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About This Design
Interior Design: Paul Miller
Taking cues from Neo-Colonial architecture, this sunny, 1950s home has a comfortable, intuitive layout and graceful details. I approached with a light touch, choosing generally airy colors for the walls. (To see the stunningly moody gaming den, you’ll have to wait for an autumn reveal.) My design yielded a posh reset with stylish lighting and window treatments, sumptuous custom furnishings, and thoughtful curating of existing elements.
In the living room, we refined the palette, emphasizing shades of cream and blue with a touch of sunny yellow for vibrance. Embroidered damask drapery with a motif of garden lanterns highlights the elegance of the architecture, while a new rug and tables lighten the palette. Deep blue on the bricks of the hearth further polishes the aesthetic. Gold and antique brass metals and marble details highlight the balance of warm coziness and chic restraint that define this space.
In the dining room just across the center hall, I took advantage of a surplus of space to create more seating for parties and casual get togethers. The lush blue custom sofa spans the whole wall, with just enough room for a pair of minimalist brass floor lamps. I worked with Old Town Stained Glass Studio for the blue and amber discs that balance the arrangement of three-dimensional brass mountings above the sofa. The solid cherry dining table was made for us by a West Virginia maker to perfectly fit the room. This room was my starting point with this client in 2020 and has withstood six years of joyful living beautifully.
The television den is the snuggest room on the main floor. I layered patterns and textures to bring forward an aura of rugged, relaxed charm. The pattern on the pair of swivel chairs offers graphic interest in a muted and earthy color palette. Rich wood tones were selected so that details of the upholstery would marry well with intentionally rusted metal art on the walls. Grasscloth in the faintest shade of robin’s egg with flecks of taupe and brown contribute grounding texture.
I sought cheerful elegance for the second floor owner bedroom, drawing inspiration from a pair of lamps my client already owned. The resulting palette has shades of blue and green, both muted and punchy, seen most notably in a show-stopping custom sofa in chartreuse velvet and in the silken plaid of the custom pillows.
The bed was crafted in West Virginia from walnut; the maple nightstands are finished in robin’s egg blue with subtle glazing. I commissioned a favorite New York-based artist to create the painting over the bed from a quick concept that I drafted to build on natural themes I planned into the rug and custom drapery.
In the home office, I fashioned a lighthearted, posh and professional atmosphere. The convenient sleeper sofa was already in place and the classic Eames chair and ottoman were recent evacuees from the television den. The stunning fabric I selected for the drapery melds together myriad tones and, with its black and white bird motif, lends the room added panache.
The custom desk is spacious without looking heavy. The fabric I selected for the pillows suggests the swirling lines of running water, both modern and playful. Black and white photos on the walls are the art of my client’s father-in-law and take a place of pride in the room. A stylish chest with glamorous Art Deco details holds more cherished heirlooms: family photos and a beautifully preserved vintage typewriter.
Photos: Matthew Lofton
