Everyone deserves to end the day in a comfortable, tranquil home. And for those with children, it can seem impossible to reconcile the challenges of family life with the need to have a well-designed space. Our client—a financial executive and her family of four—had not considered a design makeover since moving into their apartment, which was more than ten years ago. So when she reached out to Decor Aid, she asked us to modernize and brighten her home, in addition to creating a space for her family to hang out and relax. The apartment originally featured sunflower-yellow walls and a set of brown suede living room furniture, all of which significantly darkened the space. The living room also did not have sufficient seating options, so the client was improvising seating arrangements when guests would come over. With no outward facing windows, the living room received little natural light, and so we began the redesign by painting the walls a classic grey, and adding white crown molding. As a pathway from the front door to the kitchen, the living room functions as a high-traffic area of the home. So we sourced a geometric indoor-outdoor area rug, and established a layout that’s easy to walk through. We also sourced a coffee table from Serena & Lily. Our client has teenage twins, and so we sourced a sturdy sectional couch from Restoration Hardware, and placed it in a corner which was previously being underused. We hired an electrician to hide all of the cables leading to the media console, and added custom window treatments. In the kitchen, we painted the cabinets a semi-gloss white, and added slate flooring, for a clean, crisp, modern look to match the living room. The finishing touches included a set of geometric table objects, comfortable throw rugs, and plush high-shine pillows. The final result is a fully functional living room for this family of four.

Sunroom furniture furnishing details including custom woven roman shades and light gray accent chairs.
Photo of a small transitional sunroom in Charlotte with medium hardwood floors and a standard ceiling.

This is an example of a small transitional open concept living room in Houston with beige walls, light hardwood floors, a standard fireplace, a concrete fireplace surround and a wall-mounted tv.

This family room space feels cozy with its deep blue gray walls and large throw pillows. The ivory shagreen coffee table lightens up the pallet. Brass accessories add interest.

Image Courtesy © Nat Rae
This is an example of a small transitional enclosed family room in Boston with medium hardwood floors, a library, grey walls and brown floor.

DALE CURTIS
Small transitional enclosed home theatre in Berkshire with grey walls, carpet, a wall-mounted tv and grey floor.

This is an example of a small transitional open concept living room in Vancouver with white walls, light hardwood floors, a ribbon fireplace, a stone fireplace surround, a built-in media wall and beige floor.

A playful yet sophisticated playroom and guest area.
Inspiration for a small transitional loft-style family room in Sacramento with grey walls, carpet and white floor.

This is an example of a small transitional enclosed living room in Burlington with a music area, brown walls, carpet, no fireplace, no tv and beige floor.

A charming place to relax next to a fire. Note the bar area to the right of the fireplace. A great way to turn this comfy space in to a multi-functional space. Learn more about our showroom and kitchen and bath design: http://www.mingleteam.com

Complete Living Room Remodel Designed by Interior Designer Nathan J. Reynolds. phone: (508) 837 - 3972 email: nathan@insperiors.com www.insperiors.com Photography Courtesy of © 2015 C. Shaw Photography.

This is a transitional living room in a colonial home in Chester County, PA. Using pieces smaller in scale with a mid-century vibe allowed a functional layout in this smaller living room. Combining patterns, fabrics, and a combination or warm and cool colors gives a relaxing and warm feel. Joyce Smith Photography

Alex Hayden
Inspiration for a small transitional enclosed living room in Seattle with grey walls and no fireplace.

Virtual Vista Photography
Design ideas for a small transitional open concept living room in Philadelphia with beige walls, dark hardwood floors, no fireplace and no tv.

Jenn Anibal
Small transitional sunroom in Detroit.

Гостиная-столовая.
Photo of a small transitional living room in Moscow with grey walls, medium hardwood floors and beige floor.

Having a small child, loving to entertain and looking to declutter and kid-proof the gathering spaces of their home in the quaint village of Rockville Centre, Long Island, a stone’s throw from Manhattan, our client’s main objective was to have their living room and den transformed with a family friendly home makeover with mid-century modern tones boasting a formal, yet relaxed spirit Stepping into the home we found their living room and den both architecturally well appointed yet in need of modern transitional furniture pieces and the pops of color our clients admired, as there was a substantial amount of cool, cold grays in the rooms. Decor Aid designer Vivian C. approached the design and placement of the pieces sourced to be kid-friendly while remaining sophisticated and practical for entertaining. “We played off of the clients love for blush pinks, mid-century modern and turquoise. We played with the use of gold and silver metals to mix it up.” In the living room, we used the prominent bay window and its illuminating natural light as the main architectural focal point, while the fireplace and mantels soft white tone helped inform the minimalist color palette for which we styled the room around. To add warmth to the living room we played off of the clients love for blush pinks and turquoise while elevating the room with flashes of gold and silver metallic pieces. For a sense of play and to tie the space together we punctuated the kid-friendly living room with an eclectic juxtaposition of colors and materials, from a beautifully patchworked geometric cowhide rug from All Modern, to a whimsical mirror placed over an unexpected, bold geometric credenza, to the blush velvet barrel chair and abstract blue watercolor pillows. “When sourcing furniture and objects, we chose items that had rounded edges and were shatter proof as it was vital to keep each room’s decor childproof.” Vivian ads. Their vision for the den remained chic, with comfort and practical functionality key to create an area for the young family to come together. For the den, our main challenge was working around the pre-existing dark gray sectional sofa. To combat its chunkiness, we played off of the hues in the cubist framed prints placed above and focused on blue and orange accents which complement and play off of each other well. We selected orange storage ottomans in easy to clean, kid-friendly leather to maximize space and functionality. To personalize the appeal of the den we included black and white framed family photos. In the end, the result created a fun, relaxed space where our clients can enjoy family moments or watch a game while taking in the scenic view of their backyard. For harmony between the rooms, the overall tone for each room is mid-century modern meets bold, yet classic contemporary through the use of mixed materials and fabrications including marble, stone, metals and plush velvet, creating a cozy yet sophisticated enough atmosphere for entertaining family and friends and raising a young children. “The result od this family friendly room was really fantastic! Adding some greenery, more pillows and throws really made the space pop.” Vivian C. Decor Aid’s Designer

A narrow formal parlor space is divided into two zones flanking the original marble fireplace - a sitting area on one side and an audio zone on the other.

Small transitional open concept living room in Seattle with white walls, laminate floors and brown floor.