Houzz Tour: Lime Green and Patterns Punch Up Neutral Decor
Colorful pieces perk up formerly plain-vanilla rooms in this vibrant home makeover
Karen Egly-Thompson
May 9, 2017
Houzz Contributor
A single woman’s vibrant and fun personality and love of color weren’t evident in her ho-hum furnishings, so she hired interior designer Ann Lowengart to transform the look of the too-neutral home. Right before the project began, the homeowner started a relationship with her now husband, tasking Lowengart with the added challenge of combining two individual styles to create one fresh home.
“After” photos by David Duncan Livingston
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in their 30s who are both exercise enthusiasts and work in the tech industry
Location: Marin County, California
Size: 2,583 square feet (239.9 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designers: Ann Lowengart Interiors; Eric Layton of PatriArch Architecture
BEFORE: Lowengart noticed that her client gravitated toward bright, sherberty colors from the get-go, but her house spoke a different language. It felt “like a vanilla ice cream cone,” Lowengart says.
In the living room, shown here, a lime green and cerulean blue palette adds a fresh, almost tropical zing. Although spirited, Lowengart’s approach is still steeped in sophistication. She finished off the drapery panels and classic roll-arm sofa with decorative tapes. Contemporary geometric fabric patterns mix with more venerable Indian-style prints for a polished look.
The space above the fireplace was already wired for a TV, and Lowengart kept the location. A swing-out arm allows the screen to be pulled out and tilted downward for better viewing.
Drum lampshades on the pendant fixture and table lamps play off the round tables and ottoman. A trellis-patterned white-and-gray wool area rug tempers the warm tones of the wood floor.
Sofa: custom; sofa fabric: Marldon F3701-08 in natural, Colefax and Fowler; sofa tape: Groundworks Honeycomb teal TL10098.355, Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa; pillow fabrics: Tiana in Pistache/Anis, Manuel Canovas for Cowtan & Tout and Peony in Bluebell, Katie Ridder for Holland & Sherry; blue armchair: custom; blue armchair fabric: Madame Touche in cerulean, Hill Brown by Kneedler Fauchère; area rug: Millennium in Milk/Earth, Vaheed Taheri; light fixture: Paris chandelier, round in nickel, Holly Hunt Studio
Houzz at a Glance
Who lives here: A couple in their 30s who are both exercise enthusiasts and work in the tech industry
Location: Marin County, California
Size: 2,583 square feet (239.9 square meters); four bedrooms, three bathrooms
Designers: Ann Lowengart Interiors; Eric Layton of PatriArch Architecture
BEFORE: Lowengart noticed that her client gravitated toward bright, sherberty colors from the get-go, but her house spoke a different language. It felt “like a vanilla ice cream cone,” Lowengart says.
In the living room, shown here, a lime green and cerulean blue palette adds a fresh, almost tropical zing. Although spirited, Lowengart’s approach is still steeped in sophistication. She finished off the drapery panels and classic roll-arm sofa with decorative tapes. Contemporary geometric fabric patterns mix with more venerable Indian-style prints for a polished look.
The space above the fireplace was already wired for a TV, and Lowengart kept the location. A swing-out arm allows the screen to be pulled out and tilted downward for better viewing.
Drum lampshades on the pendant fixture and table lamps play off the round tables and ottoman. A trellis-patterned white-and-gray wool area rug tempers the warm tones of the wood floor.
Sofa: custom; sofa fabric: Marldon F3701-08 in natural, Colefax and Fowler; sofa tape: Groundworks Honeycomb teal TL10098.355, Kelly Wearstler for Lee Jofa; pillow fabrics: Tiana in Pistache/Anis, Manuel Canovas for Cowtan & Tout and Peony in Bluebell, Katie Ridder for Holland & Sherry; blue armchair: custom; blue armchair fabric: Madame Touche in cerulean, Hill Brown by Kneedler Fauchère; area rug: Millennium in Milk/Earth, Vaheed Taheri; light fixture: Paris chandelier, round in nickel, Holly Hunt Studio
Drapery fabric: St. Barts in lime, Glant; drapery trim: Ogee embroidered border in Dove, Samuel & Sons; chair and a half: custom; chair and a half fabric: Samba Aegean/Ivory 2008139.15, Diamond Baratta Design for Lee Jofa; ottoman: custom; ottoman fabric: Tucson TUC-02 in sand, Innovations via Sloan Miyasato
A pair of open-backed white armchairs adds seating and a sense of lightness without blocking the view to the front yard. Black-and-white turned pedestal side tables add a touch of contrast.
