The Jewel Box: A Sitting Room Design
Vintage and classic in all the right measures, this art deco-inspired sitting room design speaks volumes to design impact. Using rich color was the key to creating a deep, dynamic, and absolutely stunning space. Nestled in a classic Chapel Hill townhome, this sitting room was part of a multi-room custom interior design that transformed the space from a blank slate into a jewel-box of color.
The gorgeous original art piece featured above is courtesy of the very talented Sarah Graham, a local artist based in Pittsboro, NC.
A Room Full of Color
Inspiration for this room full of color was abundant. This client has an artistic eye and houses a gorgeous, unique collection of hand-made pottery from all over the world. Drawing on the artistry, color, and forms of this one-of-a-kind collection provided endless possibilities for deep creativity in design throughout this home. But, as this is the very first room you see upon entering the house, it was the prime spot for a stunning, jaw-dropping design.
Immediately after entering the home, this stunning sitting room unfolds as the first thing you see. Strategic use of color throughout the space creates depth and draws your eye inward.
Deep Wine Details
Let’s talk design details- starting with that wall color (YES). This deep wine hue was used throughout the room- walls, wainscoting and chair rail. In the design concept and color theory of this room, the rich wine tone actually acts as a base, drawing the eye into the room and creating a huge amount of visual depth on the back wall, which becomes the focal point of the design. Layering in more lavender hues in the forefront with these custom designed twin arm chairs also allows for the peacock blue settee to pop like the star that it is.
This room required ample space to showcase the client’s incredible pottery collection. These twin cabinets are filled with unique pieces and create presence and balance in the room. The peacock blue settee nested between them set against the deep wine wall is the pop of color and contrast that makes the design sing.
Artfully Through Design
One thing we love the most about our work is telling our client’s story artfully through design. With a bit of a closer look, we get a feel for the color inspiration in this room- a hint of that beautiful pottery collection is just visible in the dual cabinets that flank the blue settee. These clients also wanted to bring echoes of their life history into this design. Having both spent their careers working in the heart of New York City, including elements of art-deco design was a key piece of the creation of this room- and you can see those details woven throughout the entire home design as well. This custom chandelier brings in a classic, sophisticated visual that echoes the opulent art-deco style and layers in the perfect contrast to the deep wine tones.
This antique sideboard, a cherished and important family heirloom, was a key part of the design concept for the room. It was given pride of place as the statement piece in the bay window nook.
Legacy in the Making
We’ve also got to give a little love to this bay window moment. You know that we love bringing in legacy pieces as a way to create meaning and deep personalization in our design work. This client had some incredible antique pieces passed down through her family, with one of them being this absolute beauty of a sideboard (the legs, y’all. We could go on!). Integrating this piece to make it a seamless part of the design meant finding the perfect spot where it could live in it’s full glory. The custom chairs and coffee table were designed to flawlessly tie into the warm wood tone and give the room a feeling of intention and completion. And hopefully, bringing in these new classic pieces will add to this beautiful family’s story for years to come.
A big thank you to those who helped us capture this beautiful room so we can share it with you. All images by Michael Blevins. Styling and florals by Heidi Donohue of GTHRd.
We’re so glad you came by to hang out with us on the blog. If you’re looking for more CFD design work, take a tour around our Portfolio page. Curious about our process? Check out more about our full-home design process here. Curious about our team? Check out our decades of design experience and how we make your home one-of-a-kind here.
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