Recently Completed: Chocolate & Lime

Today I'm sharing some pics of a project we recently completed for a wonderful family in Prairieville, Louisiana.  When we first met with the homeowner, it was clear that the style of the decor did not match her very youthful and classic personality.  While some things worked well (the layout of the furniture, for example), other things were working against the relaxed look she wanted (French fauteuils as the only other seating option in the living room, heavy/dark furnishings, etc.)

Living Room, BEFORE

At the top of our client's wish list was her request for some "beachy" elements.  She didn't want an all-white slipcovered space, but since the beach is her favorite place to be, she definitely wanted to incorporate some items that gave a little nod to the sand and the water.  Next, she requested that we work with the rug, if possible, and that we keep the large mirror that was hanging over the console (seen below).

Living Room, BEFORE

In the foyer, we were faced with the challenge of inadequate lighting, with very dark furniture and dark wall paper on the ceiling exacerbating the problem.  

Foyer, BEFORE  

 Foyer Ceiling, BEFORE

Our design formula came together pretty easily once we had her input.  She specifically wanted "geometric" patterned fabric, and I thought recovering her existing fauteuils and painting them was a great starting point.  The faux-finished walls weren't doing us any favors, so we opted to paint them a rich dark chocolate color so that the mix of new and existing furniture would have a fresh backdrop.

Living Room, AFTER

The Lee Industries chairs and ottoman made a huge difference in the feel of this room.  They helped to instantly create a more youthful and relaxed look that the client had been wanting for a long time.  I especially love the lime green gourd lamp...just that one little drop of shape and color gave the room a whole new vibe.

Pillows, AFTER

We updated the existing sofa by changing out the pillows.  The new look called for some more lime green, and can you really ever have enough Greek key in your life?  I don't think so.

 

Living Room (and fauteuils), AFTER

AFTER

 

Remember that big mirror?  Well, this is it!  We kept it and just had it painted a soft green to work with the new color palette.  Her existing chairs work much better on this wall, which happens to be very long.  We balanced out the composition with some fresh white lamps and a collection of seashell prints to bring in a touch of the beach.

Foyer, AFTER

Sometimes, all you need is a quick change to make a room work for you.  Here, it was all about simplifying and adding something graphic to catch the eye.  We said goodbye to the clunky black console that used to be here, and added a sleek marble-topped console in its place.  To help lift the eye, we flanked their painting with mirrored sconces, creating a tremendous difference in the lighting situation.  And the zebra rug...well, sometimes a room just needs a shot of some zebra!

Foyer Ceiling, AFTER

The wall paper on the ceiling in the foyer was a nifty idea, so I decided to keep the idea, but update it.  Here, we had this pattern stenciled and painted to tie in to the new, youthful vibe.  The lantern replaced a suspended fixture that did not cast any light onto the ceiling - which was part of the reason the foyer had such a cave-like feeling.  This new fixture spreads light from every angle, and the cave is gone!

We opted to bring in "beachy" touches with the accessories, so scattered throughout the rooms are coral fragments, shells, white washed elements, and mother of pearl pieces.  By working with fabrics that were more linen textured, rather than a really formal upholstery, we were able to reinforce the more casual feeling, and our clients were thrilled!!