Everyone has a favorite spot in the house. For some, it’s a living room where you can relax in style. For others, it’s a state-of-the-art kitchen that’s beautiful enough for hosting a cocktail party. Here, local designers and architects share their most successful spaces—and insider resources—so you can create the room of your dreams, too.
Lara Michelle of Beautiful Interiors, Inc. shares her inspiration for this open and bright living room. Michelle created it for a busy family in Irvington, NY. The original Peter Lik photograph on the wall was the “springboard for the design,” says Michelle. “I love the fuchsia colors and wanted to bring them out in the furnishings without overdoing it.” The trick was to use pale neutrals on large surfaces: the walls are painted soft gray (Benjamin Moore Cumulous Cloud) while the Tasha Sofa and Ashby Wing Chairs from Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams are kept in beige and pewter tones. “Then I brought in pops of pink and black,” says Michelle. She trimmed the pillows in magenta and anchored the side tables with ELK Lighting’s “twisted bark” lamps. The overall feel captures what Michelle’s client wanted: “It’s modern but not fussy!” (Photo above: The Drexel Heritage leather-wrapped coffee table and Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams shag carpet add warmth and texture to the room. Designer Lara Michelle custom-made the satin curtains. “They soften the edges of the windows and dress up the walls,” she says.) laramichelle.com
NEXT: Douglas VanderHorn Architects Create a Dream Kitchen
