Scott Brewer and Sarah Wright moved into their Silver Spring home a little more than a year ago, and they are struggling to find the right style and arrangement for their 18-by-15-foot living room. They want a multifunctional space for watching television, enjoying the fireplace and playing games, but a long radiator under the window limits furniture placement options.
Silver Spring, MD - September 21: Scott Brewer, left, Sarah Wright and Laszlo the rabbit have their room photographed for a redesign on Thursday, September 21, 2017 in Silver Spring, MD. (Leah L. Jones/ForTheWashingtonPost)
Designers Alex Deringer and Courtney Cox use sleek, minimalist furniture and mixed metals to create a space that is suitable for everyday living and entertaining. The palette of grays, blues and reds draws out some of the natural colors in the stone fireplace.
An extra-long sofa provides additional space for lounging. When the budget allows, consider hanging linen curtain panels to highlight and frame the large bay window. A neutral gray paint with warm undertones, such as Benjamin Moore’s Edgecomb Gray, keeps the space from feeling cold and stark. Choose mid-century modern furniture pieces with a sleek profile to complement the style and colors of the stone fireplace. Mix metal finishes to add depth and create the feel of a room that’s been put together over time. A media cabinet to the left of the fireplace balances out the long wall and provides storage.
From left, Deringer and Cox, with Ivy Lane Living (ivylaneliving.com, 703-746-9702), are based in Alexandria.
SPLURGE: Bernhardt Furniture Interiors Franco fabric chair ($2,016, unlimitedfurniture group.com), left. SAVE: Dove-gray textured woven Abbott chair ($349.99, worldmarket.com).
SPLURGE: Samuel cocktail table ($2,197, fitzwayhome.com), left. SAVE: Muir coffee table ($999, westelm.com).
Furniture: Andes 113-inch sofa in Metal worn velvet ($2,198) and arc base 42-inch pedestal table in Smoke ($499), both from westelm.com; round gray Seren chair and a half ($399.99) and half-moon ottoman ($219.99), Lydia dining chairs in denim blue linen ($319.98 for two), glass Lorelei accent table ($99.99) and gold Cala hammered drum accent table ($149.99), all from worldmarket.com; Collins mahogany brown tall TV stand ($428.38, overstock.com).
Accessories: Posh red 9-by-12-foot area rug ($899, cb2.com); large mobile chandelier in antique bronze ($299, westelm.com); faceted pewter Flynn table lamp bases ($59.99 each), feathered chevron table lamp shades ($24.99 each), brass and walnut wood tripod floor lamp base ($199.99) and linen floor lamp shade ($34.99), all from worldmarket.com; 18-inch Pentas pillows in red/neutral with down fill ($69.60 each, themine.com); Lola decorative rectangular throw pillows with down fill ($57.60 each, hayneedle.com); Suzanne 7-by-27-inch bolster pillow in navy deco stripe ($120, onekingslane.com); classic Belgian flax linen 84-inch curtain panels with cotton lining in Flagstone ($99 each, potterybarn.com); “Winter Path” 36-by-48-inch art ($329, ballarddesigns.com).
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