Wish List
Even the formal living room was designed to feel light, casual and comfortable. Unlike many formal living spaces that end up as museum-like showpieces touched by little besides a vacuum, this family actively enjoys the room for entertaining and lingering over cocktails before moving to the family room after dinner. The designer echoed the rustic wood mantle of the family room and propped one of the wife’s finest paintings on it as the focal point.
The kitchen underwent the most extensive renovation, its layout completely reconfigured. Previously, a curved island and the cabinets were a mere 18 inches apart; the island was replaced with a rectilinear design that now allows ample room for circulation on both sides. The spot where the refrigerator now stands used to hold a door to the garage, which also inhibited flow. Whalen added interest to the cabinets by bumping some out farther than others, mixing shiplap paneling with chiseled-edge subway tile, and interspersing gray and white cabinets with a bank of glass doors to display some of the family’s heirlooms.
The biggest intervention in the room was this new wall of built-ins; previously it was merely a fireplace surrounded by a blank beige wall. Griffin had a new mother-of-pearl surround installed and created a little spot for her client to get work done at night. She also concealed a TV and provided plenty of storage for clothing and jewelry.
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