Time to cozy up in the living room.

I have shared the transformation of two of the rooms, the entryway and kitchen, in the fabulous Charlestown Condo: Let’s hang out in the living room now.

Here is where we started

And here is where we landed…

 

Note- the final piece of (gorgeous) furniture which conceals the AV wiring was on special order from Mitchell Gold at the time of the photo shoot

The living room and the kitchen share an open floor plan, so it was important to make them complimentary.

We carried the same colors, Ben Moore Cumulous Cloud and Grey, into the living room. Sleek chrome and glass throughout accentuate the already bright space. Both keep the room airy.

The living room furniture, from Mitchell Gold, are neutral (my FAVorite);  The light gray textured sofa and “taupe-y -alabaster” leather chairs are elegant and timeless, yet contemporary. The honey woodwork adds a dimension of warmth to the palate, too.

 

Mr. C is mad for Harley Davidson so, OF COURSE, we found a vintage, black and white print which we hung prominently over the sofa.  It was well displayed.

A collection of neutrals takes on life when paired with all different textures and finishes: Velvet, chrome, crystal, sheer drapes, mirror, glass, sparkle, wood, pops of unexpected color (we used plum) and black and white.

Old family photos personalize the room and the pillows and throws make the room more livable and inviting.

One of my favorite “finishing touches” to a living space is pillows.  Those featured are from West Elm.  Also, draping a few soft throws (from West Elm and Home Goods) here and there is an invitation to cuddle up and gather together. So, the room is elegant but also, warm and comfortable.

 

There you have it!

What are we going to do next? We will visit the library in the following and last part of the series, Creating Charisma in a Charlestown Condo.

Sparkle on, Friends!

 

Charlestown is the oldest neighborhood in Boston and one of my favorites. Rich in history, it is home to the Bunker Hill Monument, The Charlestown Navy Yard, and The Constitution, otherwise known as “Old Ironsides.”

For all you movie buffs, parts of the Oscar-winning movie,“The Departed” was filmed in Charlestown.

I have had some significant run-time in C-Town. My former interior landscaping company, Louisburg Gardens, Inc., was headquartered there for almost twenty years. I lived in the neighborhood for a year, too.

A fabulous couple contacted me through LIVINGLOVELIER. They recently purchased a newly renovated, bright and delightfully airy condo nestled in one of the most historical sections of the neighborhood.

The owners were recent empty-nesters and decided to move from the suburbs into the city. They downsized from their house to a two-floor condo.

It was a blank canvas, and they wanted an extra pair of eyes to help make it their own.I was excited to return to my old ‘hood for a new project. I readily accepted the challenge. My charge was to help them to re-define the entryway, the powder room, the office, the living room and kitchen.

Urban living opens the floodgates to a plethora of cultural offerings, fabulous restaurants, convenience and “buzz.” That said, life in the metropolis, the land of plenty is expansive when one walks out the door.  But on the inside, at home, square footage can present some challenges.

Even though their condo was a generous size, we needed to utilize every inch in the most efficient and practical way.

The lower level of the condo has an open floor plan, blending the kitchen and living room.  It is flanked on one side by a perfect little entryway and on the other, a lovely study.

We needed to define each area ingeniously and keep each part unique yet maintain the fluidity. In doing so, we maximized the footprint to make it look more expansive than one would think.

Let’s get rocking.  What better way to share the transformation of this gem by beginning with the entryway?

The entryway needs to function as the red-carpet of the home, exuding character and style. But it needs to work, too. It is the space that transforms one from the hustle and bustle of the urban buzz to a place of repose; The sanctuary.

It is the part of the home that says, “Welcome.”

Here is what it looked like before we started our facelift.

The bulky, dark leather bench served as a holding place for her purse and mail as well as a place to sit and put on footwear.

Notice the hanging coats which were visible from the kitchen. The look was somewhat cluttered.

The umbrella needed a home

The paint was in perfect condition but lacked character and punch.
The rug was dark and utilitarian.
The artwork was doing its job to hide the mechanical box, but not perfect for the area above the bench.

 

The existing set- up was perfectly functional but we needed to add pizzaz.  These people are fabulous and their home should reflect just that.

 

This stuff deserves a place of its own. Right?

My clients had chosen their paint colors prior to my arrival: Benjamin Moore Cumulous Cloud and Gray. In the interest of keeping the footprint fluid, we continued the colors throughout the first floor, just adding punch.

Metallic Bronze was the chosen accent color. We striped the far wall of the entrance way (the wall visible from the kitchen.) This added depth and dimension.

The wall with the bronze metallic paint against the Benjamin Moore Cumulous Cloud gives it pop, character, and pizzaz!

The coat hooks are proportioned and to scale. A whimsical chrome boot is placed conveniently by the door to umbrellas.

 

Look at the sturdy, funky fur bench supported with chrome legs. The artwork highlights the glam in the bench- Don’t you think?

It has been more than fun working with Mr. and Mrs. Charlestown. They have welcomed ideas outside the typical and been receptive to edgy and stylish accents.

This was just the beginning of the path of transforming the condo to their home, reflecting their style, personality and the fact that they are seriously cool people.

Thanks, K and D!

Stay tuned. Next up: THE KITCHEN.

Sparkle On, Friends.

 

 

Here is the third in my Home-Made Series!

Let’s leave my LIVING-lovelier- ROOM and transition into my foyer.

My Federal Style Brick end home, built in 1810, exudes charm and antiquity.  One gorgeous detail of my house is right when you open the front door; The foyer.

The decor was not quite our cup of tea, so we started the process of bringing it up to date with an eclectic but classic feel.

BEFORE

Here is what we did:

• Got rid of the floral and striped orange wallpaper
• Removed the dusty- rose runner
• Painted the stairs, risers and banister
• Stripped both doors
• Refinished the floors

 

 

 

Here is one side of the double stairway before.

The antique light fixture was lovely but out of scale so we repurposed it in the guest room.

The plush carpet was tired, so we took it up

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another view of the paper which is on the stairs between the second and third floors.

 

The prep was quite a task!

We had to be cautious of the prep work. Covering over horsehair plaster can be tricky. The contractors spent days getting the hallway and foyer ready for paint.

 

 

 

 

Look at the doors. They needed A LOT of TLC.

 

AND TA- DAAA!!!!

After

The original wide pine floors make me very happy indeed.  I wonder how many people walked on them over the years?

I purchased this steamer trunk (now I have three!) at a neighborhood yard sale for a whopping twenty five bucks.  Look to the far right of this photo. You can see a sliver of the trunk with which a family member of  my mom-in-law immigrated from Finland. Grammy’s steamer trunk had its cameo in my previous post, “Welcome to my LIVINGLOVELIER Room.”

The console is from Restoration Hardware. I love the juxtaposition between the rustic wood next to the chrome accents and light fixture is

Now, look way down. That is my daddy’s childhood wagon.  He was born in 1932. That has pulled precious cargo for eighty-four years!

My six-year-old niece, Katherine, in her grandfather’s childhood wagon. I know. She is precious.

Bringing new life in the foyer was an exciting project, despite the work.  Now, we love opening our front door and welcoming all who enter.

Sparkle on, Friends.