Stickybeak of the Week: Vintage Finds in a Colourful Living Room
This designer's own living room shows off her love of well-designed furniture and changing things up with vibrant colours
Interior designer Alison Damonte’s living room is a revolving display of vintage treasures, sample-sale finds and holiday mementos. “The tree is the only thing that has been in the room the whole time,” she says. “My husband and I really like it because it reminds us of an Alexander Calder mobile.” Now in its third incarnation, of which there surely will be more, the Damontes’ living room includes items such as a pink patterned rug and a pair of teal velvet armchairs, making for a colourful, unique space.
The eye-catching painting above the sofa is by Paul Wackers. Its black background and composition echoes the kitchen on the opposite side of the room, with its black walls and open shelving.
Maskros pendant light: Ikea
Maskros pendant light: Ikea
Much of the room is composed of vintage pieces, a combination of online finds and items from Alison’s travels. “I’ve got a sweet spot for the 1960s and 1970s, Lucite acrylic and glam,” she says. She discovered the 1950s velvet armchairs in an antiques shop in Rome. The original mid-century storage system by Poul Norreklit features Lucite backing on its shelves.
The vintage aesthetic appeals to Alison, but there are also benefits to decorating with this look. “It’s an opportunity to get something that’s probably better made at a similar price, and you get something unique,” she says. So while much of furniture looks familiar, you’re not going to see the vintage icons that many fans gravitate to. “For me, vintage is really about trying to get something that’s rare and not easily recognisable,” explains Alison. It’s her way of keeping a space distinctive, while ensuring that significant pieces survive for the future.
The vintage aesthetic appeals to Alison, but there are also benefits to decorating with this look. “It’s an opportunity to get something that’s probably better made at a similar price, and you get something unique,” she says. So while much of furniture looks familiar, you’re not going to see the vintage icons that many fans gravitate to. “For me, vintage is really about trying to get something that’s rare and not easily recognisable,” explains Alison. It’s her way of keeping a space distinctive, while ensuring that significant pieces survive for the future.
As a collector and designer, Alison uses her living room shelves to show off her recent treasures.
Alison’s top tips for styling shelves:
Alison’s top tips for styling shelves:
- Fewer, larger items are better than lots of little knick-knacks.
- Remove unattractive book jackets.
- Balance is everything: mix thin and tall items with wide and low ones, shiny with handmade, colourful with neutral. Don’t worry about matching colours or styles.
- Collect items slowly over time. Vintage items found at a market will create a more original look.
- Form trumps function. Hide the ugly (but necessary) stuff whenever possible. Remote controls always look better when they’re stashed in an interesting decorative box.
- Consider having live plants (large air plants are great) or single, bold flowers as sculptural elements. Select species that have a strong form.
- Not every accessory you own needs to be on display at all times. Rotating pieces will keep your shelves looking fresh.
In addition to vintage pieces, Alison’s living room is also brimming with colour. “I see something brightly coloured and it makes me swoon,” she says. The room is currently rose tinted. “I’m living in this pink dream.”
For homeowners who want to experiment with colour, Alison has this advice: “Paint is the entry point to being bold,” she says. So if you like yellow, paint your wall yellow and don’t be too quick to decide you don’t like it – it may take time to discover how you feel about it. “Live with it,” the designer advises. “It has to be something you love living with.”
Wicker side table: Aldea Home
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What do you like about this eclectic living room? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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For homeowners who want to experiment with colour, Alison has this advice: “Paint is the entry point to being bold,” she says. So if you like yellow, paint your wall yellow and don’t be too quick to decide you don’t like it – it may take time to discover how you feel about it. “Live with it,” the designer advises. “It has to be something you love living with.”
Wicker side table: Aldea Home
TELL US
What do you like about this eclectic living room? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
MORE
Stickybeak of the Week: Material Matters to Family Bathroom
Stickybeak of the Week: Ocean View Inspires Coastal-Modern Kitchen
Stickybeak of the Week: Novel Nursery for Baby Bookworm
Who lives here: Alison and Bruce Damonte
Location: San Francisco, USA
Size: About 16.7 square metres
Designer: Alison Damonte Design
Photographer: Bruce Damonte
The Damontes bought this house five years ago, having fallen for this previously renovated open living room at the end of the property’s narrow Victorian hallway.
Alison set to work furnishing the room in her signature eclectic mid-century style, making sure it also complemented the adjacent kitchen, which she painted black when they first moved in. Bored with plain white walls, she decided to give the living room a mauve accent wall with an unfinished edge. This adds colour to the room and brings the four-metre-high ceilings down to scale to make the space feel cosier.
As it’s her own home, Alison was able to design the space on a relaxed time schedule. She’s also had time to live with and use each piece of furniture, such as the oversized coffee table, before deciding whether it works. There’s enough space in this room for people to move around easily, and its size allows the Damontes to seat eight guests around the table for casual dinners.
Mongolian lamb cushion: West Elm; shibori cushions: Mineral Workshop; magazine stand: Ligne Roset; Bebop sofa: Cassina