Utilizing neutral colors in home design offers possibilities such as creating sophisticated and inviting spaces all over your home.

It will inspire you to find joy in color.

An in-depth look behind every door of our latest design project, the Hilltop Estate. Today, the coziest room in the house, the family room.

Clare Cousins Architects design a modern brick addition while altering the existing double-fronted Victorian in Melbourne’s hip and happening North-side.

A living room is usually the first thing your guest will notice upon entering your house. It serves as their “first impression” of what type of people live inside.

Old money living room decor ideas exude elegance and luxury through opulent furnishings, detailing, and rich, timeless color palettes.

If you're moving into a new house or just eager for a change, consider bringing a fresh look to your living room with transitional decor.

Utilizing neutral colors in home design offers possibilities such as creating sophisticated and inviting spaces all over your home.

A number of years ago, I served as a historic preservation consultant during the renovation of a glorious Manhattan townhouse at 15 East 96th Street. The original owner was wealthy-in-her-own-right Lucy Drexel Dalgren who was waiting out prickly divorce proceedings in Paris in 1912 when she was introduced to Boston-born architect Ogden Codman, Jr. Codman was also an interior designer and most of the furnishings he used, both new and antique, were supplied by French sources. This required him to travel often to France, where he had spent part of his childhood, especially around this time as his own magnificent townhouse at 7 E 96th was nearing completion. Dalgren and Codman became friends, and when her divorce was finally settled, she commissioned him to design a new home for herself and her eight children which was completed in 1916. Codman scholars Pauline Metcalf and the late Henry Hope Reed have maintained that Codman was inspired by a house on rue Sainte-Catherine in Bordeaux (with lot widths similar to the 38 ft here), but clearly he was influenced by a number of models and provided his own interpretations as well. In Ogden Codman and the Decoration of Houses edited by Ms Metcalf, Codman was said to also have been influenced by Depau Row, circa 1830 houses that once stood at 160 Bleeker Street (replaced by the Mills House Hotel now converted into apartments). Like the carriage doors of Depau Row, the Dalgren house has a pair of impressive doors (with a smaller concealed pedestrian door) that swing in to allow an automobile to enter a shelter outside the side Vestibule entrance before proceeding through a courtyard to a Garage at the back of the 100 ft deep site. Inside the Garage, the original turntable still remains as does the original elevator that allows cars to be stored in the Cellar. On the First (Ground) Floor, there is a grand Stair Hall with plaster walls tinted and scored to resemble limestone. An Elevator and Powder Room are thoughtfully concealed adjacent. A square Reception or Living Room faces the street, and my clients were having the ceiling elaborately painted, complete with clouds and parrots, a sharp contrast to the somber oak boiserie, when I was brought onto the project. At some point the original Kitchen was relocated to the Second Floor, and now the space below the octagonal Dining Room is another reception room of conforming plan. The whole front Second Floor is taken by a Drawing Room with oak boiserie and a ceiling 16 ft high. The panelling is now painted with a beautiful multi-toned yellow glazed finish, but that is not a decision I would have easily made. In the renovation by the current owner, the pipes for an organ were removed and, in that space, a new Powder Room was created. Unconventionally for a New York City townhouse, but common in 18th century France, a separate second staircase ascends to the private floors above. (Also, there is a separate service stair for access to all floors, including the mezzanine levels). Instead of an oval like in Codman's own townhouse, the shape of the Dining Room is octagonal with the primary architectural feature being pairs of French doors with demilune fanlights glazed with either clear glass or mirror. But the most spectacular feature is a pair of elaborate marble wall fountains, just as were found in the time of Louis XVI, to rinse wine glasses between the courses. My principle contribution was the restoration of the Library, a jewel box of a room that presumably served as a private sitting room for the homeowner, on the same floor as the Master Bedroom. As it is comparativley small and requiring skillful furniture placement for optimal effect, the room has not really been appreciated by decorators over the years. Periodically, suggestions have been made to remove the bookcases and panelling to enlarge the room by incorporating an adjacent hall. But the room is safe, for now at least. This photo shows the room as furnished by the late Mark Hampton for the subsequent owner after my restoration. These five photos are from Mark Hampton, An American Decorator by Duane Hampton. There have been a succession of famous (and relatively infamous) owners over the years, including Pierre Cartier of the jewelry family, whose heirs sold the house to the Convent of Saint Francis de Sales. There were two other owners before the current owner completely updated the building systems, sensitively improved the bathrooms and kitchen, and added a charming penthouse Garden Room opening onto the new south facing rooftop terrace with a pergola and outdoor fireplace. This work, in addition to refreshed decoration but not furnishing, was designed by David Anthony Easton and Andre Tchelistcheff Architects a to high standards executed by the white-glove company Xhema Construction. The readers might be surprised to learn that the current owner, reportedly, has never occupied the house and that it has unofficially been available for purchase for several years according to real estate sources. Ogden Codman moved to France permanently after World War I with his scheme for the whole block to be lined by similar houses of his design never realized. Conventional apartment buildings filled the other lots except for the three Codman townhouses that were built and still survive: this one, his own, and the house for Susan de Peyster at No. 12. The book MARK HAMPTON, AN AMERICAN DECORATOR is available for purchase at a discount of 37% from the published price and the option of free shipping through The Devoted Classicist Library here.

Our living rooms wear a lot of hats so it can be tricky to decide how best to arrange the space. Here are 10 furniture layout ideas to consider.

Discover the art of maximalist decor. Transform your space with bold patterns, rich textures, and vibrant colors. Click for inspiring design ideas!

Utilizing neutral colors in home design offers possibilities such as creating sophisticated and inviting spaces all over your home.

Utilizing neutral colors in home design offers possibilities such as creating sophisticated and inviting spaces all over your home.

Article Content: The textural elements in Transitional American Interior Design Architectural Symmetry Metallic finishes Light and Dark: Creating Depth Managing Natural Light Artistic Expression Plush sofas make this living room perfect for relaxation. Table Lamps Ceiling Fans Depth and Drama Flooring and Rug Synergy Furniture Placement Blending Tradition and Modernity in Living Room Design Classic

Modern living room home office. Clean and stylish home.

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Discover how to transform your living room with the serene, minimalist aesthetics of modern Japanese style. Learn the essential elements, and get tips to create a harmonious balance of contrasts in your own home.

We could not be more excited to share this amazing home tour with you all today! Stephanie of @BloomingIvyLane shares her new build home with classic details that bring so much character and have you questioning the age of the home.

We love designing and bringing together living room spaces because they are the heart of the home and serve so many purposes - the main one being a place you can share time and memories with your family and loved ones! We love to create functional yet beautiful spaces by using a lot of texture and w

Transitional interior design emerges as a captivating style that masterfully blends the warmth and familiarity of traditional decor with the clean lines and minimalist approach of contemporary design. This unique fusion creates spaces that are both timeless and modern, offering a versatile aesthetic that appeals to a wide range of tastes. At the core of