Sophisticated, Lounge-like Residential Bar + Media Room

My clients, an established professional couple in East Norriton Township, wanted to create a bar, media room, and powder room on the first floor of their home. Because they frequently entertain large groups of family and friends, they needed a separate space where guests could socialize, gather around the bar for drinks, and watch movies or sports on a large screen TV.
At the start of this project, the area for this space was completely unfinished with concrete floors, no walls, and unfinished ceilings. My clients had explored some possible layout options and had identified an inspirational image of a curved bar featuring glass block and wood.

After getting to know my clients better, it quickly became apparent that they were excited by my suggestion that we create a modern, metropolitan, lounge-like feel for the space -- similar to what you might find in a swank urban lounge of a boutique hotel. To achieve this look, I proposed a very warm, earthy color palette of oranges, rusts, browns, and creams paired with dark chocolate furniture and a rich, dark wood Ipe floor.

The bar itself is unique in its curved shape, but also its use of a stunning, iridescent glass tile that picks up the oranges, rusts, and browns in the room. A dark brown quartz countertop, modern polished stainless steel fixtures, clean-lined yet comfortable bar stools, and a rust colored glass tile bar backsplash complete this area.

In the bar seating area, I proposed the use of rust colored floor to ceiling drapes along the entire wall—functioning as a backdrop for the cream colored lounge-like seating and maple pendant lamps that hang above small Parsons-style side tables. The adjacent wall features a candle filled, custom-designed cherry wood wall treatment that adds visual interest to the space.

In the media area, my clients wanted a TV and built-in speakers on one wall. Because the husband wanted the TV to be large enough for sports and movies, but the wife wanted the TV to not be obtrusive, I suggested that we minimize the TV’s visual impact by housing it in a dark wood, custom built-in cabinet that would extend across the entire wall. This solution accommodates the large TV size and multiple speakers by drawing your eye to the built-in’s open shelves which feature beautiful vases and other eye-catching accessories. Adjacent to the TV, I proposed a 12 by 24 cream colored, very modern porcelain tile as a full wall surround for the ribbon-style, vent-free fireplace that my clients selected. Seating in this area include two very comfortable yet modern style sofas and a soft, velvet-like recliner next to the fireplace. A thick pile cream shag rug anchors the space and provides a soft feel underfoot.

The adjacent power room features a wall of unique Asian-inspired 12x24 tiles. The wall serves as a visual backdrop for an eye-catching stainless steel vessel sink and modern faucet, a dark wood shadowbox-style mirror flanked on either side by two modern wall sconces, and a quartz countertop over a custom-designed dark wood vanity.

My client, who works full time in IT, was responsible for almost all of the custom cabinetry and a large portion of the overall construction in the space. His craftsmanship and attention to construction detail is seen in the cherry wood wall feature, the custom curved bar, the lighting installation, and the creation of the built-in cabinetry around the TV.

As a result of my work with this husband and wife team, the final outcome is a cozy, sophisticated, lounge-like space that works well for entertaining and that functions as a modern, stylish refuge where my clients can enjoy relaxing drinks at home or watch a movie. Who needs to go out when you have a space in your home as nice as this?

Using Lighting to Set a Mood in Modern Interiors

I love the way that color can set a mood. That said, lighting is equally as important in mood creation. Below I share some images of spaces by other talented designers (these images are not of my work) that convey a cozy, inviting mood in a large part due to their lighting.

This space uses pendant lights, recessed lights and under cabinet lights to provide a variety of lighting solutions and give a dramatic look.

This backlit grass resin bar is eyecatching. Candles and a backlit wall of plexi glass or a similar material (behind the bar) round out the mood lighting in this space.

Overhead lighting casts pools of light onto the wooden ceiling beams while backlit photographic images on the walls draw your eye.

This reception area does a great job with its lighting.

Carefully selected lighting makes these dark chocolate walls very dramatic.

This bar is all about mood lighting.

A successful lighting plan makes this outdoor space cozy, romantic and inviting.

A romantic hotel room. The lighting makes it.

The lighting in this bar calls attention to some great design choices - in particular, the light flooring which contrasts nicely with a dark wood ceiling.

While the color palette in this space is very neutral - the lighting plan gives it depth and interest.

These lantern style lights not only provide an excellent source of light - they also function as sculpture.

Color in Modern + Contemporary Interiors - Part 3

This post focuses on using bold colors for maximum impact. Many of the colors used in these images are colors that clients might shy away from on a paint chip. But in context with the rest of the space, these bold color choices really work.

Note: the images below show work by other talented designers except where it specifically states that the work is my own.

Many clients might be afraid to select the dark chocolate brown used on the back wall of this photo, but you can see how it provides a wonderful backdrop for the art and a nice contrast to the sunnier golden color used on the opposite wall. The dark wall definitely draws your eye.

I love the use of orange in this dining room. It adds a warm and happy feeling to the space and contrasts nicely with the dark woods and the white trim and chair upholstery.

