Project: Interior design for a living room, De Waard, Leiden
Key words: Colorful, softness, flexibility, cozy, relaxed and warm
Quiet or bland colors, like grey or tan, are easily matched, right? But if you really want to add a pop of color to a room, then you have a bit of a puzzle on your hands. This, and the wish of a more flexible floor plan, is why the owners of this beautiful house by the water hired me to make them a interior design plan.
The Scope
The good use of color wasn’t their only concern, they also a flexible floor plan and softness. They want to be able to relax, and have several ways to use their space. Even by simply sitting on the floor. That may not sound very comfortable, but then you haven’t felt their new carpet! It is super soft, and has floor heating underneath – what a luxury.
But first…
Before
Inspiration
Immediately it was obvious what my source of inspiration the makeover was going to be: the artwork hanging on their wall, named The Woman with Butterflies by the Spanish photographer/artist Jaime Ibarra. The deep brown tones exudes such warmth, I just had to extend that warmth to the new carpet (Desso Smaragd) that replaced the old white one. The dark brown gives a much better ‘grounding’ effect. So soft, and so very inviting.
After
Painting the Walls
The seating area is actually below the entrance level. Next to the steps, there is a little alcove in the wall below the dining area. It’s a very clever feature where the television and music installation are placed. Previously it was completely white, causing a big contrast with the items displayed and making it look very busy. By giving it a color the alcove became more seamless and at the same time creating a more striking feature.
The long wall opposite the sofa was already a playful shade of orange-yellow, but the wall where the photograph is hanging was white and needed some warmth. We gave it a soft, warm grey paint. A beautiful backdrop for the stunning artwork.
Seating Area
I drew two different floor plans, keeping in mind the request for flexibility in the way they can arrange their furniture. The two green armchairs that was there previously were passed on and we bought two sets of Artifort chairs: a set of Orange Slice chairs and a footrest in a deep red wool fabric by Kvadrat and a set of Tongue chairs, in a dark brown wool upholstery fabric, also by Kvadrat (Tonus 4).
Sofa and Tables
The sofa they had was still quite new, so we added soft and colorful pillows to level up with the new look and feel of the room. It used to be positioned against the wall which meant it was ‘off the carpet’ (the carpet being fixed inside the floor, not on top of it). It made the sofa feel a bit off composition-wise. By placing a side-table (by Helderr) behind the sofa, the sofa is brought more into the seating area. It also creates an improved spatial feeling.
One of the wishes was to be able to sit on the ground comfortably without the obstruction of a big coffee table. So we choose a set of three smaller nesting tables. They are made of glass, which allow the eyes to travel around the space.
Lighting
The big arc lamp (above left) is the beautiful Twiggy floor lamp, by Foscarini. It is designed by Marc Sadler and it is available in black, white, grey, blue and this red color.
The first time I saw the Louis Poulsen Cirque pendant lights (on the right on the photograph above) in a window display at a design shop in Leiden, I literally stopped in my tracks and walked back for a closer look. They look as though they are made of porcelain but they are actually aluminium.
In the bay window I placed two reading lamps, aptly named Reader, by Zuiver. They are available in black, white, copper and this ocher color which looks great with the orange-yellow wall.
Also the dining room table was due a new lamp and we choose the elegant Vertigo by Petite Friture. It reminds of a lady’s hat and is as light as a feather which means it dances a little when there is a breeze.
Plants and Accessories
To complete the room we choose two large easy to care for plants: a dragon tree (Dracaena draco), and a ‘mother-in-law’s tongue’ (Sansevieria).
I think the result is an interior that would take care of any morning blues. In any case, it is as fun and warm as the people who live in it.
Would you also like an interior design for your own home? Have a look at my services, or contact me directly, so we can discuss the possibilities in person.