into my design, the owner decided he has to have a sofa bed in the living room, which created a challenge to make the room design-worthy with no chance of getting anything custom-made, and staying within budget. These challenges oftentimes more than not end up making the entire room. Since I already had a color palette planned, I just decided to take my most bold color and apply it to the sofa. That way the sofa wouldn’t have to be too fancy or big, but would be the star.”
Also on the team: David Zimand (photographer)
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Mirrors: Uttermost
“Uh-oh” moment: “From the moment I was commissioned to design this apartment, I had 10 days to completion,” Tam says. “A couple days into my design, the owner decided he has to have a sofa bed in the living room, which created a challenge to make the room design-worthy with no chance of getting anything custom-made, and staying within budget. These challenges oftentimes more than not end up making the entire room. Since I already had a color palette planned, I just decided to take my most bold color and apply it to the sofa. That way the sofa wouldn’t have to be too fancy or big, but would be the star.”
Also on the team: David Zimand (photographer)
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Mirrors: Uttermost
3. Oceanside Om
Designer: Noelle Parks
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 240 square feet (22.2 square meters); 15 by 16 feet (4.5 by 4.8 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Maximize seating for entertaining friends while maintaining a focus on ocean views.
Why blue: Oceanfront views inspired the gray and blue palette.
Special features: White wood tongue-and-groove ceiling and wall paneling. Artistic concrete tile fireplace surround. Louvered cabinets.
Wall paint: Faded Gray DEW382, Dunn-Edwards; cabinet paint: White DEW380, Dunn-Edwards; fireplace tile: 8-by-8-inch in Midnight and white, Granada Tunis; light fixture: Darlana lantern in aged iron, available on Houzz; cabinet hardware: Holdridge leather finger pull, Rejuvenation; furniture: custom
Designer: Noelle Parks
Location: Manhattan Beach, California
Size: 240 square feet (22.2 square meters); 15 by 16 feet (4.5 by 4.8 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Maximize seating for entertaining friends while maintaining a focus on ocean views.
Why blue: Oceanfront views inspired the gray and blue palette.
Special features: White wood tongue-and-groove ceiling and wall paneling. Artistic concrete tile fireplace surround. Louvered cabinets.
Wall paint: Faded Gray DEW382, Dunn-Edwards; cabinet paint: White DEW380, Dunn-Edwards; fireplace tile: 8-by-8-inch in Midnight and white, Granada Tunis; light fixture: Darlana lantern in aged iron, available on Houzz; cabinet hardware: Holdridge leather finger pull, Rejuvenation; furniture: custom
Why the design works: “This is an inside-meets-outside room,” designer Noelle Parks says. “Keeping an open furniture plan was important so that it is easy to maneuver through the space and transition to the outside terrace.”
Designer secret: “Installing the fireplace box low to the floor is key,” Parks says, “especially when you are planning to install your TV over the fireplace mantel. Keeping the TV at eye level is most ergonomic for the space when you want to relax and enjoy a show.”
Also on the team: Dough Leach (architect); LuAnn Fabian of LuAnn Development (builder); Mike Coyle of Coastal Cabinets (cabinetmaker)
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Designer secret: “Installing the fireplace box low to the floor is key,” Parks says, “especially when you are planning to install your TV over the fireplace mantel. Keeping the TV at eye level is most ergonomic for the space when you want to relax and enjoy a show.”
Also on the team: Dough Leach (architect); LuAnn Fabian of LuAnn Development (builder); Mike Coyle of Coastal Cabinets (cabinetmaker)
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4. Woodland Wind-Down
Designer: Jennifer Grey
Location: Woodland Hills, California
Size: 384 square feet (35.6 square meters); 16 by 24 feet (4.8 by 7.3 meters)
Homeowners’ request: A comforting, warm, inviting living room for entertaining and relaxing.
Why blue: “My clients were very attracted to blues, flax and linen, so it was a natural choice,” designer Jennifer Grey says. “I personally feel blues offer deep calm and richness to a space, whether it’s aqua, lagoon blue or teal, or deep navy. It’s all soothing.”
Special features: Matching tall rustic bookshelves anchor a back wall and frame artwork. Board and batten wall treatment.
Accessories: Pottery Barn and Cost Plus World Market
Designer: Jennifer Grey
Location: Woodland Hills, California
Size: 384 square feet (35.6 square meters); 16 by 24 feet (4.8 by 7.3 meters)
Homeowners’ request: A comforting, warm, inviting living room for entertaining and relaxing.
Why blue: “My clients were very attracted to blues, flax and linen, so it was a natural choice,” designer Jennifer Grey says. “I personally feel blues offer deep calm and richness to a space, whether it’s aqua, lagoon blue or teal, or deep navy. It’s all soothing.”
Special features: Matching tall rustic bookshelves anchor a back wall and frame artwork. Board and batten wall treatment.
Accessories: Pottery Barn and Cost Plus World Market
Why the design works: “There’s so many great layers and various textures going on here, yet it doesn’t feel overdesigned, which was the goal,” Grey says.
Designer secret: “Wall treatments, folks!” Grey says. “Nothing adds instant architecture to an otherwise bland space than interesting millwork or wall molding.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “The sofa was probably the trickiest, as my clients brought it into the new space, and it was definitely staying,” Grey says. “And my clients have two pit bulls that like to chew on everything. A cleverly placed throw and layered pillows were the solution.”
Also on the team: Sean Franck (general contractor); Amy Bartlam (photographer)
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Designer secret: “Wall treatments, folks!” Grey says. “Nothing adds instant architecture to an otherwise bland space than interesting millwork or wall molding.”
“Uh-oh” moment: “The sofa was probably the trickiest, as my clients brought it into the new space, and it was definitely staying,” Grey says. “And my clients have two pit bulls that like to chew on everything. A cleverly placed throw and layered pillows were the solution.”
Also on the team: Sean Franck (general contractor); Amy Bartlam (photographer)
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Read more living room stories
Designer: Carolyn Thayer
Location: Osterville, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Size: 648 square feet (60.2 square meters); 24 by 27 feet (7.3 by 8.2 meters)
Homeowners’ request: Fill a wide, long and tall living room with furnishings and decor that make it functional without a cluttered feeling.
Why blue: “This is a summer house built on the water, which made the decision to incorporate cool blues mandatory,” designer Carolyn Thayer says. “We wanted to embrace rather than fight what was out our doors, and these soothing blues did the trick. We started with a soft blue paint color on the walls and worked it into the rug and sheers, with accents of it carried through pillows, lamps and art.”
Special features: Bifold doors with tall, sheer curtains that open to water views. Faux-wood-covered beams (originally plaster). Swivel chairs to take advantage of the view or living room conversation.
Two sofas: Restoration Hardware; two swivel chairs: Kravet, covered in Biju ikat fabric from Robert Allen; wallcovering on beam: Eastwood Grey, Thibaut; rug: Tia/azure, Colony Rug Co.; Burgundy collection rounded return 1-inch drapery rods in oil-rubbed bronze: Orion; drapery: Bargia; ottomans: Roundabout, Thibaut, covered in Valera fabric from Kravet in color 15; chair pillows: Coco Sky with Fayola teal trim by Cowtan & Tout, and Bombay collection by Bargia; sofa pillows: Milano in Dove by Cowtan & Tout and Deauville in pale aqua on white by Quadrille