White armchairs: Lacquered Loop, Mecox; round side tables: Black Beauty in ebony stain and paint with faux bone detail, Bunny Williams; artwork: “Waves” by Karen Smidth, via Serena & Lily
White armchairs: Lacquered Loop, Mecox; round side tables: Black Beauty in ebony stain and paint with faux bone detail, Bunny Williams; artwork: “Waves” by Karen Smidth, via Serena & Lily
In a dining area off the kitchen, Lowengart punched through an exterior wall to add glass folding doors to connect the space with a new backyard deck.
Although the doors add loads of natural light, it is the vibrant color palette that makes the dining area hum with energy. On the armchairs, Schumacher’s beguiling Chiang Mai Dragon fabric serves as a color springboard, throwing fistfuls of blues, greens and oranges into the room.
Buffet: Bachelor Chest, Tribeca collection with Fern drawers, Century Furniture; mirror: Ribbon Panel, Wisteria; folding exterior doors: NanaWall
Although the doors add loads of natural light, it is the vibrant color palette that makes the dining area hum with energy. On the armchairs, Schumacher’s beguiling Chiang Mai Dragon fabric serves as a color springboard, throwing fistfuls of blues, greens and oranges into the room.
Buffet: Bachelor Chest, Tribeca collection with Fern drawers, Century Furniture; mirror: Ribbon Panel, Wisteria; folding exterior doors: NanaWall
Lime green became a color narrative woven throughout the entire project. Here, Lowengart upholstered the backs and sides of the two armchairs in lime green.
Pendant light: Urban Smokebell, The Urban Electric Co.; dining side chair: Charleston Klismos 1014, Marcali Designs via Hewn; blue leather on chairs: Caressa C932 in Iris, Garrett Leather
Pendant light: Urban Smokebell, The Urban Electric Co.; dining side chair: Charleston Klismos 1014, Marcali Designs via Hewn; blue leather on chairs: Caressa C932 in Iris, Garrett Leather
The kitchen, shown beyond the dining area, needed only minimal updates, such as a simple window shade, a new French-style bistro chair at a built-in desk area near the stove and new counter stools.
BEFORE: The former home office had a too-big armchair that hit the side cabinets. The bastion of files and base cabinets made the office look dark, heavy and overcrowded.
AFTER: Lowengart custom-designed new cabinetry and two desks. One desk is motorized and converts to a standing desk at the push of a button.
Sconces: Payson in nickel, Ralph Lauren Home Collection via Circa Lighting; artwork: Recitation by Maria Burtis via Simon Breitbard Fine Arts
Sconces: Payson in nickel, Ralph Lauren Home Collection via Circa Lighting; artwork: Recitation by Maria Burtis via Simon Breitbard Fine Arts
Switching out the oversize black leather armchair for a smaller, armless style made sitting and maneuvering easier. The large-scale paisley wallpaper and lime green painted shelf backs add stylish energy.
Wallpaper: Leaf in green, Katie Ridder; office chairs: Ribbed Back Executive in white, Modern In Designs; carpet: Damsel in color 110, Stark
Wallpaper: Leaf in green, Katie Ridder; office chairs: Ribbed Back Executive in white, Modern In Designs; carpet: Damsel in color 110, Stark
This media space used to be a casual family room. Lowengart jokes that she originally thought they’d just install some speakers. “And then suddenly we were gutting the place,” she says.
The orange-and-white trellis wallpaper is a striking alternative to the former watered-down Cream of Wheat-colored wall paint. The sectional doubles as a queen-size sleeper to accommodate guests. The husband chose the flame stitch rug. The painting was inspired by both the homeowners’ love of cycling.
Wallpaper: Union Square in orange on white manila hemp, Phillip Jeffries; sectional: custom; carpet: Bargello in silver, Stark; sconces: Lewes long-arm wall light, Vaughan Designs; side tables: Lichfield Bromley lamp table in black, Century Furniture; table lamp: Poston in cool gray, Made Goods; artwork: Sting Ray by Benjamin Anderson via Simon Breitbard Fine Arts
The orange-and-white trellis wallpaper is a striking alternative to the former watered-down Cream of Wheat-colored wall paint. The sectional doubles as a queen-size sleeper to accommodate guests. The husband chose the flame stitch rug. The painting was inspired by both the homeowners’ love of cycling.