This is a loft-like condo space that I designed for a young couple. At the start of the project they had the light brown sofa and the dark wood coffee table and small cafe table, but their walls were white and they had no other color in the space. Since the space was essentially one large loft-like room with no differentiation from the eating area to the living room, I used the green and orange colors to help divide the space. Note that I pulled green elements into the living room space (using accessories such as candles and pillows) to tie the spaces together a bit.

In this bedroom that I designed, I wanted to use a lot of color, but still have the space feel calm and restful. The soft blue and chocolate brown - accented by bright white and some black/browns - achieve this.

Although this space features bright colors, it works for a few reasons. One, all of the colors play nicely off of one another. Two, the architecture of the space - specifically the height of the walls and the complex ceiling line balance out the color impact. And three, the furniture and lighting are very simple - black chairs, white tables, and natural globe pendant lights.

Most people would never think of using pink on their walls. That said, this space, which I designed, needed to serve the needs of my client - a wedding photography, videography, and makeup studio. The space needed to be feminine and elegant - to help brides-to-be feel comfortable and in good hands. The pink wall is balanced by the use of a lot of white in the space - in the flooring, on the sofa, in the decorative trim work, and in the furniture.

Here you can see the space before and the space after. What a huge difference in how the space looks and feels when you walk in it.

Bright colors work when the users benefit from it. In this space for two very active young girls, which I designed, I wanted to create a playful, energizing room for them to do crafts, homework, dancing, and whatever else they dreamed up. The various shades of pink provide a feminine, girly contrast to the cheerful green. The existing beige carpet color and white ceiling balance out the bold use of color.

Play room before and after. The image at the top shows a vast sea of beige that wasn't much fun for two fun loving girls. The second image is all about fun.

This nursery, which I designed, features soothing pale blues accented by a bold lichen/lime green. The green provides much needed contrast to the blues and whites which are often overused in boys' nurseries.

Nursery before and after. This space in its previous incarnation (as a barely used guest room) looks drab and boring - even with the bright painting above the bed. It looks like a totally different space in the nursery image.

Color in Modern + Contemporary Interiors - Part 2

In my last post I talked about earthy color palettes. This time, I'd like to talk about using whites and other light neutral colors with added punches of bold color.

The images below (of work by other talented designers) illustrate my comments.

Here's an example of a room with a lot of whites and creams and focused punches of color. The use of white walls and a white sofa allow the windows (and beautiful view) and the lovely artwork to stand out. The space is anchored by the dark chaise lounge and the black fireplace box.

This is another space that uses a core foundation of cream and beige and then balances it with punches of color (the orange pillows and chair). The white/cream sofas and fireplace also balance nicely against the light wood built-ins and flooring.

Although this space does have a light mocha colored wall, for the most part, the palette is made up of creams and dark woods balanced by punches of orange. I love the feeling of this room - cozy and comforting yet bright and airy.










Here again is a space with lots of whites and creams and natural wood tones balanced by touches of red.

In this space, the far red wall adds interest and drama to the core foundation of stark whites and dark browns.

Color in Modern + Contemporary Interiors - Part 1

Sometimes my clients are afraid of color. I however, find color to be a useful way to set the mood of a space. It can help you feel energized, relaxed, calm, excited, happy, playful and so much more.

Many clients equate "adding color" with "adding bright colors". The reality though is that you can do a lot with earthy colors. They take you away from the world of white walls and bland beige to an environment that is warm and inviting.

Below are some images featuring earth-toned color palettes that I like. These images show work by other talented designers except where it specifically states that the work is my own.

Here the use of a warm but soft yellow balances out the gray wall. The end result: a calm yet cheerful space.

This waiting area balances two different wood colors (a light bamboo floor and a cherry wood desk front) with earthy walls in a creamy beige and two shades of green. The dark wood of the furniture provides a nice contrast against the light floor.

This is another space that uses earthy colors in a subtle way for big impact.






This was an interesting project that I worked on. The room on the left (a living room) opened directly to the room on the right (a dining room). Since you could see the living room from the dining room and vice versa - it was important to select colors that complement one another while differentiating the spaces. The colors play nicely off of each other - creating a cozy and inviting feel.

This space uses browns, olives, and tans to create a warm, inviting environment.

Amazing Glass Tile

There is no end to the amount of amazing glass and special feature tile that's on the market today. Glass tile adds such depth and personality to a space. Because of its cost, I try to use it in areas where it will provide the most impact for my client's investment. Here are some very cool tiles that I like.

A beautiful tile called Opera Glass from Artistic Tile.



This is one of the many very nice tile products avaialable from Oceanside Glass Tile.



Here's a beautiful tile from Sicis - they have several product lines that I really like.



This is a specialty tile made of river stones. Perfect for modern spaces that require a feeling of nature.



This is a beautiful tile used in a bathroom remodel by a California firm called IdeaSpace.



I came across this image during an online search. I wish I knew who the designer was. I really like their pairing of the green tile with the wood wall.

Modern Stair Rails

I love the look of a modern stair rail. Although a lot of clients in Philadelphia live in older homes, I find that we can create a modern or contemporary aesthetic in a home with older architectural details. On the other hand, I love it when clients want to update their older homes with modern details such as stair rails. Here are some examples that I like.











This one was part of an architecture project that my husband, Mark Waldo worked on.