Paul Miller
Interior Designer Through millwork and masonry, furnishings and finishes, lighting and leaps of faith, MakeNest Interiors transforms spaces with thoughtful decisions based on core design principles. In our ‘Why We Did That’ series, we take you behind our recommendations.
One of the first things my client noted was that she needed help to warm up her home. The foyer at Nest #106 was not welcoming until we changed the perception of the architecture and created a friendly first impression.
First, a note on two-story foyers. They can seem quite grand in concept, but their proportions can make us feel out of place, our sense of intimacy lost to the shadows and echos of a distant ceiling. In some houses, high ceilings might be offset with embellishments like wainscoting, plaster relief, tapestry hangings and grand paintings. At Nest #106, featured earlier this year in a WWDT about the impact of drapery, we wanted to keep things clean and simple, so none of those choices were going to make any sense.
Instead, we determined a height for a cove molding with dust cap that establishes a more comfortable scale by redrawing the lines of the architecture. We chose a deeper color on the abundant planes above the millwork to emphasize the break between the upper and lower portions, honoring the palette of the adjacent great room with Ben Moore’s Kennebunkport Green.
We replaced the chandelier and sconces, opting for darker pieces with warm tone and texture and striking silhouettes. Linen shades soften the lighting and copper accents imbue the space with modern, rustic character. Between the sconces and over the staircase, we grouped impactful photography and an abstract which offer muted, earthy tones and graphic appeal.
Yet the most remarkable addition to the foyer was our installation of eighteen petrified wood plaques, a dynamic presence that emphasizes just how much height is present even below our crown molding. This installation is central to providing warmth, weight and drama - and it gets a lot of attention from guests.
The words that most clients use when we ask how they would like their home to be perceived are ‘warm’ and ‘welcoming’. We were so grateful for the opportunity to bring those attributes to life here.
Interested in seeing how design can transform your home? Get started.
After Photos: Matthew Lofton
Before
A designer’s every choice is intentional, mindful of scale and proportion, rhythm and harmony, contrast and texture. Our ‘Why We Did That’ series is a bite-sized dive into one-off changes, big and small, that are part of our home transformations.
Interested in learning how we can bring change to your nest? Give our studio a call at 540-336-3385 or hit the button below to tell us more about your project.
