Houzz Feature on Project West Bay
We were recently featured in a Houzz Editorial titled “5 Fully Decorated Living Rooms That Don’t Go Overboard”you can see the whole article by clicking here. We wanted to share our portion of the interview below to give you some behind the scene details from our latest Project West Bay!
5. Coastal Farmhouse
Homeowners’ request: A space for entertaining with a contemporary coastal farmhouse feel. A large seating arrangement inside, as well as on the front patio to which the living room opens through folding doors, helped achieve this.
Plan of attack: The house was a new build, so designer Wendy Blackband visited the site several times during construction to better understand how things should flow, how the layout should take shape and how the materials and finishes would come together before she selected furnishings. Maintaining open pathways became a challenge once the furniture filled the room. But proper space planning and a few minor adjustments allowed Blackband to create two adequate walkways through the space.
Why the design works: “What immediately stood out to our design team was the huge open floor plan encompassing the kitchen, dining room, living room and bifolding doors leading out to the patio,” Blackband says. “With one large seating arrangement focused on the fireplace, it helped break up the open layout. The large folding doors to the front patio help bring the outdoors in, allowing extra seating and table space.”
Designer secret: Keeping the furnishings and accessories muted using grounded neutrals and bright whites. “Because sometimes understated is best,” Blackband says. She also used soft and tonal furnishings so they wouldn’t distract from the architectural details inside the home. “One thing that makes this home tricky is that the entire home can be viewed from the street or from people walking by,” she says. “So by having two chairs back up to the folding doors, it makes the space feel more open versus putting a sofa there that would have blocked off the view of the interiors.”
“Uh-oh” moment: The main entrance and garage open to the kitchen, but the way the house is positioned, it’s more convenient to enter the home through the bifolding doors. “Creating an arrangement that was welcoming but functional for the space was our biggest challenge,” Blackband says. “By leaving space behind the sofas with the sofa table, we were able to create a makeshift walkway that gave the impression of an entry.”
Splurges and savings: Blackband saved on the area rug, which is carpet that she had bound. She then used the savings to splurge on accessories.
Take-away: “You don’t have to go overboard with color to make a bold statement, and never be afraid of white sofas,” Blackband says. “A good fabric protectant can be a lifesaver.”
The nitty-gritty: Sofas, coffee table and pillows: custom made by Blackband Design; sofa table: cFc
Team involved: Chris Brigandi of Arbor Real Estate (home design and build)