Wallpaper: Union Square in orange on white manila hemp, Phillip Jeffries; sectional: custom; carpet: Bargello in silver, Stark; sconces: Lewes long-arm wall light, Vaughan Designs; side tables: Lichfield Bromley lamp table in black, Century Furniture; table lamp: Poston in cool gray, Made Goods; artwork: Sting Ray by Benjamin Anderson via Simon Breitbard Fine Arts
Lowengart designed the built-ins. While the conventional approach would have been to paint the shelf backs white to match the cabinets, a high-gloss intense orange makes each shelf pop.
Upholstered ottoman: custom; ottoman fabric: Nobilis by Kneedler Fauchère; ottoman trim; 5/32-inch Italian leather piping in Gunmetal 2076, Samuel & Sons
Upholstered ottoman: custom; ottoman fabric: Nobilis by Kneedler Fauchère; ottoman trim; 5/32-inch Italian leather piping in Gunmetal 2076, Samuel & Sons
BEFORE: The former laundry room, off the media room, had an inefficient layout with no dedicated storage for detergent and a vacuum cleaner, or space for linen and clothing care.
AFTER: Lowengart completely reconfigured the layout. She moved the washer and dryer to the adjacent wall and designed a built-in hanging rod above the new sink.
The stars of the laundry room — two wine refrigerators tucked under the folding counter — might even make doing laundry more inviting.
Light fixture: Cornice hexagonal flush-mount in polished nickel and white glass, E.F. Chapman for Circa Lighting
The stars of the laundry room — two wine refrigerators tucked under the folding counter — might even make doing laundry more inviting.
Light fixture: Cornice hexagonal flush-mount in polished nickel and white glass, E.F. Chapman for Circa Lighting
White penny tile on the floor, subway tile on the sink backsplash and a dreamy lotus-pattern wallpaper add brightness and cheer. The reconfiguration amped up dedicated storage and even made room for a fold-down ironing board.
Wallpaper: Lotus in cobalt, Galbraith & Paul; countertops: Super White Pental Quartz BQ200H in honed finish
Wallpaper: Lotus in cobalt, Galbraith & Paul; countertops: Super White Pental Quartz BQ200H in honed finish
A lower-level bathroom was also gutted and reconfigured. Clean-lined, modern fixtures combine with more classic finishes, like hexagonal marble on the floor and subway tile on the walls.
Wallpaper: Zane in neutral, Anna French for Thibaut; tile: 4-by-8-inch subway in glossy white M-200, Wizard Enterprise; floor tile: Calacata Wilshire in honed finish, Studio Moderne by Walker Zanger; sconce: Openwork medium in nickel and frosted glass, Studio Finish via Circa Lighting
Wallpaper: Zane in neutral, Anna French for Thibaut; tile: 4-by-8-inch subway in glossy white M-200, Wizard Enterprise; floor tile: Calacata Wilshire in honed finish, Studio Moderne by Walker Zanger; sconce: Openwork medium in nickel and frosted glass, Studio Finish via Circa Lighting
BEFORE: An upstairs bathroom had recently been renovated and didn’t need any functional changes. But the pale wall paint didn’t jibe with the colorful spirit of the rest of the home.
AFTER: A few colorful updates made a big impact. Lowengart papered the bathroom in a modernized Chinese toile-themed-wallpaper in lime green, red and blue and added a new shower curtain and hand towel rod.
BEFORE: Upstairs, the guest bedroom lacked spirit, and the navy bedspreads darkened it.
AFTER: Painting the walls a mellowed lime green brought a sense of freshness and liveliness to the space.
Sconce: Anette double in nickel, Ralph Lauren Home for Circa Lighting; dresser: Gemma in simply white, Pottery Barn Kids; Roman shade: custom
Contractor: Arrington Construction
Landscaping: Katharine Webster
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Sconce: Anette double in nickel, Ralph Lauren Home for Circa Lighting; dresser: Gemma in simply white, Pottery Barn Kids; Roman shade: custom
Contractor: Arrington Construction
Landscaping: Katharine Webster
Browse more homes by style: Apartments | Barn Homes | Colorful Homes | Contemporary Homes | Eclectic Homes | Farmhouses | Floating Homes | Guesthouses | Homes Around the World | Lofts | Midcentury Homes | Modern Homes | Ranch Homes | Small Homes | Townhouses | Traditional Homes | Transitional Homes | Vacation Homes
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Beautiful! This is exactly how I want my home to be. But first I have to get out of the apartment. So tired of the standard brown, beige and blah that everyone conforms to.
My colors! And while I usually don't like patterns, some of that wallpaper is so cool I could imagine using it.
Happy, happy, happy!