Bright and Beautiful

By Design Interiors, Inc.

Peggy Fuller, ASID, RID

Assistant Designers on Project: Amber Reddoch and Erika Barczak
Photography by Brad Carr, bradforcarr.com

Design on Project: Cindy Aplanalp, ASID Allied

"From curbside of this home you know you've arrived someplace spectacular, as a mix of modern lighting shines through traditional paned Palladian windows.  The two most important elements of this space are the flooring- a custom blend of Jerusalem travertine in a Versaille pattern- and the lighting.  "This caliber of lighting cannot be found in your everyday lighting stores nor can you reliably shop online," explains Aplanalp. The Spectacular lighting was selected after man hours of sourcing, sketching elevations and laying it out on the floor plan in order to determine how it would relate to all aspects of the space and home.  "I don't know what I would have done if I had been faced with the decisions and potential mishaps on my own- that's why I hired a pro! explains the homeowner.  Lighting is the icingon the cake for Aplanalp.  "I always do my best to utilize my client's budget wisely.  One area where they will get the most for their investments is in the lighting!"

The homeowner custom designed the scrollwork of the staircase and in order to soften the iron, a metallic glaze was used to warm the metal tone.  The airy silver-backed grass cloth wall-covering extends in to the adjacent dining room and the windows were left unadorned in order to maximize the stunning view.  This grand entry, housing a unique custom ottoman as the focal point, successfully accomplished the homeowners desires of "an elegant, fresh, and welcoming entry in to her home," says Aplanalp.

Kitchen/Informal Dining
A gourmet cook herself, the homeowner had very definite ideas of what she wanted from a function standpoint and needed little direction in the layout and cabinetry design.  She consulted with By Design Interiors for direction in color and furnishings.

Everyone knows that the kitchen is the heart of the home.  This homeowner's natural sense of style leans towards traditional; therefore we worked to keep that feel in the cabinetry and lighting, while at the same time daring into uncharted territory with the color scheme of bold magenta and charcoal with the rug as our muse.  Charming monogrammed upholstery and nail-heads were added to enhance her original dining table and chairs.  It was a complete make over with a new twist- bringing a freshness to this traditional kitchen. 

To stay simple and classic, a hand fired subwa tile in the traditional herringbone pattern was laid.  The warm honey wood toned cabinetry is challenged by the bolder, richer island color. We opted to do two wood tones unpainted in order to create a more natural atmosphere in this space.  Consistent granite with a lavender undertone was used throughout, contributing to the calm, natural and serene kitchen feeling. 

Master Suite
A modern sophisticated woman with a sense of style cultivated from living on both coasts and traveling the world desired an updated master suite that would surround her with glamour, elegance and beauty.  Her Champion Forest home, as well as her values is very traditional.  Most of her time, she is running her two darling daughters around to their various activities or getting her hands dirty working in her extensive garden.  Her space really tells her story well.  It displays sophistication and glamour, with it's unique and eclectic design.  As any master suite should be, this space is comforting and truly timeless and beautiful.

The homeowner had a few requirements that had to be considered when meeting her objectives: the bed, chaise lounge and the elliptical machine (not showing in photos) had to stay.  Therefore, the color pallet was first selected and then we devised a plan incorporating her objectives.  A dimension of richness was added by mixing both existing and new furnishings, exquisite vintage crystal side lamps and an artful array of accessories.  Additionally, the bedding was selected not only for it's elegant look, but its extreme durability, withstanding real-life use such as lounging and watching TV.  The window treatments were repurposed from a secondhand find saving thousands of dollars.

In the suite's bathroom area, the client had begun creating her "dream" when By Design Interiors became involved.

"Nearly every room has a garden view.  Great care was taken to preserve the interplay between the interior and exterior spaces, "says Aplanalp.  Fabric window coverings were used judiciously and Aplanalp very often sat in each area to check the stunning outside views herself.  "One of my favorite exchanges of outside nature and he inside beauty of this home is in the master suite.  There is a 'Secret Garden' that is always in view and luckily the neighbors are far away because I'd be hard pressed to close those shutters! says Aplanalp.

Living Room
The objective for the main living room was to create a space that would invite you to linger, a space that is relaxing and inviting with comfortable furnishings, yet still maintains its degree of formality for entertaining.  Because the client regularly hosts showers, garden parties, and charity fundraisers, she wanted a room reminiscent of a glamorous Parisian salon that still remains comfortable as her main family room.

One of the main challenges of this space was to make it feel more human scale despite the tall ceilings.  Bringing an over-sized chandelier into the center of the room lowered the space's focal point and added to its overall sparkle.  The plush furnishings and silk window coverings softened the space with rich textures.

This room is visible from several areas both inside and outside of the home.  Every view needed to be as interesting and as aesthetically pleasing as the next.  Furniture with interesting 360 degree views was arranged to entice people to sit and relax without closing off the space.  Complete with garden access and plenty of natural light, this space is now inviting, elementally intriguing, and pleasing to all of the senses. 

Dining Room
The client's objective was to transform her sunken, dark and heavy feeling dining room into a modernly elegant space for entertaining family and friends. Because the dining room is highly visible and prominent, she wanted to have a positive emotional response every time she saw it.

There were some challenges with the space: including the low ceiling height, its sunken floor afrom the main level and its small footprint.  To counteract, light metallic grass cloth was used on the walls, and the mirrored back wall was kept to create the illusion of space.  The custom Jersalem limestone flooring was carried throughout the entire downstairs.

For sparkle, a magnificent crystal chandelier was selected.  The one of a kind furnishings include a custom rug and fabric that was milled in Europe especially for these dining chairs.  The layered silk window treatments with acrylic rods and tassels frame the garden fountain view.  A gold-leafed table base and edge accompanying all of these features add to the upscale elgance without feeling pretentious.

Using rich colors and combing textures create a visually stimulating room. The sleekness of the table and cine case-piece is contrasted with the velvety texture of the chairs.  The neutral color palette is punched with the vibrant painting by the client herself.  The limestone flooring is partially covered with a hand-woven silk rug.  Additionall, the antique art glass and vintage platter all add unique and personal elements to the space. 

A truly successful room, the client enjoys every moment she spends in it; she even finds pleasure in the menial tasks such as folding laundry on her fabulous Christopher Guy table!

Study
"My client is a very busy accountant working from home.  So, the 'function precedes form' concept was the overarching standard of this space.  Loving the wood feel of the study, we didn't want to change that aspect of the space.  Changing only the flooring, the rest of the space remained embraced by the beautiful wood.

"I was inspired by something I had seen of Thomas O'Brien's, (designer for Hickory Chair).  He had upholstered a freestanding bookcase with a yummy mohair fabric and lined it with nail head.  That's how inspiration works," continues Aplanalp, you see something you like and you don't necessarily use that exact idea but it sparks a new creation.  In this instance, I used linen and a double welt instead of nail head to soften the oak panel, yet stay true to the traditional 'study feel.' The oak had lost its luster and beauty over time so faux finisher, Laurie Lopez and Finishes by L worked her magic to darken and enhance the grain of wood.

The fluttery fabric of the window treatment with generously deep hem adds a sophisticated, feminine air as it frames the hidden courtyard on a Lucite pole.  Two iconic Barcelona chairs, a tall stand supporting an ancient clam shell and a lovely white desk, all add up to making this home office both functional as well as dreamy to look at. "I I think this room is the best space I've ever done, " says Aplanalp.